Jase Posted July 20, 2020 Report Share Posted July 20, 2020 Why are these so expensive? Just looking at mine and whilst it looks fine in the car as it currently stands I know that when I start refurbing I'll want to replace with new. How difficult is this to refurb? Surely just sculpted or moulded foam and recovered? If I wanted it to be eact I could vacuum form a mould and go from there? Or am I missing something? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 20, 2020 Report Share Posted July 20, 2020 Hi Jase, if you make it from any sort of foamy stuff it will simply break off in your hand when you need it. There is a steel spine inside that gives it its strength. The reason for the, what appears to be a high cost, is the R&D required to get the mould sorted and then the productions and then a profit to keep going. This is all related to howmany are going to be sold. Not that many. Is it easy to make a decent ??? if so why did a quality TR shop get one produced that does not fit the TR4/4A - it is not easy to produce anything. However on the good side it is relatively easy to re-cover and old grab handle. And if you are really clever you will trim away the old vinyl where the metal backing can sit neatly into the new vinyl. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jase Posted July 20, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2020 Agree Roger H, if you are buying a complete handle then production costs etc would be expensive for short runs but why would you not just refurb one if you have it? Does anyone know the type of foam used? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 20, 2020 Report Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Hi Jase, If you are going to refurb a grab handle you do not generally need any foam at all. You are simply covering the existing foam and vinyl with new vinyl - see my pic below However the vinyl used to make new *very stiff when cooled down after forming) is very different from the usual vinyls (very flexible) used in refurb'ing. Roger Edited July 20, 2020 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MKTR Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 I am surprised that nobody has 3D printed the handle then covered it with vinyl. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 .....and how do you 3D print the steel spine inside the foam !!! Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted July 21, 2020 Report Share Posted July 21, 2020 I really would like one to recover. Anybody got a s/h one for sale? I have the moulded one that is probably like the TR Shop one although I have not seen theirs. Also the right hand crash pad suitable for recovering. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MKTR Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 23 hours ago, RogerH said: .....and how do you 3D print the steel spine inside the foam !!! Roger I was imagining a solid plastic shaped item ready to take the vinyl and mounting screws i.e. no foam at all. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 Hi Mark, that may work. The original foam covered handle was probably a token gesture to safety should the passenger head butt it during a nasty prang. You would need something inside that would withstand man handling or even woman handling. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 So Roger is this the same as TR Shop grab handle? Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted July 22, 2020 Report Share Posted July 22, 2020 Hi Harry, Definitely not. That is awful. The TRshop grab handle looks very good indeed. However I found the most inner end that fits into the central console is too big. I seriously hope they can sort it out. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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