DIY blinds

[Pugsley]

I couldn`t bring myself to pay for Vanshades so decided to make my own. I`m pretty good with diy but not with wood. My van was a startline which was ply lined and I kept all the panels when I stripped it to do the poptop, windows, sound deadening, insulation and carpeting. I decided to use the old ply so only parts I needed to buy was the blind from Ikea and a length of 38x25mm plastic trunking. It took me about an hour to make and i`m going to cover it with some 4 way stretch carpet I have left over from doing the rear of the van. I`ll post some more pics once I`ve finished them both.

 

[CAB]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see them in the van!

 

[flycheese]

Mint

 

[993porky]

Great job, what is name of blind from ikea
Also how do they fit to door once you have done 4 way stretch
Thanks
Paul

 

[Pugsley]

Great job, what is name of blind from ikea
Also how do they fit to door once you have done 4 way stretch
Thanks
Paul

Hoppvels 80cm. I`ve not got to fixing them in yet but will probably screw mounting blocks to them and then scrw them to the window frame.

 

[JumpShip]

I need to do this , really hate my curtains !

 

[993porky]

@Pugsley spot on mate thanks for reply look forward to seeing finished job

 

[Steved55]

I've done a similar thing with ikea hopvaal thermal blinds. I picked mine up for about a tenner each on Facebook.
Despite what the instructions say, they can be shortened by up to about 100mm - there are links on you tube. I had already fitted carpeted panels in front of my original curtains and didn't want to strip them out so had to fit the blinds using self tappers through the timber into the body of the blind - careful measuring! The plastic runners were bits of modified plastic cable trunking which I carpet lined which are fixed with Velcro. Had I done this when I first converted could have made a more robust job but overall pleased with the outcome.
They look much neater.
Not quite as black out as curtains.
Only grey available.
One of them sticks a bit in the runner - need to investigate
The long spring in the main body can sometimes twang against the frame when slamming doors or hitting pot holes - may be possible to pack this with something before installing.
Mine have been in about a year now - they are only like a paper material so not sure how robust they are.

Pics available if anyone interested

 

[Pugsley]

I did a bit more this afternoon but ran out of time. I managed to build the second one and carpeted the first one. I also managed to fix them in place. I left them fitted for the drive home from Halifax to Manchester. The road out of the forest where I work is very bumpy and if anyones ever been to Halifax you`ll know how bad the roads are(full of huge pot holes). As others have mentioned the springs on these blinds do rattle so I left the instruction booklet tucked round the spring and I didn`t here a single rattle or vibration from either blind. There was the odd rattle from the offside one but this one hasn`t been carpeted yet. Here`s a few more pictures I took. I also painted the window side of the wood so it isn`t as visible from the outside.

 

[993porky]

@Pugsley great job you’ve done there very impressive

 

[Pugsley]

@Pugsley great job you’ve done there very impressive

And it`s cost me an impressive £58 so far

 

[TeeCeeJay]

Great project. These look really good. Well done mate.

 

[flycheese]

they look ace, you should sell cardboard templates so I can make some, im rubbish at measuring!

 

[Psm1975]

Looking very nice.

 

[Pugsley]

Both of them are finished now. They`re not perfect but for the cost I`m more than happy. Much better than my other option of curtains. Just got to do the rear door blinds now.

 

[993porky]

Excellent job