Wish me luck ...
Discussion
Having ripped out the dash yesterday, to sort out the flickering instrument lights I decided to strip the old veneer off (it was cracked in several places and there were two small pieces missing) re-veneer it.
I played around with some wood dyes and decided that Pitch Pine was the best on the piece of Masur birch burr veneer I'm using:
This is natural, the dye is a rich, reddish brown.
I've never veneered onto metal before, so I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll apply several coats of yacht varnish before reinstalling. Total cost around £15.00 (my labour is free to me!), so if it lasts one year and needs redoing, it's no problem. I have enough of that veneer to do the centre console and glove box lid.
I'll be starting on it tomorrow.
Streaky
I played around with some wood dyes and decided that Pitch Pine was the best on the piece of Masur birch burr veneer I'm using:
This is natural, the dye is a rich, reddish brown. I've never veneered onto metal before, so I'll let you know how it turns out. I'll apply several coats of yacht varnish before reinstalling. Total cost around £15.00 (my labour is free to me!), so if it lasts one year and needs redoing, it's no problem. I have enough of that veneer to do the centre console and glove box lid.
I'll be starting on it tomorrow.
Streaky
What would your choice be for dashboard/centre console/glovebox/etc.?
1)
Bubinga.
2)
Quilted Spanish Cedar.
3)
Rosewood (the lighter sapwood would be trimmed off.
4)
Burr Walnut #1.
5)
Burr Walnut #2.
6)
Burr Walnut #3 (this is a book matched pair of veneers).
7)
Fiddleback European Walnut.
8)
Zebrano (might go well with the modern look or an all-grey interior.
I've cleaned up the old steel panel and cut a MDF template - from that I can (if the veneering over steel - even with a thin plywood field between the steel and the veneer - doesn't work too well) cut marine ply dashboards for veneering. Watch this space.
NB - I am NOT doing this as a business ... at least not at £15.00 a dashboard!
Streaky
1)
Bubinga. 2)
Quilted Spanish Cedar. 3)
Rosewood (the lighter sapwood would be trimmed off. 4)
Burr Walnut #1. 5)
Burr Walnut #2. 6)
Burr Walnut #3 (this is a book matched pair of veneers). 7)
Fiddleback European Walnut. 8)
Zebrano (might go well with the modern look or an all-grey interior. I've cleaned up the old steel panel and cut a MDF template - from that I can (if the veneering over steel - even with a thin plywood field between the steel and the veneer - doesn't work too well) cut marine ply dashboards for veneering. Watch this space.
NB - I am NOT doing this as a business ... at least not at £15.00 a dashboard!
Streaky
I prefer the Burr Walnut ones personally. No.2 if you could have it without the lighter coloured bits (inconsiderate trees 
) All those three do look a little dull+lifeless though, or is that just how they look before varnish?
Edited to say, good luck
>> Edited by york33 on Thursday 27th May 08:06
) All those three do look a little dull+lifeless though, or is that just how they look before varnish? Edited to say, good luck
>> Edited by york33 on Thursday 27th May 08:06
Two things bring them to life. Staining and finishing. Staining will add (darker) colour to the naturally lighter-coloured veneers. Finishing (varnish, oil, French polishing) will add depth and bring out the grain, burrs, etc. Bezel rings will then add highlighting.
Just stuck (that spray adhesive from Frosts really is sticky!) new foam behind the dash into which to plunge the airvents and plugged the spare stub that used to lead to a RH vent on an older car. That should ensure more air to the windscreen vents. Realised afterwards that I should have a cut out for the clock (it's a solid block of foam stuck to the heater box and wedged between the dashboard frame and the heater box)
. Still, a bit of fiddling and that will be sorted.
Just waiting to order the Al airvents from Karl to complement the bezel rings and we're away. Anyway, I can put the instruments back now and get the car road-worthy again.
When finished, I'll be using velcro to stick the veneered dash over the metal instrument panel. I did that some time ago with the centre console and it eases access and hasn't fallen off yet (famous last words).
Streaky
Just stuck (that spray adhesive from Frosts really is sticky!) new foam behind the dash into which to plunge the airvents and plugged the spare stub that used to lead to a RH vent on an older car. That should ensure more air to the windscreen vents. Realised afterwards that I should have a cut out for the clock (it's a solid block of foam stuck to the heater box and wedged between the dashboard frame and the heater box)
. Still, a bit of fiddling and that will be sorted. Just waiting to order the Al airvents from Karl to complement the bezel rings and we're away. Anyway, I can put the instruments back now and get the car road-worthy again.
When finished, I'll be using velcro to stick the veneered dash over the metal instrument panel. I did that some time ago with the centre console and it eases access and hasn't fallen off yet (famous last words).
Streaky
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