the next day i spent forever trying to drill larger holes for the handle fasteners. that steel is hard, i destroyed a couple bits trying to get 1/4" holes. for some reason i could get them no larger than 3/16", so i used thinner fasteners. then i added the weather seal, which was relatively tough and hard for weather seal. after a little sanding and two coats of plasti-dip:








the rubber feels very resilient, but i'm not completely satisfied. i think i'll take it off and try again with a layer of something hard, a layer of something soft, and then the rubber coat. or maybe just a ton of rubber coats with no slabs beneath.

wait a sec....what the hell is that?