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Styling FIAT 500 Custom Aluminium Tweeter rings

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Styling FIAT 500 Custom Aluminium Tweeter rings

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deef1

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Hi Chaps
I mentioned on another post on here that i'd be fitting some custom made aluminium tweeter rings to our FIAT 500 1.2 Pop. I came across them on eBay from a guy that makes other aluminium rings and surrounds for heater dials etc.

They cost less than £10 and because they're aluminium instead of chrome they aren't too shiny which may have been an issue that forward in her cabin. They come with a cheap bottle of pound shop super glue but I used a good quality super glue gel which worked well after holding in position for about 20 secs.

Being aluminium, i made sure i cleaned them well before fixing into place. They are just right, just enough to add that little something different without being tacky or garish.

Just thought i'd share 'em, if you like 'em, you like 'em, if ya don't, ya don't :)
 

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I like them but I'm a bit disappointed in the dull finish. I take your point about reflection issues but if I fitted them I think I'd first polish them up and apply a clear coat. Can they be handled without easily bending?
 
To be honest, they aren't that dull in real life but definitely not as shiny as I'd expected. That'd be a good idea to polish them within an inch of their life. I think they'd withstand a good polish as long as you kept them flat whilst doing it or wiped around by rotating through a cloth, not sure how they'd fair with a clear coat though as you'd have to remove the polish with a solvent for the clear coat to adhere to properly thus dulling once more? :)
 
deef1 said:
sure how they'd fair with a clear coat though as you'd have to remove the polish with a solvent for the clear coat to adhere to properly thus dulling once more? :)
Click to expand...

When you polish something you actually change it's surface at a microscopic level. The only reason we then leave the polish/wax on the surface is so it doesn't dull again quickly (but not instantly).

Clear spray paint won't really stick to polished alu, they'd ideally be clear annodized, which is something that can be done at home with a little experimentation.
 
UFI said:
When you polish something you actually change it's surface at a microscopic level. The only reason we then leave the polish/wax on the surface is so it doesn't dull again quickly (but not instantly).

Clear spray paint won't really stick to polished alu, they'd ideally be clear annodized, which is something that can be done at home with a little experimentation.
Click to expand...

What I had in mind is a product called 'Future' (by Johnson's I think). It's an acrylic floor coating much used by plastic kit builders, especially for improving clear polystyrene windows and cockpit canopies. I also tried it on brass after polishing with Brasso and the items I coated have remained bright and shiny for over two years now, even outside. I suspect it will work equally as well on aluminium, though I won't know till I try of course. It's not available in Australia though, I got some from a friend in the USA.
 
UFI said:
When you polish something you actually change it's surface at a microscopic level. The only reason we then leave the polish/wax on the surface is so it doesn't dull again quickly (but not instantly).

Clear spray paint won't really stick to polished alu, they'd ideally be clear annodized, which is something that can be done at home with a little experimentation.
Click to expand...

cool...i've just google DIY home clear anodizing...no idea what i'd use it on but i need to have a go! ha
 
magic...that's why i love forums, the things you learn...always something interesting :)
 
Piccolo Nero e Bella said:
What I had in mind is a product called 'Future' (by Johnson's I think). .. It's not available in Australia though, I got some from a friend in the USA.
Click to expand...

It used to be called 'Pledge One-Go!' in AU but they changed the name I think. There's nothing really magic about it, it's really just a very dilute clear acrylic. I can see that it could do quite well applied to alu as long as it's in an interior application.
 
UFI said:
It used to be called 'Pledge One-Go!' in AU but they changed the name I think. There's nothing really magic about it, it's really just a very dilute clear acrylic. I can see that it could do quite well applied to alu as long as it's in an interior application.
Click to expand...


Well, magic or mundane, there's been a great deal of discussion on various sites as to whether the products are the same or not, but that's not the issue here of course. I used it on a cast brass Chinese dragon which adorns our front door (of the house, not the car!;)) which needed polishing every few weeks to keep its shine previously. That was over two years ago and despite its exterior location it looks as good as new today so I have every confidence the aluminium will be OK in an interior setting.
 
