SMC Discussion Areas

I am replacing the lower cabinet panel on a Vendo 56 and 81. You can see from the pic below, they were completely shot.   A couple questions.  I am planning on talking with a couple sheet metal shops about making the replacement pieces unless someone knows of a source for them already.  Did not see them on any of our sponser sites.  I assume that those of you who restore professionally have your own local sources for these when you need them, what would you consider to be a reasonable cost.  Do you just get them done in galvanized?  I would think that labor would make up the majority of the expense so I am looking at having them made in stainless as an option as well.  I will let every one know what kind of pricing I get back.  Does anyone else out there need these?  I can look at having several done at the same time if there is any interest.  Lastly, I have seen several posts over time where people have recommended these pieces be replaced, and now that I have mine out, I think it is a "must do".  Getting them out, however, can be a bit of a challenge if you haven't done it before.  Thought I would share what ended up working well for me and ask for input from others on how they do it.  After a bit of trial and thankfully no significant error. I ended up using a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel.  By rubbing it back and forth over the spot weld you wear a hole through the inner panel and leave the outer cabinet untouched.  Takes a little time because you dont want to rush it, but I ended up with the panels cut out and no impact to the rest of the machine.  Once the inner panel was completely out, I could go back and smooth off the weld spots.  The pic below shows the resulting hole in hte rusted pan.  Actual hole is smaller than a dime.

There's a guy that sets up at the Chicago show that makes them, the 56 bottle door skin with windows, 44 racks and a few other items...
Soda Springs name is Jim Rud - sodaspr.com - email is info@sodaspr.com
at least this is what is on his card I got a couple years back....

Thanks Eric,  went to that site and the do actually have the pans already made up and listed on the site.  Great to have that as an option. I appreciate the lead.

How do you install these? Seems welding stainless steal to steal wouldn't quiet work?

You can weld stainless steel you just have to use stainless steel wire in your mig welder.

You can weld stainless steel to steel.

The one bottom I replaced was rotted out in the middle. I cut the bottom out, leaving about 1/2" all the way around still welded to the cabinet. I welded a flat plate to that and used rust converter, then seam sealer, and then coated the entire cabinet with rubberized undercoat.

Your replacing the bottom panel of the cabinet, not the shell right.

the ones Jim sells I believe is the bottom pan for the Tub and it's made of stainless..

I replace each one in almost every machine i restore.. it's just easy to use a spot weld cutting bit and the pan drops right out in about 5 minutes..

My body guy has the dimensions and just gets them made up for each machine we do... I honestly donn't even know the cost, as it is just figured into my body work... I'll check and let you know.. I don't have the dimensions for the 56 so not sure if I can get one of those made

We do some work with a local Mechanical contractor that has a sheet metal shop with a computer automated metal cutter.  I took the cabinet bottoms into them and they are going to cut me a couple of duplicates.  Its obviously not their typical work so they are just going to work it in when they have some slow time.  Since its computer cut, I am anticipating they should be an exact fit.  They thought that the 2 panels would run about $125 in total.  I'll let you know how they turn out. 

Well this is certainly not the sexiest pic on this site, but I picked up the new panels.  They turned out very nice.  Pretty much identical to the originals.  Hoping to have a lifetime of rust free operation

I'm having one made right now for a Vendorlator 56 Transitional  and the inside shelve panel for the main door.
both look like they came out of the swiss cheese company.