Center Dash/Door Caps
Discussion
Mine's just got a nice crack in the plastic coating over the veneer on the nav door cover show up. My question is has anyone removed the wood veneer from the center section/door caps and then had them sprayed? Rather than have to purchase new ones was wondering if I could just strip the veneer, prep, and spray what I've got?
Looking at it though it appears without the veneer they may sit a bit lower.
Looking at it though it appears without the veneer they may sit a bit lower.
My wood trim ('06 DB9 Volante) is currently being refinished by Madera Concepts. Mine also had a hairline crack in the nav door cover, along with some fading and a couple of very small chips.
I'd previously taken it to a local highly-regarded furniture refinisher who was excited about taking on the job. After about a week he called me in a bit of a panic because he was unable to strip the finish, which I understand is a "complex multipart polyester resin." The challenge, apparently, is that the resin "is designed to be hard enough to resist scratching, but flexible enough to stretch and contract over the wide range of temperatures that automobiles may encounter...as well as protecting the wood from ultraviolet rays and other airborne corrosive materials."
Anyway, I ended up sending my pieces to Madera, which takes about ten days. It's about $1,000 for full restoration of the four pieces.
I'd previously taken it to a local highly-regarded furniture refinisher who was excited about taking on the job. After about a week he called me in a bit of a panic because he was unable to strip the finish, which I understand is a "complex multipart polyester resin." The challenge, apparently, is that the resin "is designed to be hard enough to resist scratching, but flexible enough to stretch and contract over the wide range of temperatures that automobiles may encounter...as well as protecting the wood from ultraviolet rays and other airborne corrosive materials."
Anyway, I ended up sending my pieces to Madera, which takes about ten days. It's about $1,000 for full restoration of the four pieces.
Zuman said:
the resin "is designed to be hard enough to resist scratching, but flexible enough to stretch and contract over the wide range of temperatures that automobiles may encounter...as well as protecting the wood from ultraviolet rays and other airborne corrosive materials.".
Shame that doesn't actually b work! My piano black is cracked either side of the sat nav hole - the harder I corner the longer they get!Don't want to spray over the wood as wouldn't any future cracks just split the paint?
Assumed the black one's were paint directly on metal. Do they have some kind of layer similar to veneer that they are sprayed on? So every finish other than real carbon fiber will eventually get cracks?
Assumed the black one's were paint directly on metal. Do they have some kind of layer similar to veneer that they are sprayed on? So every finish other than real carbon fiber will eventually get cracks?
old phart said:
Don't want to spray over the wood as wouldn't any future cracks just split the paint?
Assumed the black one's were paint directly on metal. Do they have some kind of layer similar to veneer that they are sprayed on? So every finish other than real carbon fiber will eventually get cracks?
Piano black is wood veneer on die cast metal - made in Turkey. Have toyed with the idea of wrapping it - the cracks are so fine it would cover it no problem.Assumed the black one's were paint directly on metal. Do they have some kind of layer similar to veneer that they are sprayed on? So every finish other than real carbon fiber will eventually get cracks?
However this is my replacement when I get round to fitting it:
dalecan said:
I'm surprised more people just don't wrap these when they crack. I'm sure it would look OK.
Because you can see it's a wrap from 50yds away. Skinning is the next step, and a good choice to be honest. The genuine Aston door caps are skinned. So is the Nav ski slope really. Then take mirror caps, 100% carbon is lovely but the locking tabs are ridiculously fragile.
A real 100% carbon replacement is preferred, but not always practical. Some things made in 100% carbon better than the OEM. Other times, skinning a preformed part or frame is wise.
Pure carbon- http://www.divinatech.com/carbon-door-cappings-p/a...
Skinned - http://r.ebay.com/d3mug4
I just had M-Tec Dynamics wrap a BMW steering wheel centre bezel with 3M Carbon film as the existing rubberised coating had worn through. £30 same day turnaround. Superb service
Looks absolutely great - you would never tell!
I'd suggest door caps could be 10% of the huge cost of those £1500 Works jobbies
Looks absolutely great - you would never tell!
I'd suggest door caps could be 10% of the huge cost of those £1500 Works jobbies
LordBretSinclair said:
V8V Pete said:
I was hoping that my new real carbon fibre one would never crack but only time will tell. Has anyone on here ever got a crack in a CF one? In the meantime I'll just enjoy admiring it and being able to see where I'm going when it's sunny 
Me too !!!!
As another alternative to spraying the existing, and as a much cheaper alternative to a new one is hydrodipping with a carbon fibre effect finish. It's not a 'nice' as real carbonfibre but I didn't like all the different shades of grey in the standard early Vantage where the matt spray finish on the gear surround is different to the satin powder coating on the handles, which was different again to the textured ski-slope. Having it all in the same finish brought the whole interior together IMHO.
Quite a straightforward dismantling job if you're careful.
Quite a straightforward dismantling job if you're careful.
I must admit that I'm SLIGHTLY embarrassed by this, but I just had the lower sections of my console wrapped.
At the top of this thread I discussed getting my wood refinished. It's WOOD, dammit, and I want it done right. The middle part of the console, however is plastic that Aston Martin spec'd with a fake satin metallic finish, and mine had developed a few nicks and abrasions over the years. I could have had mine professionally re-sprayed, but I didn't want to spend the money at this time, so I decided to have it wrapped and see how I like it and how it holds up. Then I decided to continue it through the lower console piece with the ashtray.
You can't really tell from the photo, but it looks good. It's odd - I'm sure I wouldn't have wrapped it if the middle part wasn't plastic, but that kind of gave me the excuse to cheat a bit myself.
At least for a while.
, nice neat job.Zuman said:
I must admit that I'm SLIGHTLY embarrassed by this, but I just had the lower sections of my console wrapped.
At the top of this thread I discussed getting my wood refinished. It's WOOD, dammit, and I want it done right. The middle part of the console, however is plastic that Aston Martin spec'd with a fake satin metallic finish, and mine had developed a few nicks and abrasions over the years. I could have had mine professionally re-sprayed, but I didn't want to spend the money at this time, so I decided to have it wrapped and see how I like it and how it holds up. Then I decided to continue it through the lower console piece with the ashtray.
You can't really tell from the photo, but it looks good. It's odd - I'm sure I wouldn't have wrapped it if the middle part wasn't plastic, but that kind of gave me the excuse to cheat a bit myself.
At least for a while.
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