Griffith and Chimaera dash
Discussion
Does anybody know where I can get my hands on a steel dash.Griffith or Chimaera.Playing with carbon fibre I would like to try some finishes on it.Dont want to pay a lot as I will be covering it then removing it to see which is the best looking and affordable to all.If I get it right it could bring the cost down a lot to covering tired dashes.Stewart
have a look on the griffith forum for Lord Grover, I`m sure he laser cut a few steel ones but can`t be certain.
the original dash backing plates were made from mild steel, hence the rusty surface on the back, unless of course it was an extremely cheap grade of stainless but I doubt it.
the veneer parted company with the backing plate because the glues used to fix the veneer in place wouldn`t allow the wood to expand and contract with the heat ect, so after a time it all starts to crack and come apart, but technology in glues and resins have moved on considerably in the last 10 to 15years, so modern stuff does do its job.
If you want it re veneered have a chat with malc at London Carriage Craft, he did mine 3 years ago and its a class job
the original dash backing plates were made from mild steel, hence the rusty surface on the back, unless of course it was an extremely cheap grade of stainless but I doubt it.
the veneer parted company with the backing plate because the glues used to fix the veneer in place wouldn`t allow the wood to expand and contract with the heat ect, so after a time it all starts to crack and come apart, but technology in glues and resins have moved on considerably in the last 10 to 15years, so modern stuff does do its job.
If you want it re veneered have a chat with malc at London Carriage Craft, he did mine 3 years ago and its a class job
I'd reinforce the London Carriagecraft recommendation. It was he who told me the material was indeed stainless steel and that the cause of the veneer coming away was due to the lack of keying. Indeed my backing sheet was remarkably smooth once it removed the glue. I roughed it up and then tried something else.
I've used model-makers' plywood for the backing of my dash. I'm told this will limit the chances of the veneer making a bid for freedom. The jury is still out.
Stainless steel is a marketing name as it is merely corrosion resistant steel, but the marketing bods would have put a stop to that I suppose. It comes in various 'grades' and the choice of the correct one for the circumstances is vital. Many forms have a sort of 'film' over them which is all but self-repairing. However, sharp edges and certain types of maching can damage this and stop the self-repair mode. Certain chemicals, quite mild you might have thought, can cause corrosion.
Stainless steel is not quite the wonder material its reputation would suggest. A welder mate of mine hates it. It is though, in most circumstances, superior to mild steel. I would point out that London Carriage Craft paint the back of stainless steel dashboards to stop corrosion.
I've used model-makers' plywood for the backing of my dash. I'm told this will limit the chances of the veneer making a bid for freedom. The jury is still out.
Stainless steel is a marketing name as it is merely corrosion resistant steel, but the marketing bods would have put a stop to that I suppose. It comes in various 'grades' and the choice of the correct one for the circumstances is vital. Many forms have a sort of 'film' over them which is all but self-repairing. However, sharp edges and certain types of maching can damage this and stop the self-repair mode. Certain chemicals, quite mild you might have thought, can cause corrosion.
Stainless steel is not quite the wonder material its reputation would suggest. A welder mate of mine hates it. It is though, in most circumstances, superior to mild steel. I would point out that London Carriage Craft paint the back of stainless steel dashboards to stop corrosion.
The original dash is definitely not the same grade of stainless used in DeLoreans. If it's stainless at all it's a very poor grade. I really don't think anything claiming to be "stainless" could have such poor corrosion resistance considering it lives inside a car in a mostly dry environment.
I know that Lord Grover has the drawings to laser cut new stainless dash panels, because he made one for me from a DXF drawing I did. It doesn't have standard instrument placement, but such things are easily fixed if you talk to the right people...
The rust was the main reason the veneer parted company with the dash on mine, and I was told that this is why the LCC dashes are painted on the back. The other common reason, as Clive says, is that the heat expansion of the metal is very different to the wood, and they do get quite warm.
I have never seen anyone struggle to weld stainless - certainly the chap who is making my new quiet exhaust has never complained about the material, only the lack of space to fit the exhaust on the car.
I know that Lord Grover has the drawings to laser cut new stainless dash panels, because he made one for me from a DXF drawing I did. It doesn't have standard instrument placement, but such things are easily fixed if you talk to the right people...
The rust was the main reason the veneer parted company with the dash on mine, and I was told that this is why the LCC dashes are painted on the back. The other common reason, as Clive says, is that the heat expansion of the metal is very different to the wood, and they do get quite warm.
I have never seen anyone struggle to weld stainless - certainly the chap who is making my new quiet exhaust has never complained about the material, only the lack of space to fit the exhaust on the car.
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