fabricating an armrest

[Jack Guzman]

My 51 3100 came with the doors stripped right down. I want to make my own armrests out of hardwood. I need the dimentions of an existing armrest to reference or some good pictures,diagrams,whatever. I have nothing to go by.
Even some pictures of ideas for custom armrests?
I just sold my 81 stepside so I have money to put in the 51. I plan on driving it out of the tent as soon as the snow and ice is gone. I'm really getting antsy if you know what I mean. Thanks ---Jack

[chev3600]

Custom wood armrest! Just kidding. The factory arm rest is really kinda small. You might like to try a few different shapes and sizes to see what fits you and your seating position best.

[Jack Guzman]

I know I can do better than that one. ---Jack

[OrrieG]

I just looked around on one of my junk yard trips. Isuzu Trooper rear door, longer than original, nice proportions, $5 for the pair. I have skinny elbows. Mounts with two big screws like original.

[Speedbumpauto]

That's pretty darn creative!

[mr48chev]

That looks good Orrie and doesn't look the least bit out of place on that door.

Jack, I don't have one door in any of my AD stuff with an armrest but I'd say not too big and not too gaudy should work great. Like any other change we make on these trucks it should blend in with the rest of the design of the build and be an improvement rather than an afterthought or something that demands so much attention you notice it before seeing the complete interior as a package. Varnished wood on the armrests that matched a varnished insert on the console would be pretty nifty though.

[Jack Guzman]

I plan on using cherry which I have a bunch of. I want to use it elsewhere in the cab also.---Jack

[capnduane]

Making a armrest out of wood never entered my mind! Great idea.... Of course, being a retired carpenter, I have had plenty enough of woodworking these last 49 years! So I went to pic a part and got a pair out of a Toyota (maybe it was a Honda?) Fairly simple and similar to the ones that were fitted to TF trucks. I had to pay 10 bucks though... There were some holes already there from a PO. So I put the armrests over them. They work good.

[Speedbumpauto]

Funny how our brains work different. I paid Brothers for replacement parts and never considered doing anything different and I did tons of other things different. After paying more, I still had to have the matching leather put on the armrests so they matched. They DID fit in the factory holes though and the door panels were possibly the only places were numerous "custom" holes weren't added by employees of the New Mexico Highway Department....and they did turn out good. Great thread!

[mr48chev]

Capnduane, you can almost see guys at a show arguing that those are stock arm rests. They match the truck perfectly in design and size.

I like the Cherry wood trim in several spots Jack,that should really look nice when you are done.

[OrrieG]

Cubby at the bottom of the door is a good idea...and being a woodworker too, the Cherry will look nice.

[tate65]

I printed one for my 1980 About $5 this was the 1st rev working to refine fit. Then can either leave ABS raw or add some padding an vinel

[oldman3]

I built armrest for a friend of mine for his 47 F**d car. Here's a pic of the arms.
If you want to see how it was done here's the link http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662380 hope this helps...Jim

[oldman3]

Should have mentioned that I built the whole door panel. If you just want the armrest go to page 4 post #77, and then to page 5 post #103.

[oldman3]

Sorry I forgot to show the finished door panel and arm rest...Jim

[mr48chev]

You don't start thinking about putting in a comfortable arm rest until you do a six or seven hundred mile day with the windows up and no place to rest your arm. Hopefully I never have to do that many miles in a day again but The further one drives in a day's time the more comfortable he wants his truck to be.

[Jesse Z]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

You don't start thinking about putting in a comfortable arm rest until you do a six or seven hundred mile day with the windows up and no place to rest your arm.

I have an original bench seat in mine, which of course has no corresponding rest on the right side. So instead of driving lopsided, I just removed the arm rest and replaced it with a pull strap.

[1project2many]

tate65, I'm interested in where, how, etc? Is this equipment something that was publicly available, or do you work in a location with a 3d printer? What software was used? Is it freely available?

Thanks,

[tate65]

[QUOTE=1project2many;7831691]tate65, I'm interested in where, how, etc? Is this equipment something that was publicly available, or do you work in a location with a 3d printer? What software was used? Is it freely available?

Thanks,[/QUOTE

I use one at my work, but here in Dallas and in several large areas there is a maker space. https://dallasmakerspace.org/ many library's have them also.
I used design 123d a free software if is free to design it. Kisslicer to slice it, it is open space software.

We have 6 different brand 3d printers here and i use them all. By far my preference is the polyprinter also made and sold here in Dallas. Www.polyprinter.com. it is the most accurate versital in types and sizes of plastic and most reliable. And the customer service is execlent.