Defender / County 'wing top' stainless vent.

[rijidij]

I've been meaning to make these for some time now and finally got around to it.
I've had them precision laser cut, and I'm VERY happy with how they turned out, better than I expected actually.
They are 2mm thick solid stainless steel. Laser cutting works extremely well with thin material like this. The laser produces a very accurate, clean cut.
Although only 2mm thick, they are very strong and I would have no hesitation standing on them, unlike the original plastic one's.
They look even better in the flesh than in the pictures. I've already fitted one to my County and I only picked them up today :D

I have them on Ebay for $37.50ea + post, but can do a small discount for AULRO members of $35ea + post.
Available in Left or Right hand.

I'm also having matching vents cut for the engine intake on the side panel, but they're not quite ready.

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/1259.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/1260.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/1261.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/1262.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/1263.jpg

[GEK064]

Great looking vent......any chance you'll do a few in a black powder coat or similar?

[rijidij]

Great looking vent......any chance you'll do a few in a black powder coat or similar?

These could certainly be powder coated, but it would only be worth it if I got them done either in a batch, or in with some other stuff. As a one off job it would cost $65 to powder coat one item, but I could probably get 6 of them done for the same price (about $10ea), so it would depend on demand for black one's, or if I am getting other stuff powder coated at the time.

Cheers, Murray

[GEK064]

Thanks.....I'm sure you'll have an interest for the black powder Coates version.....when you are ready I'll take one for each side.

[x-box]

So will I !
Looking to replace mine soon, so I'm in when you do a batch next for sure

[rijidij]

Thanks.....I'm sure you'll have an interest for the black powder Coates version.....when you are ready I'll take one for each side.


So will I !
Looking to replace mine soon, so I'm in when you do a batch next for sure

Well, I've already had three requests for a black powder coated version, so I better look into having some laser cut from steel, as opposed to stainless steel, this would hopefully keep the cost about the same including powder coat.

I'll see what I can do.

Cheers, Murray

[cal415]

have you looked into doing replacement grilles in a similar style?

[Shonky]

Count me in for a set of powdercoated ones too Murray. (when I sort out what I am doing with wing top protectors!)

[Recy Mech]

Yeah, I'm up for a powder coated jobbies.

[rijidij]

have you looked into doing replacement grilles in a similar style?

I haven't thought about front grilles yet. Some of the metal grilles I've seen in pictures don't look that good, in my opinion, so if I was to draw something up it would have to be a pretty good design.

Basically, anything can be laser cut in flat sheet, you could even have your AULRO user name laser cut into your own custom grille..........I wish I hadn't said that, sounds like a lot of work and ordering :D

Cheers, Murray

[rijidij]

Count me in for a set of powdercoated ones too Murray. (when I sort out what I am doing with wing top protectors!)


Yeah, I'm up for a powder coated jobbies.

I just ordered 5 pair of steel vents and 5 side vents, maybe I should've ordered more for powder coating.

Cheers, Murray

[cal415]

I would be interested in a set of stainless ones, but powered coated... i live on the beach and they would be for the county so i am avoiding using anything thats not either ally, stainless or gal/plated, powder coated steel just doesnt stand up to the salty air around here.

[rijidij]

I would be interested in a set of stainless ones, but powered coated... i live on the beach and they would be for the county so i am avoiding using anything thats not either ally, stainless or gal/plated, powder coated steel just doesnt stand up to the salty air around here.

That wont be a problem getting a couple of stainless one's done at the same time. I will just have to mark them underneath so I know which one's they are when I get them back ;)

Without having an actual quote for powder coating, I'm guessing they will cost approx $10ea to get done, so that makes them $45ea in powder coated stainless.

Cheers, Murray

[scott oz]

Rijidij,

Mate put me down for a passanger side (left) one in SS.

I'd be interested in a good looking grill

[Ivan]

Would be interested in a pair of powder coated ones as well.

Ivan

[rijidij]

Would be interested in a pair of powder coated ones as well.

Ivan

No worries Ivan,
I'll let you know when I get the black one's.

Cheers, Murray

[GEK064]

I wouldn't mind paying the extra few $ for S/S powder coasted rather than steel powder coated....not trying to turn you into boutique but that would be my preference.

[rijidij]

I wouldn't mind paying the extra few $ for S/S powder coasted rather than steel powder coated....not trying to turn you into boutique but that would be my preference.

I'm getting some wheel carriers powder coated next week and I'll get the vent panels done at the same time (if I get the steel one's in time), so any variations are possible to order before then.

Cheers, Murray

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Why not get ally ones cut and have them anodized black?

