Fun With Versimold

Versimold Used For Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) Enthusiasts

Versimold Used For Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) Enthusiasts

Over the weekend, we received a very interesting email from a gentleman who is an avid HEMA (historical European martial arts) enthusiast. HEMA is the preservation of historical European armed and unarmed combat methods which people practice with a variety of weapons, such as the iconic longsword used in shows and movies like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. Because many spar with blunted steel weapons, people will inevitably get hurt even with the best protection. This is where one fan of HEMA got the idea to create additional protection for his gauntlets.

David created a video that details both his plan and process for thumb protectors that go under the gloves using Versimold.

Check out David's video below to see his clever use of Versimold for his HEMA gloves:

'63 Airstream Overlander: Restoring Our Souls Through an Icon

'63 Airstream Overlander: Restoring Our Souls Through an Icon

There are many products and elements from American history that have maintained themselves as quintessential Americana - icons that are inseparable from American culture and will forever define a decade or an era. Be it the Hoover Dam, the 57 Chevy, or even the Boeing 707, each of these icons have preserved a specific period of American history: the Great Depression, the automotive golden age, or the jet age. The Airstream trailer with its instantly recognizable rounded aluminum shape is no exception. 

1954 Airstream Flying Cloud trailer
(Photo credit: Homedsgn.com)

After WW2, America's economy was thriving. More money in people's pockets meant leisure and luxury were accessible by a larger amount of people. The automotive industry thrived and as America's network of highways expanded, so too did American's desire to travel further and further. At some point, people decided that they didn't want their travel plans to be dictated by the closest motel or lodging, but wanted to control how and where they slept. Airstream took advantage of this desire and began ramping up production. Almost overnight, Airstream became a cultural icon. No longer was the Airstream just for families looking to get away, but it served as a fashion statement for Hollywood's elite and most famous actors.

Elvis Presley's Airstream trailer
(Photo credit: Frank DiBona's Flikr)

Fast forward to today, Airstreams are still being produced with its familiar and famous shape, but there are those that believe such an icon should be an original and restored accordingly. This is precisely what blogger Reinergirl is setting out to do.

gutted 1963 Airstream Overlander trailer
(Photo credit: Reinergirl's Blog)

With a basic foundation, a 1963 Airstream Overlander, Reinergirl is restoring the iconic trailer to modern standards. Aptly named Moonraker, this Airstream has been completely gutted to fix the underlying issues like leaking joints and rivets, rotting flooring, and a rusty frame. All new wiring and piping were installed to accommodate the new heating/cooking, washing, and electronic requirements. Solar panels were installed to assist in generating ancillary power and to charge the batteries. Completely new insulation was put around the fiberglass shell to improve efficiency. The list goes on and on and on.

So how does Versimold fit into this project? Reinergirl realized that there was a pretty severe gap on the license plate light housing which has been converted to LEDs. As with most electronics, and especially LEDs, moisture can be disastrous. To combat this, Reinergirl used gray Versimold (to match the body) to create a custom rubber gasket for the housing which ensured a perfect seal and thus eliminated the possibility for moisture to collect and ruin expensive LED lights. You can view this project write-up here.

custom rubber gasket for license plate housing on an airstream trailer
(Photo credit: Reinergirl's blog)

Reinergirl's restoration story follows a similar tune of America's own history. One of very high highs and some very low lows (leaks!). It's not ironic then that they decided to restore one of America's greatest icons to fit our modern and more demanding lifestyle. Kudos for your bravery and thanks for letting us into your project!

Be sure to check out Reinergirl's blog for the full project write-up.

 

Restoring Your Classic Car with Versimold: 1955 Buick Century Trunk Lid Stops

Restoring Your Classic Car with Versimold: 1955 Buick Century Trunk Lid Stops

When you're restoring your classic car, you're going to inevitably need to replace or repair rubber parts throughout the project. Whether that be o-rings, gaskets, grommets, seals, or in this case, a trunk lid stop for a 1955 Buick Century.

1955 Buick Century Riviera Coupe(photo credit: Pinterest user Dave Neifer - not Mudbone's Buick)

Mudbone's '55 Buick Century is being completely restored to its former glory as an opulent coupe that competed against Cadillac as American's favored luxury brand. But with any restoration project, finding the required parts can either be difficult to source or expensive to purchase. However, those with a little bit of ingenuity can make a perfectly usable rubber part that works like the original version by creating it from Versimold.

Check out the video below to see how Mudbone created his trunk lid stop with Versimold:

To follow Mudbone's 1955 Buick Century restoration project, check out his complete playlist here.

Restoring an Antique Zenith 5S29 Tube Radio: A Preservation of History

Restoring an Antique Zenith 5S29 Tube Radio: A Preservation of History

We recently stumbled upon a gold mine of beautifully made videos showcasing antique radios and their paths to complete restoration. One such treasure trove of vintage radio restoration videos is the YouTube Channel "Restore Old Radios" operated by tube junkie Don demonstrates his creativity by using Versimold to repair a drive belt used in the tuning condenser of a Zenith 5S29 tube radio. 


(
Photo credit: ElectronicProducts.com)

The Zenith 5-S-29 was introduced in 1935 at a retail price of $39.95 - a whopping $694 in 2016 dollars! Obviously this was a luxury item for households that wanted the latest and greatest in an emerging technology so manufacturers ensured that their products were packed with reliable components and the cabinets were an expression of modern Art Deco styling. 


(
Photo credit: TubeRadioLand.com)

Surprisingly, vacuum tube technology in radios had a very long lifespan, enjoying popularity for over 50 years since their adoption in the marketplace. Today, we've surpassed conventional radio technology in our homes and cars, favoring satellite radio that can stream almost crystal clear signals with little interruption. Still though, there are those in the world that continue to admire the beauty of admittedly obsolete technology that helped shape our modern world by transmitting the stories that affected us so intimately and made our planet just a little bit smaller. Antique radio restoration for these folks isn't just about a personal hobby, but like archeologists and historians, they are preserving history, ensuring that our past isn't drowned out by the inevitable tsunami of semiconductors and smartphones. 

Check out Don's playlist documenting his journey in restoring a vintage Zenith 5S29 tube radio: