Armrests for cars - how to make this "thing" comfortable? Armrest in the car - does it help the driver? Homemade armrest in the car.

The armrest is an indispensable part of many modern cars, which is designed to increase the comfort of all vehicle passengers. These elements are used so that motorists and passengers can rest their arms. In addition, devices of this kind can also be mounted directly into the chairs. Armrests have achieved their widespread popularity on expensive and large car models. However, the modern day simple car enthusiast will never give up on improving the comfort of movement of himself and his passengers through such an inexpensive improvement.

The very first thing that motorists look at when buying a new vehicle is the maximum comfort of the driver when moving the car. The armrests are one such component of comfort. While the motorist's hand is on the armrest, it will be totally relaxed. In this case, the total load on both the spine and the muscles of the driver's back will be reduced. As a result, which is important for long journeys, the driver's fatigue is reduced by an order of magnitude.

Among other things, modern universal armrests have additional convenient functions and devices through which the trip will seem even more comfortable and cozy. A box (a small box) for small items allows you to place many important and small elements in itself, such as documents for a car, license and other things a motorist needs.

A place for a bottle or cup is also provided in all armrest designs. In addition, there are armrests with a sliding mechanism, which will allow their upper comfortable cushion to be moved to a comfortable position for the hand or will open access to a cup holder or box. In addition, on this device, you can often find all sorts of electronic controls and buttons that are responsible for some of the electrical devices of the car.

1. Types of armrests.

The armrests, which are located between the two front seats of the car, quite often wield a compartment for things and holders for cups. Often, the position of the armrests can be adjusted, which will be associated with the preference of the motorist and user. Some of the armrests, which were already mentioned above, have specific control buttons for some of the functional components of the car.

The middle armrest device is built into a sufficiently strong plastic material, while upholstered with leather or soft cloth. In addition, one or two armrests can be fitted to the vehicle separately from the seat. This kind of device is typical for some SUVs and minibuses.

Often, an additional armrest is installed in the door and is part of the door handle. A folding armrest can also be located between the rear seats of the car, which will allow for additional space in the middle. Some armrest designs may have a safety or child seat function. They are equipped with special equipment. Armrests in the rear doors are also not uncommon. In the event that there is no rear door, then these devices can be mounted to the side of the body.

2. Stages of armrest installation.

It is not always possible for finance, or availability in the assortment, purchasing the necessary suitable one. Thus, you can create an armrest with your own hands. The beginning of the manufacture of a universal armrest should be laid with the measurement of dimensions and distances at the place of the upcoming installation directly in the passenger compartment. This should be done in your own car, and not on the example of a neighbor's car. Some nuances in the component part of the car's interior may differ.

All these measurements are recommended not to be entered into a sketch of the armrest installation site, which was prepared by the motorist himself. So it will be possible to immediately determine which parts are needed there or what distances are here. To begin with, you should make the following measurements:

- a level that will be comfortable for relaxing the hand at the elbow;

Distance between the front seats;

The distance between the buckles of the seat belts in the front seats;

The distance between the back surface of the chair back and the included hand brake;

Dimensions and positions of the included handbrake, lifting height of the handle;

Dimensions and dimensions of the location of the console fasteners and elements between the front seats.

After that, you should create a sketch or drawing. It is best to make up several of these variations, depending on a particular position. Hands should create the appearance of the armrest on all sketches, which will be done directly in accordance with the desired projection in each separate sheet. After that, you can begin to mark the parts, through which the design of this device will be drawn up.

After that, you need to make the most detailed detailing of the determined elements of the armrest on all sketches. The item should be described in detail: its dimensions, radii of curves, bends, etc. the method and place of fastening with other structural elements, where to designate the distance of the edges of the desired part, the diameter of the fastener and the depth of the fastener insertion into the desired structure.

For the wall to which the armrest support cushion will be attached, you need to specify the dimensions and location of the swing-out fasteners. You can also design a sliding cover scheme if possible.

The future armrest will be fixed with a snug fit or with specially designed prepared fixings. In the first case, cutouts and grooves will be provided on the side parts of the armrest, which will fit directly onto the interior elements that are located in the middle of the seats. In addition, after the armrest has already been designed, but has not yet been fitted, the thickness of the backing material for the side walls of the support must be determined at the installation site in the car. As a result of this preparation, the motorist should not encounter problems.

3. Materials for installing the armrest.

In order to make the cover and armrest body with your own hands, you can use any wood material, the thickness of which will reach 8 mm. This material can be board, plywood, fiberboard or chipboard. If the support cushion must be bent, as well as the front wall, then only plywood is suitable for the manufacture of such parts, since it can be bent over steam. In order to fit the armrest, you should use leather, leatherette, leatherette or other material.

All parts should be cut out of the desired material yourself using a hacksaw or jigsaw. After that, all parts that should be bent must be processed over steam and wait until they cool completely. Only then can the necessary cutouts be made in them, if, of course, they are provided by the manufacturer.

After preparing all the parts of the case, you need to fasten the entire structure with self-tapping screws or wood glue. If fixation is necessary according to the spacer principle, then you need to determine the thickness of the lining material, instead of which you can take thin plywood or cragis. Next, you need to attach all the pads on the sides and put them on the screws. Everything, there is absolutely nothing left.

You just need to cover the body with the necessary material and give the support cushion softness and the required shape. To do this, you need to stick foam rubber or other soft material of the same type on the top. Next, we knock down all the material and sew it together. Felt of the required size is glued on top of such material, which will be attached along the edges of the lid. As a result, you need to completely cover it too. After installing the cover on the housings, you need to install the hinges for it. That's it, the construction is ready.

The interior of any car should be as comfortable as possible for the driver, because some users spend several hours without rest. Therefore, every little thing becomes important and weighty, for example, an armrest, which can reduce tension in the arm, take the load off the shoulder and relax the elbow. But not all cars are produced with this element in the cabin. Many car owners are trying to create armrests for cars with their own hands, and even quite successfully.

What is the correct armrest?

The idea of creating an element for the location of one of the driver's hands is not devoid of sense. Buying such a factory-made design is not an easy undertaking. It is expensive, it is difficult to find a structure with the right dimensions, appropriate design and the internal functionality that you require. There is only one way out - to delve into the manufacture of armrests for cars and try your hand at this exciting business.

We need a “correct” armrest, the design of which will take into account all the nuances, its ergonomics have been brought to the maximum value, and will fully correspond to the interior decoration of the car. To do this, you need to pay attention to the following points:

the presence of a separate compartment for storing important little things that can be easily and quickly found;
the ability to put a bottle of water or a glass of tea / coffee;
the presence of a sliding and reclining mechanism to give the structure mobility and provide access to the handbrake and seat belt latch;
the use of soft yet durable materials that provide a comfortable and comfortable hand position.

It is such an armrest in the car that we will make.

Stages of creating a structure

There are several schemes for creating this structure. Some of them are simpler and less laborious, while others are too complex and incomprehensible. We tried to create a work plan that can be mastered even by an inexperienced car owner in design, not spend a lot of time on it and at the same time get a reliable product that will meet all the above requirements.

Removing the dimensions

Here you need to show maximum attentiveness and concentration. The accuracy of measuring the distances and dimensions of the place for the future armrest will affect the parameters of the finished structure and its location. It is necessary to carry out these actions only in your car, because in two cars of the same brand, there may be discrepancies in the salons.

All the data that you will receive must be written down, it is better to immediately on the sketch of the future product. Thus, the measurements will not be confused, they will be clearly, accurately and without errors recorded. You will need to measure the following parameters:

at what distance from each other are the front seats;
find out the distance at which the position of the driver's hand is most comfortable (get into the car, take the wheel with one hand, and bring the other into a relaxed state and put in the usual position);
turn on the handbrake and measure the distance from it to the back surface of the seat back (the comfort of the rear passengers cannot be ignored);
take into account the distance between the latching mechanism for the seat belts.

Make a visual comparison of the location of the future structure and its dimensions, stopping at the handbrake. Interested in the relative position of the handbrake and armrest. If the last element enters the parking brake territory, then at the stage of taking measurements it will be necessary to measure the lift height of the brake lever.

Project creation

So, measurements recorded and verified, it's time to create a paper prototype of the future design. Do not be lazy and make several options that will reflect the armrest for the car from different angles. Transfer all dimensions to each drawing and make sure they are fully consistent.

Now you can start marking parts and small drawing of each element that will make up the future structure. We pay special attention to the following points:

we indicate the dimensions on each element, if it is curly, then we determine the radius;
we mark the attachment points, choose the method of connecting some elements with others and indicate the length of the screws, if any;
we calculate the distance that remains to the edge;
for the upper part, which will serve as a support and a lid at the same time, you will need to mark the location of the attachment with a swing-out functionality (you can make a sliding top, but this will be somewhat more difficult).

Determining the method of attachment

Think about the method of fastening. The car armrests can be tightly fitted between the seats or fixed with special fasteners.

If you decide to stay on tight fixation, then you will need to prepare grooves in the lower part of the structure, corresponding to the details in the area of the intended installation site. Immediately you need to decide and take into account its thickness when marking up the project.

Making fasteners yourself is not an easy task, but the result is worth your efforts and the time spent on this process. The armrest elements at the bottom of the armrest must be tied to structural elements of the interior of the machine or to previously created fasteners.