It will wear much better over time than black powder coating.

That's what I did with the chequer-plate wings & bonnet top. 3 years of jumping on and off it and it's still as good as new. I know for a fact powder coating wouldnt rand up as well.

Jon

Sent using Forum Runner

[rijidij]

Why not get ally ones cut and have them anodized black?

It will wear much better over time than black powder coating.

That's what I did with the chequer-plate wings & bonnet top. 3 years of jumping on and off it and it's still as good as new. I know for a fact powder coating wouldnt rand up as well.

Jon

Sent using Forum Runner

I did get a quote for laser cutting them from 3mm ally and they were about $8 more for each one, so the cost was getting a little high I thought, but I'm certainly open to ideas and I do like the thought of black anodizing. It all comes down to the final price of the product being realistic, as well as the quality.

Cheers, Murray

[cal415]

If you could do them out of ally that would be my preference too :)

[dmdigital]

Look good in stainless and shouldn't get stained red as badly by all the dust up here like Aally ones would.

PM sent Murray :)

[rijidij]

Would be interested in a pair of powder coated ones as well.

Ivan


I wouldn't mind paying the extra few $ for S/S powder coasted rather than steel powder coated....not trying to turn you into boutique but that would be my preference.


If you could do them out of ally that would be my preference too :)


I've changed the order with the laser cutters from 2mm steel to 3mm aluminium. So, to keep it simple, all the black powder coated one's will be 3mm aluminium.
If anyone specifically wants powder coated stainless steel, I will consider this a special order but wont charge any more as long as I can get them powder coated with the ally one's.

Cheers, Murray

[dmdigital]

Very Happy :D :D
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/691.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/692.jpg

Thanks Murray!

[rijidij]

Thanks Derek,
That's the first one's I've seen on a car other than my own.......hopefully we'll see more after the Vic 4WD Show this Sunday :D

Cheers, Murray

[rijidij]

I picked up the ally vents from the laser cutters, but I haven't got a final price til I get an invoice from them.
I'll drop them in to the powder coaters as soon as I can, so it shouldn't be long until they're available.

Cheers, Murray

[rijidij]

I picked up the ally vents from the powder coaters today and I'm quite happy with the result.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/598.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/599.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/600.jpg


I have good news and bad news.........

The good news, they didn't cost as much to get powder coated as I expected.

The bad news, they cost a lot more than stainless to get laser cut.

So what it ends up as is this.......

Stainless steel wing top L or R $35ea
Stainless steel side (engine intake) $33ea
Aluminium wing top L or R Black powder coat $48ea
Aluminium side (engine intake) Black powder coat $46ea

Cheers, Murray

[jimb]

Murray
Will try and send pm. My settings is not allowing me right now.

[isuzurover]

I picked up the ally vents from the powder coaters today and I'm quite happy with the result.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/598.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/599.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/600.jpg


I have good news and bad news.........

The good news, they didn't cost as much to get powder coated as I expected.

The bad news, they cost a lot more than stainless to get laser cut.

So what it ends up as is this.......

Stainless steel wing top L or R $35ea
Stainless steel side (engine intake) $33ea
Aluminium wing top L or R Black powder coat $48ea
Aluminium side (engine intake) Black powder coat $46ea

Cheers, Murray

Maybe try a different lasercutter in future??? I haven't had anything cut for a while, but I cannot recall much of a price difference between AL and SS at the place I use (where Agrojnr used to work).

[rijidij]

Murray
Will try and send pm. My settings is not allowing me right now.

Jimb,
You can also contact me through my website if that helps Rijidij Off Road (http://www.rijidijoffroad.com.au)

Cheers, Murray

[rijidij]

Maybe try a different lasercutter in future??? I haven't had anything cut for a while, but I cannot recall much of a price difference between AL and SS at the place I use (where Agrojnr used to work).

There's only a couple of laser cutters local to me, but I have been getting some odd things done in Melbourne where they have a lot cooler machines. Check out the short video at the link below. I'm hoping to be able to use this 5 axis laser to cut the main rear bar for the dual carrier I'm working on for Defender.
I might get some other quotes too.

3D Laser Cutting in Action (http://www.actlaser.com.au/3DLasercutting)

[isuzurover]

There's only a couple of laser cutters local to me, but I have been getting some odd things done in Melbourne where they have a lot cooler machines. Check out the short video at the link below. I'm hoping to be able to use this 5 axis laser to cut the main rear bar for the dual carrier I'm working on for Defender.
I might get some other quotes too.

3D Laser Cutting in Action (http://www.actlaser.com.au/3DLasercutting)

Nice!

