new dash wood

[Jazgeek]

$15 worth of red oak veneer (1/8 thick)
2 hours cutting and gluing
1 coat minwax stain (didn't want it too dark)
7 coats polyurethane (uv protected)

new buffed down bezels (based on comments I've read here that they can blind you if they're chromed)

did all the wood pieces and it looks pretty sharp. Only thing I can't figure out is how to get the wood out that contains the map light.... pried at various places and it doesn't seem to come out.

[pope]

The map light wood piece is held in by the aluminum trim ring the surrounds it. There are 4 tabs on the that must be bent out from behind and pushed out.

[radiopilot]

Looks great, the grain is excellent.

I too this weekend stained and poly'd the wood for the shift console, radio console, and the new wood behind the brake lever.
One thing I find hard to do is get a very level surface using the poly, I sand between coats and use a fine brush but still get waviness, the only level surface was the radio wood and small piece I made for the brake lever, the shift console wood (new 1/8" backing board) does not surface well yet it's fully flat no high spots... any tricks/hints to get a level surface anyone?

Nick

[rlux4]

Nick, does your waviness come from the brush? Polyeurathane is very hard to get a good finish with by brush. I spray it with a gun and get a smooth finish regardless of the wood species.
Ron

[Jazgeek]

I used spray can instead of a brush for the poly.... key was getting the first layer smooth after stain and first application of poly.... after that..... glass like surface

[pope]

Nick,
The other guys are right. Use a spray can, and only sand after several coats, not every coat. I'll put 6 coats on before I wet sand and only sand after I let it sit for 2 days. Sand with a Mouse or DA sander using 320 grit. You can hand sand only if it is a stiff sanding block, not your fingers. Mine has over 20 coats on.

[mdrburchette]

I spray mine too, but it should flow out with a brush. Maybe if you mix a little thinner with it, it'll flow better.

[ga.spyder]

Jazgeek,
Congrats on getting the winter project done,it looks great.
Craig

[Jazgeek]

thanks craig... other project done too.. powdercoated my tube bumpers gloss black.... another project done - roll bar (powder coated it same silver as car) other project half done - one seat reupholstered.... need time to do other... last project to do before nice weather is to put the new top on and figure out how to put the rear seat nacelles back on now that the roll bar is installed.

[radiopilot]

Thanks all, I will sand the wood again using a block to level all the surfaces and try the spray poly.

Post some picks of your new upholstery, did you make them yourself or are they from the usual suppliers?

Nick

[Jazgeek]

upholstery was from a guy on ebay who curiously only had the bottoms and one back rest. My dad's a tailor so I got him to make a new back piece from the same material. He also made me a new boot cover at the same time.

so I guess it's a half and half

I'll post pic's as soon as I can clear enough room around the car... weather's heating up little by little... 1 more month I'd say unless it really heats up in the next few weeks. I still have a snow mound in the middle of the court from snow plow accumulation this past year.

[ga.spyder]

I am looking forward to the pix.Powder coating the tube bumpers black,especially.On your color car,I bet they look awesome!
Craig

[azygoustoyou]

Has anyone ever done a carbon fiber dash? Any pic's out there? I was thinking it might be kinda cool.
http://store.thecarbonshop.com/scp-1000-232.html

[Jazgeek]

Has anyone ever done a carbon fiber dash? Any pic's out there? I was thinking it might be kinda cool.
http://store.thecarbonshop.com/scp-1000-232.html

check this closed auction.... looks nice, but I'd be worrying about peeling after a certain amount of time and then the goo associated with removing mac-tac... (there's a term that shows my age)


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/fiat-124 ... ccessories