I had mentioned on another thread about making a "cupholder / armrest pad" and this weeked I got the basic frame done.
The material in the picture is just laying on top of the frame, with a little photoshop done.
I`m planning on buying an industrial sewing machine this next week and then the sides of the holder and pad will have a French stitch.
Someone in the other thread had mentioned about the drink getting in the way of shifting and while this design better fits an automatic if you only have a drink in the passenger holder it does not interfere.
You can see the can in the picture, and no I don`t condone drinking alcohol when driving, that can was just handy.

Cool concept, but looks a little too big and blocky for me. I'm sure you could tweak a few things and get the overall size down.
Way to be innovative, though!

Thats actually a really good design. The only thing I would change is the width. I would make it a little more narrow to fit within the original console lines. Other than that, it should look nice upholstered.

Thanks,guys
I could make it a bit narrower, but the height I can`t change because the cup holders are hitting the console underneath as it is.
As I said, the material is not really pulled tight, and should look better when I pull it and staple it.

quote Originally posted by TXGOOD: Thanks,guys I could make it a bit narrower, but the height I can`t change because the cup holders are hitting the console underneath as it is. As I said, the material is not really pulled tight, and should look better when I pull it and staple it.

Thats what I figured. Once the material is tight, it will be a little more narrow.

I just bought this on Ebay, so hopefully by next week I will be stitching this project up.
Mike

Here is my first cover.
I need to adjust it in a couple of places and figure out where I want to put some stitching.
Plus I need to make and add the pad.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-21-2010).]

Wow look great. You gonna sell these once you finish refining them. I think I'd be interested. I hate not having cup holders!

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Sad to say this is the best looking part of the car so far!

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/080998.html

Donnie

I will probably make a couple of gray and a couple of tan and see how they do.
Now that I have a machine to sew upon I will probably try to come up with a couple of more ideas for interior parts.
I would like to try to design some door panels with pods for the speakers in the doors.
Mike

Your work does look good. I read your dash swap a few weeks back. So how is that coming along? Let me know when your happy with the cup holders. Can't wait to see the final product.

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Sad to say this is the best looking part of the car so far!

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/080998.html

Donnie

quote Originally posted by TXGOOD: I just bought this on Ebay, so hopefully by next week I will be stitching this project up. Mike

Good God, how much was shipping for that?

By the way, those older Singers really kick butt for stiching. I actually have one and it works like a champ (an 80 pound champ)

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 06-22-2010).]

Would ur drink possibly get in the way of ur arm to shifter though?

My dash is sort of on hold right now until I get some more material.
I`m going to make some more of these cupholders.
I`m going to get used to the sewing machine before I tackle the dash again.
IMSA GT , shipping was only 22.00.
The machine weighs about 40 lbs and the guy sent it Parcel Post.
The question of a can or bottle getting in the way of shifting came up in another post and while a drink in the drivers side holder would be in the way of fast shifting you can reach over it.
I have a 5-speed and when there is a drink in the passenger holder it doesn`t interfere with shifting.
I`m thinking of designing one with both of the holders lined up one behind the other on the passenger side to eliminate any problems with using both holders and shifting.
Mike

wow looks good. nice sewing machine. my dad and my god father worked for singer sewing machine company in n.j.in the 50's. my mom did alot of sewing on her machine. it is not easy so sew and have it look like something. my wife and i own a pedal singer machine. it just looks good. oak case and cast iron peddle. the fiero needs a good cup holder, keep building a better one and some one will buy it. looks beter than my box covered in duct tape.

Thanks Jim.
The picture that I put of the machine was actually not the one I got.
The one I got is in better shape than the one in the picture and it sews fantastic.
I`m going to order a cording foot to make piping for cushions etc.
I will probably either use a luggage stitch like the one shown or piping for most of my projects.

I like that stitch for this project.

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Sad to say this is the best looking part of the car so far!

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/080998.html

Donnie

quote Originally posted by TXGOOD: I just bought this on Ebay, so hopefully by next week I will be stitching this project up. Mike

my mom still uses that exact one, after all these years it's still kickin strong, wow!

Well, I made a pad for my cupholder.
I think I`m going to use grey thread as my little variances in the stitching don`t show as bad.
This first was just to compare the darker thread to the lighter thread.
That`s why the cup holder part has black thread and the pad has grey thread.

TXGOOD'
Any idea how you will secure it to the console? Looking good so far. I like the lighter grey better too.

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Sad to say this is the best looking part of the car so far!

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/080998.html

Donnie

Up front it will have a metal tab that slides under the plastic shift surround and I`m thinking maybe in the back it might have a strip of velcro.
Either that or some elastic straps that hook under the actual console.
I`m just not sure how the elastic strips would look, although I think they would mostly be covered by the seat bolsters.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-23-2010).]