I am looking for somewhere in AU that can do extremely fine work - i.e. down to tens of microns ideally. If you don't mind asking when you are chatting to them?

e.g. - along the lines of:
http://www.lasermicromachining.com/_images/materials/polymers/Serpentine_channels_in_polycarbonate.jpg
http://www.lasermicromachining.com/_images/materials/polymers/Serpentine_channels_in_polycarbonate.jpg

[VladTepes]

I've been wanting something like this for ages.

I'm surprised no-one else offers a decent product along these lines.


Yeah, I'm up for a powder coated jobbies.

Me too !

[VladTepes]

Well, Murray very kindly offered me a discount on a pair of these wing top vents.

They were discounted due to an imperfection in the powder coat, which is only minor but may be evident in the photos. I just wanted to make clear that Murray won't sell anything at RRP unless he's 100% happy with the product.

So what are my impressions?

First I think they look VERY smart.

They were very easy to install, just a matter of unscrewing the existing plastic ones and throwing those old screws away. Then use the nice new screws to afix the new vents. As easy as that.

I'm very happy with the finished product in all but one respect... makes the rest of my truck look in need of a bit of TLC.

So enough of my opinion - make up your own mind....

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/48682/2300589720100403462S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/48986/2560526030100403462S600x600Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/50678/2675732510100403462S600x600Q85.jpg

[isuzutoo-eh]

How about some wing top protectors with the vents part of them/built in/flush? I don't see why they should be in two pieces and not integrated?

[LowRanger]

How about some wing top protectors with the vents part of them/built in/flush? I don't see why they should be in two pieces and not integrated?


Now that is something I would be interested in.
And what is one more Rijidij product on the truck:cool:

[rijidij]

How about some wing top protectors with the vents part of them/built in/flush? I don't see why they should be in two pieces and not integrated?

I like the idea Mark. It would be easy to program the vent pattern into a whole panel.
I've never had wing top protectors so I haven't got any here, but if someone can give me the basic dimensions of them, next time I talk to the laser cutter I could get a quote on cutting them.

Cheers, Murray

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/03/8.jpg

[VladTepes]

The problem I see if they are integral to a wing top protector is that once you've secured that in place, you'll never be able to get anything / your hand or whatever down there which may be required to fix something ?

Would look good though.

[rijidij]

The problem I see if they are integral to a wing top protector is that once you've secured that in place, you'll never be able to get anything / your hand or whatever down there which may be required to fix something ?

Would look good though.

Good point.

Maybe they could be fitted with rivnuts and countersunk bolts, and instead of sealing the edges with silicone which is effectively glueing them down, they could be sealed around the edge with good quality foam tape which only sticks to the underside of the checkerplate, but not to the paint. Then it would just be a matter of undoing the bolts to lift them off.

Cheers, Murray

[SimonM]

Good point.

Maybe they could be fitted with rivnuts and countersunk bolts, and instead of sealing the edges with silicone which is effectively glueing them down, they could be sealed around the edge with good quality foam tape which only sticks to the underside of the checkerplate, but not to the paint. Then it would just be a matter of undoing the bolts to lift them off.

Cheers, Murray

I like the way you think Murray :). I could be persuaded to purchase a couple of these ;).

[scott oz]

I like the SS ones I purchased:D

Having a wing protector with the vent built in would be a pain if you wished to get access to the top of the guard.

The factory ones are recessed into the wing on my 2002 defender so you'd have no support under that section if the wing protector was laser cut with vent holes?

Just my thoughts

[LowRanger]

I like the SS ones I purchased:D

Having a wing protector with the vent built in would be a pain if you wished to get access to the top of the guard.

The factory ones are recessed into the wing on my 2002 defender so you'd have no support under that section if the wing protector was laser cut with vent holes?

Just my thoughts

You would if you left the plastic vent covers fitted;)

[rijidij]

I reckon if they were made from 3mm ally they would be strong enough to span the vent hole in the top of the guard without being supported.

Cheers, Murray

[rick130]

The problem I see if they are integral to a wing top protector is that once you've secured that in place, you'll never be able to get anything / your hand or whatever down there which may be required to fix something ?

Would look good though.


Good point.

Maybe they could be fitted with rivnuts and countersunk bolts, and instead of sealing the edges with silicone which is effectively glueing them down, they could be sealed around the edge with good quality foam tape which only sticks to the underside of the checkerplate, but not to the paint. Then it would just be a matter of undoing the bolts to lift them off.

Cheers, Murray


That'd work.

A couple of times in the last ten years I've had to remove the OE cover to get debris out of the duct and help clean the duckbill drain.