Our Unique Method Of Running Board Mat Reproduction
Our method allows us to design and reproduce (build) allrunning board rubber mats. In the seven years we operated Precision Rubber we never had a running board mat pattern that we were not able to build using this method. We have built over 500 sets using this unique method.
We never try to compete with molded and extruded running board mats built by mass reproducers, as they could sell their mats for less than our material costs.
We also spray an industrial coating on all our mats. The result is a finish that looks like rubber, feels like rubber and wears like caste iron. Therefore our running board mats maintain their new look indefinitely.
Reproducing An Original Running Board Mat
Please left click on the images to enlarge.
Note: Due to my limited photography skills and artificial lighting conditions there will be some picture distortion and color inaccuracy, particularly on expansion.
I have purposely chosen a 1936 Buick running board mat pattern to show the unique problems that reproducing this type of mat presents and how the capabilities of our new milling machine makes reproducing this mat possible.
The original mat is 54 3/4" long, 13" wide at the front end and tapers to 8" wide at the rear end.
The pattern sports twelve 1/8" thick by 9/16" bottom width flat top tread bars that taper to 5/8" at the top. Six of these tread bard are full length with the remaining six varying in length as they butt into the body side boarder.
There are a total of twenty four 3/32" neoprene round cords inset into the mat surface, two between each flat topped tread bar.
The patterned is framed with a 1/8" thick 9/16" flat top boarder that also tapers to 5/8" wide at the top.
The problem with this type of mat pattern is that one milling mistake or one slight measurement error can mean that the mat has to be discarded and a new one milled.
(1) Laying Out Pattern Width
(2) Cutter Start Line
(3) Cutter Stop Line
(4) Allowing For Mat Expansion On Installation
(5) Lining Up Cutter With Start Point
(6) Milling Second Row
(7) Milling Last Row
(8) Removal Of Mat From Machine
(9) Milling Tread Bars with 60 degree Cutter
(10) Metal backing plate
(11) Cementing mat to install tread bar
(12) Locking down tread bar with detail sander
(13) Cutting off cord for installation
(14) Close up of Narrow end
(15) Sanding of finished mat
(16) Rust proof industrial coating on metal plate
(17) End view of finished mat
Below is a wide end view of the finished mat.
We pride ourselves in our attention to detail. Before this mat was sprayed with the heavy duty industrial coating it was carefully detailed using a variety of specialty tools to remove minor flaws. The mat was than sprayed with the best industrial coating on the market. The result is an extremely scuff resistant surface that is completely flexible. It also looks and feels like real rubber. After the initial spray the mat was again detailed to remove some flaws that the industrial coating highlighted. Then a second coating was applied.
1936 Buick Century Running Board Mat
Here are two pictures of the 1936 Buick Century Coupe that the mat was installed on. The
owner's comment was: ] "Here are two pictures of the Buick and your running boards which look great Gene "
