DIY Door handle

[cshots]

Hello all,

just wanted to show you my current mini project for my van, see what you thought.
when i bought it back in february on of the sliding door handles was snapped just after the barrel (twin slider).
at first i thought i would buy a new handle, simple, but now i am planning a big road trip and every little purchase takes more of my petrol money away, so i thought i'd have a go at fixing it myself as a temporary fix

first step was to drill two holes and fix two pieces of metal dowel (stolen from an old yacht aerial) to strengthen the handle:



then, i decided to build it up to a useable shape with a standard filler:


next step is to get a smooth fill on top, then it'll be ready for paint!

[supergalaxy]

Now here is a guy after my own heart! Where there's a will there's a way!

[Dave307]

Hehe. Fair play to you.

[Oldiebut goodie]

You could have tried the mouldable plastic that you soften in boiling water. I have used it for screwdriver handles.

[Mickyfin]

Havoing broken two handles, I too have been considering other stronger options. Yours is an idea worth looking into.

[docklad]

excellent

[jamesc76]

That filler will soon crack and come off with the loads applied to door handles ! Sorry to be a spoiler!

[Oldiebut goodie]

The plastic is as tough as nylon so would be more suitable.

[cshots]

That filler will soon crack and come off with the loads applied to door handles ! Sorry to be a spoiler!

You're probably right, but it's really only a temporary thing i wanted to give it a go see if it works. will post back on here after i've been round europe this summer, let you know if it still works

here's the latest coat of filler sanded back - i think this will be good enough with a couple of coats of paint:



hopefully get some paint on it this weekend, then it can go back on !
cheers

[fodtommo]

This is not a bad idea - if it fails (I think it will as James says - filler aint really strong enough - at the very least it wanted some glass fibre strands in it) I would use some milliput or quicksteel type stuff which might just hold up.