Mini-Blinds

R

richard waters

New member
Feb 8, 1999
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> In a message dated 5/16/00 4:59:46 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Hanson9

>
> >
>
> Try Guske sales. They sell the day/night blinds so I'm sure they also sell
> the valances.
>
> Manny Trovao
> 73 Custom/ex-Glacier
> San Jose, California

Manny,
I don't think Guske sells valances. I know in their own coach they made their
own. I actually got the idea of making my own from them. They built theirs out
of wood and covered them with fabric. That was about a year ago when I visited
them and their coach to see what the day/night shades they sell look like.

I have no idea who makes valances except for Buskrik and Cinnabar. I don't
think what they make are available mail order.

Richard Waters
1976 Palm Beach
Troy, MI
 
Dean,

Call Jim Bounds at the GMC CoOp (877) 275-4462
I just finished installing his valances on my coach, looks really nice. He
can tell you what kind of blinds to get, or even get them for you.

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 5:58 PM
Subject: GMC: Mini-Blinds

> Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I know
how
> to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a commercial
source.
> Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru those
> open windows.
>
 
Dean,
I made my own valances because I couldn't find any ready made. I used
day/night shades because I heard some bad things about mini-blinds. What I
heard was that they can rattle and some even melt. I like the concept of the
day/night shade where you have a shade for day time and another shade for
night time. I like them a whole lot better then the shabby curtains that I
had. Mini-blinds on the other hand are probably a lot more cost effective way
of covering the windows in the GMC.

I'm with you as far as if I had it to do over again, I would have looked a bit
harder to find someone who sells valances. They were a royal pain to build.
It was not easy to make the side pieces. Each side piece was different to fit
the curve of the coach. I would have thought that the curve sides would have
been uniform through out the coach. WRONG! Also the worse part for me was
covering the wood pieces with fabric. That sounded easier then it was.

If I had the valances to do over again I would have just made them with a nice
looking oak or other nice looking wood.

This was just another one of those things that turns out to be twice as hard,
twice as expensive and takes twice as long to do as I had anticipated. Of
course now I'm an expert and I could make them up in half the time.

The final result looks good IMHO.

Good Luck!
Richard

> Actually, Richard, the request was from me. Did you end up making your own
> and did you use mini-blinds? Dean Hanson
 
Peter,
Does he have valances for the rear? I didn't do the rear because of the
complexity of fitting all the curves of the big rear window.

Also what are they made of?

Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI

> Dean,
>
> Call Jim Bounds at the GMC CoOp (877) 275-4462
> I just finished installing his valances on my coach, looks really nice. He
> can tell you what kind of blinds to get, or even get them for you.
>
> Peter
> 77 Eleganza II
> Colorado
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 5:58 PM
> Subject: GMC: Mini-Blinds
>
> > Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I know
> how
> > to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a commercial
> source.
> > Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru those
> > open windows.
> >
 
The valances are pretty much made custom for each coach because of the
inside curve of the body. I just made my own out of plastic eves
trove(downspout). No two coach are the same inside for the curve. I
made a templet and made I own. Not really that hard.

>
> Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I know how
> to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a commercial source.
> Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru those
> open windows.

- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan
 
Hanson9 says
Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I know how
to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a commercial
source.
Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru those
open windows.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------
Alex Sirum made some for us with white padded vinyl covering. The padding
helps keep the blind from rattling on the road. Alex claims all GMC have a
different curve so he likes to custom make them. I guess the aluminum frames
all sag a little differently over the years. He may be able to send you out
several different curves and you could match them to your coach and order
from the samples. He was using L brackets to attach them to the existing
screws in the window moldings. It is a neat clean way to do it without
drilling new holes.
Actually they are easy to make once you get after it. Just take some thin
luan or quarter inch ply and scribe it to the curve then cut it out with a
jig saw. Put on the return. Often when you get one made several others will
be close so you may be able to use it as a template. When they fit fairly
closely cover them with your choice of vinyl over thin foam using contact
cement. This cover hides your little goofs and inaccuracies in meeting the
wall and provides a washable surface.

We were glad to get rid of our cloth drapes which seemed to act as a great
filter for all the dust blowing around. They were a real bear to get up
after washing.

HTH
Wayne Nesbit
 
Richard,

Yes, he does have valances for the rear. I had to do some cutting and
sanding to get them to fit right before I covered and mounted them. The
valances are made of white plastic.
I'll try to take some pictures and post them on PhotoPoint.

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Waters"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 7:42 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Mini-Blinds

> Peter,
> Does he have valances for the rear? I didn't do the rear because of the
> complexity of fitting all the curves of the big rear window.
>
> Also what are they made of?
>
> Richard Waters
> '76 PB, Troy, MI
>

>
> > Dean,
> >
> > Call Jim Bounds at the GMC CoOp (877) 275-4462
> > I just finished installing his valances on my coach, looks really nice.
He
> > can tell you what kind of blinds to get, or even get them for you.
> >
> > Peter
> > 77 Eleganza II
> > Colorado
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From:
> > To:
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 5:58 PM
> > Subject: GMC: Mini-Blinds
> >
> > > Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I
know
> > how
> > > to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a commercial
> > source.
> > > Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru
those
> > > open windows.
> > >
>
>
 
> Does anyone have available or know of a source for side valances? I
> know how
> to but would rather not make my own. Someone should have a
> commercial source.
> Please? Dean Hanson's 73-23-gmc with the not-so-pretty picture thru
> those
> open windows.

Jim Bounds seems to make them up quickly and it would seem they can nest
for shipping keeping transport costs down.

He does nice work.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829
http://www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
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