Sun Visor Repair

[v8fordman]

I am working on a 1937 Deluxe Pickup which came with sun visors as part of the deluxe package. They are made of some kind of thick particle board material that was stapled to a metal frame. One of the visors is cracked and will completely brake if I try to use it as is. My question is...does anyone know of a way to staple material to metal in order to replace the broken piece? These must have been some strong staples and one mean machine that put them in.

[tubman]

Maybe they drilled holes in the metal to put the staples through? When I replaced the A-arm shields on my Corvette, that was the recommended method.

[fordor41]

ford must have had a heavy duty stapler because the welting on the fenders of my '41 was stapled to the metal, either on the body or fenders I can't remember which. My '41 visor were ,it appeared, Masonite. How about pop rivets. I know they leave a protrusion on one side but maybe grind excess off

[paul2748]

Is there any way you could use a resin on the old boards? Or the product that they use on old wood that has dry rotted.


Maybe a layer of fiberglass mat ?

[95476]

Call Acme in Long Beach. 562-437-0061 They should be able to help you. I just sent them the visors for the '34 project I am finishing up. LeBaron Bonney used to send visors tothem to them when they were still in business. Bob Westmoreland is my contact there and is very helpful.

[johndee138]

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I just redid some visors for my coupe. I had some thick cardboard like the kind that used to come in laundered shirts but thicker. I wet the fold with water and let it get soft and folded it in half. Let it dry and then glued it together with contact cement over the frame.
Trimmed it up nicely and covered it with fabric like my headliner. I have a commercial sewing machine so I stitched it all around the center in the stock pattern and bound the raw edge with some matching leather, trimmed it up and they turned out pretty nice. I would post a pic but I have trouble with that process. Ill give it a shot later when my IT gal can help me

[johndee138]

Here are some pix of the recovered visors

[RKS.PA]

John, that's a beautiful job!!! And, I'm really partial to the color!!

Assuming if you have a commercial sewing machine, this isn't your first fabric project!!

[johndee138]

Not by a long shot.
Although the majority of my work with this machine has been in leather.
Thanks for the nice compliment!

[rotorwrench]

I've seen Masonite used on some sun visors. It's the same thing that used to be used on clipboards and peg boards. Tempered hardboard is still available from Home Depot in 1/8" thickness but it only comes in 4' X 8' sheets.

The staples can be carefully removed and reused if they aren't rusty. Match a piece of masonite up to the original retainer metal and drill holes the same size as the staples then reinstall them & bend them over. I'm sure wire the correct gauge could be sourced to replace the rusty staples. Give them a light tap with a hammer to seat them well. Adheasive could be used to further stabilize the masonite board to the visor assembly.

A lot of the visor materials are just sewn around the board so a person wouldn't have to sew to it although I know my machine will sew through panel board. I don't think I would try to sew through masonite though. That stuff is a lot harder than panel board.

[v8fordman]

Mine are the masonite material which is why I thought it would be impossible to staple. I appreciate all the thoughts and any more are welcome