Except for the straps, which I`m waiting on, this one is finished.
Next week, when I get the material I ordered, I`m going to make a tan one.

Neat design,

What always works for me (at least when going to fast food places) is to place your drink behind the gauge cluster on the right side of the steering column.

quote Originally posted by TXGOOD: Except for the straps, which I`m waiting on, this one is finished. Next week, when I get the material I ordered, I`m going to make a tan one.

Now you have piqued my interest--now thats what I had in mind... I'll take 2 when you've completed them--In grey of course.

Why GM didnt do this when the car was new is beyond me...

Some may be concerned with the lighter hole being covered up, just tell 'em to wire in a new one under the dash somewhere.

[This message has been edited by htexans1 (edited 06-25-2010).]

The finished product looks pretty cocky to me. I would definatly be interested if you produce a few more. How about with some custom material and stitching? Looks good sir!

Thanks guys.
I will be making more, I`m just getting my patterns together and waiting for some more material to come in.
I`m not sure what the price will be yet because I`m sort of testing how long it takes, now that I`m getting used to the sewing machine.
I will probably stick with the original stitching and design at first, but I could do different color combinations.
The color stitching that matches the material color is the less noticeable when it is not exactly straight.
A lot of people these days use a double needle machine, which keeps the stitching at the same distance apart.
My machine is a single needle, so I have to stitch it and try to keep the stiching manually apart.
I`m also trying to design a similar set-up but with the cup holders in a line more on the passenger side, so it`s easier to shift.

Man you do nice work sir! Can't wait til these are a production model for sale!

The final product looks great. Fits the console very well

I will take 1 in Black.

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I'll take one in gray as you have pictured

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Ohh very nice... couple of questions:

Will the cup holders hold larger drinks besides the size of a pop can?

Will you be making them in the Dark Grey/Medium Grey & a black finish to go in the newer Fiero's?

Depending on the answers, will you be offering discounts for more than 1 purchased at a time?

Thanks!

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Thanks for the replies everyone.
I will be making these as I can.
Since I have just started I need to build up my inventory of supplies.
I`m going to start with making about 10 shells and then I will choose colors as people want them.
I`m not really taking any orders on a per person basis except if someone wants one other than grey or tan, like Jimmy S, although I will use this thread to get ones to people who expressed interest first.
I will only collect money when I get one finished and ready to ship, because even though it takes only a few hours to complete one I don`t want to promise something and run into unforseen circumstances.
I`m thinking about 125.00 which includes shipping within the US.
I have looked on the internet and compared other pads/cupholders and I think that`s a comparable price to ones being offered for other cars.
At this early time I have not even thought about mutiple discounts.
Let me get the elastic straps that I have ordered and see how those look and then I will proceed.
These will only hold cans or something the size of a can because there are larger sizes available, but I don`t think theres enough room for installing one.
Thanks

I forgot to add that since the grey that I have been using for these is the only color I know for sure matches I will have to find out what matches the darker grey so I can have that option.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-26-2010).]

PM sent

[This message has been edited by Johnny Smith (edited 06-27-2010).]

Mike you did a darned good job on that, and by the way I do have the tan interior if you need to sit one on there for some pictures.

Joe

I hope your life doesn`t depend on rolling your windows down or adjusting the mirrors.
And as I stated earlier, if the drink is in the passenger side it doesn`t interfere with shifting.
I think a person would have more trouble trying to drive while holding a drink or trying to balance it where it could spill.

Thanks Joe, I appreciate the offer.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-27-2010).]

I really like the concept and often wish there were a cup holder; however, besides a couple of the already mentioned questions, my husband is one who states "sports cars don't have cup holders!" I have one more concern; this blocks the power plug that we use often for our GPS or phone.

PM sent

[This message has been edited by Johnny Smith (edited 06-27-2010).]

Guys, a concern has been brought to my attention about leakage into the cigarette lighter or winaldi connection and I wanted to address this.
The holders I am getting locally are sealed on the bottom so nothing can get out.
The way I am designing the strap system it will be a simple act of unhooking the straps on the sides and turning the holder over if you have some sweating or spillage.
Someone also brought up about covering the lighter plug and not being able to use it as a GPS tap etc.
If there is enough interest I may look into incorporating a plug into the holder but I would rather not get into electrics.
Thanks, Mike

I worked on some of the bases for these yesterday and I recalculated my time and materials and I was a bit high on the
initial estimate, so once I get the straps installed and a couple of other items taken care of I will have some of these for
sale at a lower set price.
Thanks, Mike

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-28-2010).]