Each of your decisions must first be transferred to the drawing, and only then implemented. In this way, mistakes and inaccuracies can be avoided.

Choosing materials and completing the work

You can choose any wood-based material to create the body and support parts. Its thickness should be at the level of 8 mm. In the absence of rounding, you can not limit yourself in the choice of material, otherwise it is better to stay on plywood, which can bend under the influence of water vapor. To cut out the constituent elements of the structure of the required shape, you need to have a hacksaw at hand, or even better a jigsaw. For cladding, any material that you like is suitable. But remember that it must be resistant to wear and tear, have a long lasting color and match the design of the machine.

So, the parts are cut and ready for assembly. Prepare the patterns on upholstery paper. Using glue or fixing elements, we assemble our homemade armrest into the car. If no mistakes were made earlier, then problems will not arise.

According to the patterns made earlier, we cut out the elements for the upholstery and fasten them with a furniture stapler or glue. We are engaged in a lid, which should be soft and slightly rounded. You will need foam rubber or regular dishwashing sponges. We place the selected material, glue and cut off unnecessary elements. We cover with felt, which we carefully glue along the edges. It remains to fit the finished armrest and.

To some, this work may seem difficult, impracticable and very time-consuming, but it’s difficult just to get started, and then the work will boil. Before you even know it, the car will already have a brand new armrest with a universal design and organization of the interior space. Try it yourself and tell your friends how to make an armrest in a car.

The owners of the "seven" often try to give it individual features, to make the car more convenient and comfortable. Installing an armrest on a VAZ 2107 is an inexpensive and easy way to improve the ergonomics of the driver's and front passenger's seats.
By installing an armrest on a VAZ 2107, in addition to additional comfort, you can get:

additional compartment for small items;
stand for a bottle with a drink or glasses;
space for convenient location of control buttons (for example, power windows).

There are ready-made armrests on sale, but only an individual piece made by yourself can perfectly fit into the interior of the cabin, meeting the tastes and requirements of the driver.

Armrest design for VAZ 2107

You should start by taking measurements of the dimensions at the place where the armrest is installed. These parameters may differ slightly even on machines of the same series. If the interior has been refined, the seats or the console have changed, one cannot do without preliminary measurements. It is better to apply the results obtained immediately to the sketch of the armrest, so that after that you do not have to deal with the notes for a long time. Be sure to take into account the following parameters:

armrest height VAZ 2107;
the distance between the driver's seat and the passenger's;
the gap between the locks holding the seat belts;
dimensions of the handle and the height of the "parking brake";
distance to torpedo or console.

Based on the sketch and the measurement results, it is necessary to make a drawing in three projections. When calculating the dimensions of the structure, take into account the thickness of the felt or foam rubber on the walls of the armrest. You also need to provide and mark the joints and fasteners for the walls and the armrest cover.

Important: reliable fastening of the structure can only be ensured with the help of fasteners to the interior parts.

Materials for making the armrest

For the manufacture of the case, it is best to use chipboard or plywood about 8 mm thick. Such material is available, easy to process and provides sufficient structural strength. If the shape of the armrest provides for curved surfaces, only plywood will do - it can be bent after steaming.
You can sheathe the armrest with leather, leatherette or fabric, and put foam rubber or felt under the mistake. You will also need metal corners, screws and glue.
A jigsaw is suitable for cutting out wooden parts.

Armrest manufacturing

If this is your first time starting work of this kind, before making a structure out of fiberboard or plywood, it is worth making a life-size model out of cardboard. You can use tape or paper clips to connect the cardboard parts of the layout. The mock-up will make sure that there were no mistakes in the design of the VAZ 2107 armrest structure.
The armrest manufacturing process looks like this:

mark future details on a chipboard or plywood sheet;
cut out the marked elements with a jigsaw;
if necessary, bend plywood parts by pre-treating them with steam or soaking them;
connect the parts with metal corners and self-tapping screws, having previously lubricated the joints with glue;
lay a layer of foam rubber on the lid and sheathe it with leather or other material;
sheathe the walls of the armrest (to make them soft, you can put felt or foam rubber under the upholstery).

Installing an armrest on a VAZ 2107

To attach the armrest, you can use parts of an old part or make brackets yourself.
The most common way of fastening is to clamp the fork-shaped armrest brackets with the seat belt buckle bolts. To do this, it is necessary to move the seats forward, unscrew the bolts of the seat belt buckles, and then tighten them, having previously inserted the brackets there. You can also make corners that allow you to press the armrest to the floor with self-tapping screws.

The automobile company VAZ has always been famous for its cars, which can be easily upgraded and tuned. And most of the changes can be made without resorting to ready-made solutions, but do it yourself.