HeyHey!
Hello Everybody, and particularly the OP.
Where did you get these? I'm dashed (or stronger emotion!) if I can find rings for the tweeters or the speakers on eBay, I've even looked using the 22mm 100mm 165mm diameters, no joy.
I'm just in the final few days wait for my second 500, another lounge, but a cabrio this time, and as the first thing that's planned is the retrim in leather (ordered the car with fabric, to get the under seat storage!) I'm after some extra little styling details.
I've found a great guy local to me who's going to do me a full leather retrim, including the seats, the headrests, the full door panels (from a 'how to' seen on here!), and the rear inside panels, so I thought the dashes of chrome on the inside would lift the black!
Any advice on where I can buy rings, or what fits that's designed for another car would be great.
All I can see is what fits what car, (no 500!) and no dimensions! Grrr!
Thanks!
 
Well, I've ordered them.
Joy-Joy!
But still no happiness with the door speakers. Gosh darn!
 
Dingopuppy said:
HeyHey!
Hello Everybody, and particularly the OP.
Where did you get these? I'm dashed (or stronger emotion!) if I can find rings for the tweeters or the speakers on eBay, I've even looked using the 22mm 100mm 165mm diameters, no joy.
I'm just in the final few days wait for my second 500, another lounge, but a cabrio this time, and as the first thing that's planned is the retrim in leather (ordered the car with fabric, to get the under seat storage!) I'm after some extra little styling details.
I've found a great guy local to me who's going to do me a full leather retrim, including the seats, the headrests, the full door panels (from a 'how to' seen on here!), and the rear inside panels, so I thought the dashes of chrome on the inside would lift the black!
Any advice on where I can buy rings, or what fits that's designed for another car would be great.
All I can see is what fits what car, (no 500!) and no dimensions! Grrr!
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi, sorry haven't been on here a while. Those tgweeter rings that you've ordered are WAY nicer looking than mine. Mine have popped off a couple of time in the heat as they are very thin and you can't get that much glue on them! Hope they please you when you get them!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SN-FIAT-500...453?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item463d5b83f5
 
This post contains affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
In connected but different news- set of chrome rings for the climate control arrived- popped the two big ones on, the two small needed a dab of glue- the rings sit just outside the controls (there's a flat ring there if you look) and they have a lip that sits in the gap round the circle of each set of buttons.
Obviously the glue sits on the bit that goes on the flag bit and is kept away from the buttons. I used tiny dots of superglue!
Just waiting on the rings for the tweeters... I think Punto front speaker rings may fit the front speakers... Not sure, may be worth a punt! (O!)
 

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Dingopuppy said:
In connected but different news- set of chrome rings for the climate control arrived- popped the two big ones on, the two small needed a dab of glue- the rings sit just outside the controls (there's a flat ring there if you look) and they have a lip that sits in the gap round the circle of each set of buttons.
Obviously the glue sits on the bit that goes on the flag bit and is kept away from the buttons. I used tiny dots of superglue!
Just waiting on the rings for the tweeters... I think Punto front speaker rings may fit the front speakers... Not sure, may be worth a punt! (O!)
Click to expand...

They look great on the black Dingo. I wonder if they'd look so good on the ivory though...
 
Well I bought some-
They don't fit.
I presumed they would fit into the flat part of the tweeter cover... That makes sense... fitting around the tweeter cover, on the textured part of the A pillar cover makes less sense, but I'd be ok with- these are slightly out on either measurement- they can sit on the flat part on one edge, but leave it exposed on the other... Dreadful! Be very wary... If I don't get resupplied with the right ones, I'll wait to find someone who has the right size to tell me where they bought theirs!
 

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Dingopuppy said:
Well I bought some-
They don't fit.
I presumed they would fit into the flat part of the tweeter cover... That makes sense... fitting around the tweeter cover, on the textured part of the A pillar cover makes less sense, but I'd be ok with- these are slightly out on either measurement- they can sit on the flat part on one edge, but leave it exposed on the other... Dreadful! Be very wary... If I don't get resupplied with the right ones, I'll wait to find someone who has the right size to tell me where they bought theirs!
Click to expand...

Hi Dingopuppy, are they the same as mine or are they from the other supplier on this thread?
 
Oops!
I should've said I b Ugh them off eBay- having to buy a ruler because I don't seem to possess one- it's possible the guy sent me the wrong ones but I just need to send him a picture.
He says there are different sized tweeters.... Which sounds like a load of twoot to me...
 
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