Perhaps every motorist wants to make his car more comfortable and improve its internal design in order to stand out among similar models. A ready-made version of the armrest is not available for all car models, or the price for this element is excessively high. Let's figure out how to make an armrest with our own hands.

Preparation for work

Before manufacturing, drawings of the future armrest are required.... You can easily find them on the Internet, based on the model of the car, or do it yourself using a regular ruler. However, it is recommended to carry out all measurements exclusively with your own hands and on your own car, since there are some differences even on similar models.
A hand-made armrest can be modernized by adding new elements to its design, such as:
Drawer for small things... You can put anything in it: keys, screws, screwdrivers, light bulbs and many other useful items. You can also store various documents on the car, so that if something happens, quickly show them to police officers. In this case, the free space under the visor and in the glove compartment will increase.
The armrest can be useful as coasters for glasses and bottles... It is much easier to put a bottle on it than to look for it in the glove compartment later.

Homemade armrest in the car: work progress

Prepare your workplace.
Take and record measurements in the place where you plan to put the armrest. Place it between the front seats. Armrest size can be arbitrary, from compact to as large as possible. Based on your wishes.
Consider the presence of internal free space in the armrest.
After making measurements, start working on the drawing.
Purchase armrest trim material, the most suitable for the interior of the car. As for the hull plating, it is recommended to make it from the following materials:

Leather substitute
Velours
Carbon (Natural or Imitating)
Alcantra

Buy chipboard for making the frame.

Assembly

According to the drawn up drawing, apply the designations on the chipboard sheet, and then cut out the necessary structural details using an electric jigsaw or other tool.
Sand out any sharp corners or unevenness that could tear the sheathing under tension.
Make the necessary markings for screwing in self-tapping screws, for fastening all structural parts together. Screwing them in by hand is not an easy task, so you should arm yourself with a screwdriver.
Make sweat in the inner drawer (if available).
Sand the finished structure again with coarse sandpaper.

The manufacture of the armrest does not end there, the last step remains - the trim.

Armrest trim

The final choice of material for the upholstery will depend on the prestige of the car... In the case of VAZ cars, it is recommended to use the cheapest materials.
Beginners should not be sheathed with genuine leather, since not every motorist can cope with sheathing an armrest from this material.
As for the color, black is the right color for most cars. If this color does not suit the interior of the car, then experiment with other colors.
Trim with strong enough thread, as the armrest will be in constant tension and can easily break.

Progress:

With the help of an arched PVC corner, we produce cladding along the contours. This usually takes no more than 40 minutes.
We pay special attention to the armrest cover, as it should be comfortable. The armrest should not be too hard. Use foam rubber or regular dishwashing or body scouring pads to soften the surface of the lid.
We apply glue to the top surface of the chipboard, after which we glue sponges or foam rubber.
Wait until it dries and cut off any excess softening material with a utility knife or regular scissors.
To make the armrest more even, cut a rectangle out of felt or a similar material and attach it to both sides of our structure.
Next, we glue the felt to the surface of the top cover and sew it on all sides.

Installing hinges and furniture magnet

This action must be performed if the cover of the designed armrest opens arbitrarily while driving. You will hardly be able to install the lock, and the furniture magnet is just right for this.
If the armrest is designed as a box for small items, then the door hinges can be made from ordinary hinges for any small cabinet. The hinges should not be located on the outside as this can be dangerous.

Let's get started:

Install the furniture magnet and proceed to attaching the hinges.
We fasten them using the same self-tapping screws.
We center all objects and fasten the cover to the main part of the structure.
To use the magnet, we install a metal plate on the back side. It is necessary to place the plate just under the magnet, otherwise the lid will not function.

How to make an armrest in a car yourself and install it

The moment has come to do the most important work, because the correct functioning and durability of the armrest will depend on the correct installation.
You need to be extremely careful when installing., because you can easily spoil the interior details.

To install the armrest you will need:

Polypropylene pipe with steel rod
Hairpin M8 (100-110 centimeters) - for attaching plastic in the cabin

What is the reason and what to do if?

Installation steps:

We insert the trimmed hairpins into the holes.
We insert the metal plate from the back and fasten it with a wrench.
We cut out a plywood rectangle, sew with leatherette and make several holes.
We put the part back and put on the tubes.
Mark the holes on the armrest, then cut them out.
We install it in its place. We fasten with reinforced washers and nuts.

If the resulting design turns out to be uncomfortable, then it is recommended to redo it. An inconvenient driving position can have a negative impact on the quality and safety of the ride.

Video: how to make an armrest in a car with your own hands

Outcome

Thus, we made a car armrest with our own hands.... It was a rather laborious process, requiring the ability to work with various tools. If you are not able to perform all of the above actions, then it is recommended to purchase a ready-made version (if any), so as not to waste your personal time on fruitless work.