If you need a new veneer dashboard....
Discussion
Hi everyone, I am in the middle of a big restoration on my '98 500, and like a lot of owners, I was in need of a new veneer dash. Couldn't find too many options here on PH short of London Carriage Craft (too expensive!) but had a stroke of luck by finding a company called Classical Dash. Had an even bigger stroke of luck when I realised they were only 10 minutes away from me in High Wycombe. They did an excellent job (they do all the veneer dashes for the Morgan Car Company and also multi million pound airplanes) and only charged me 179+VAT for both upper and lower panels. This is the company that does the veneer repairs on behalf of Henley TVR.. I would highly recommend them, nice people too.
jayt1980 said:
Hi everyone, I am in the middle of a big restoration on my '98 500, and like a lot of owners, I was in need of a new veneer dash. Couldn't find too many options here on PH short of London Carriage Craft (too expensive!) but had a stroke of luck by finding a company called Classical Dash. Had an even bigger stroke of luck when I realised they were only 10 minutes away from me in High Wycombe. They did an excellent job (they do all the veneer dashes for the Morgan Car Company and also multi million pound airplanes) and only charged me 179+VAT for both upper and lower panels. This is the company that does the veneer repairs on behalf of Henley TVR.. I would highly recommend them, nice people too.
Was the price inclusive of fitting or just the parts?Paul M said:
jayt1980 said:
Hi everyone, I am in the middle of a big restoration on my '98 500, and like a lot of owners, I was in need of a new veneer dash. Couldn't find too many options here on PH short of London Carriage Craft (too expensive!) but had a stroke of luck by finding a company called Classical Dash. Had an even bigger stroke of luck when I realised they were only 10 minutes away from me in High Wycombe. They did an excellent job (they do all the veneer dashes for the Morgan Car Company and also multi million pound airplanes) and only charged me 179+VAT for both upper and lower panels. This is the company that does the veneer repairs on behalf of Henley TVR.. I would highly recommend them, nice people too.
Was the price inclusive of fitting or just the parts?
HI there
In the middle of doing mine myself. Got a large piece of Mahogany Flame veneer for £25. The veneer is "wavy" when you get it, and my advice was to spray it with a mix of 10% glycerine and water till soaked, then weigh it down between two pieces of approropriately sized plywood or similar with heavy weights on them, and leave to dry. It will then come out perfectly flat.
Experimented with the smaller dash piece to gain confidence. Took three goes to get it right. First one was my fault, I was too rough with it. It IS very fragile. Second one I used West System epoxy as the glue, however, the epoxy actually came through and stained the surface. So, down to good old EvoStik. Used it wet and by using loads of spring clamps got a great result.
Use good quality scalpels to cut the holes out and very light sandpaper to finish. Spray with polyurethane varnish with fine sanding/wire wool between coats.
There are loads of good sites on t'Intenet who have done similar.
Great result for not a lot of money. Takes time though!!!!
Question is, as in the original post, is the time and effort worth it? Job satisfaction I suppose.
Cheers
Phil
In the middle of doing mine myself. Got a large piece of Mahogany Flame veneer for £25. The veneer is "wavy" when you get it, and my advice was to spray it with a mix of 10% glycerine and water till soaked, then weigh it down between two pieces of approropriately sized plywood or similar with heavy weights on them, and leave to dry. It will then come out perfectly flat.
Experimented with the smaller dash piece to gain confidence. Took three goes to get it right. First one was my fault, I was too rough with it. It IS very fragile. Second one I used West System epoxy as the glue, however, the epoxy actually came through and stained the surface. So, down to good old EvoStik. Used it wet and by using loads of spring clamps got a great result.
Use good quality scalpels to cut the holes out and very light sandpaper to finish. Spray with polyurethane varnish with fine sanding/wire wool between coats.
There are loads of good sites on t'Intenet who have done similar.
Great result for not a lot of money. Takes time though!!!!
Question is, as in the original post, is the time and effort worth it? Job satisfaction I suppose.
Cheers
Phil
philmccann said:
HI there
In the middle of doing mine myself. Got a large piece of Mahogany Flame veneer for £25. The veneer is "wavy" when you get it, and my advice was to spray it with a mix of 10% glycerine and water till soaked, then weigh it down between two pieces of approropriately sized plywood or similar with heavy weights on them, and leave to dry. It will then come out perfectly flat.
Experimented with the smaller dash piece to gain confidence. Took three goes to get it right. First one was my fault, I was too rough with it. It IS very fragile. Second one I used West System epoxy as the glue, however, the epoxy actually came through and stained the surface. So, down to good old EvoStik. Used it wet and by using loads of spring clamps got a great result.
Use good quality scalpels to cut the holes out and very light sandpaper to finish. Spray with polyurethane varnish with fine sanding/wire wool between coats.
There are loads of good sites on t'Intenet who have done similar.
Great result for not a lot of money. Takes time though!!!!
Question is, as in the original post, is the time and effort worth it? Job satisfaction I suppose.
Cheers
Phil
piccy please!In the middle of doing mine myself. Got a large piece of Mahogany Flame veneer for £25. The veneer is "wavy" when you get it, and my advice was to spray it with a mix of 10% glycerine and water till soaked, then weigh it down between two pieces of approropriately sized plywood or similar with heavy weights on them, and leave to dry. It will then come out perfectly flat.
Experimented with the smaller dash piece to gain confidence. Took three goes to get it right. First one was my fault, I was too rough with it. It IS very fragile. Second one I used West System epoxy as the glue, however, the epoxy actually came through and stained the surface. So, down to good old EvoStik. Used it wet and by using loads of spring clamps got a great result.
Use good quality scalpels to cut the holes out and very light sandpaper to finish. Spray with polyurethane varnish with fine sanding/wire wool between coats.
There are loads of good sites on t'Intenet who have done similar.
Great result for not a lot of money. Takes time though!!!!
Question is, as in the original post, is the time and effort worth it? Job satisfaction I suppose.
Cheers
Phil
Andy Graham said:
jayt
what was the turnaround time at Classical Dash ??
....and any pictures of their workmanship, keep meaning to get around to getting mine reveneered, and as the weather's so crap at the minute I guess now is as good a time as any
Andy
Took them around 10 days, and they were very busy with big airplane jobs when I called, in fact they managed to squeeze me right in when originally they told me January! So give them a call, you never know.what was the turnaround time at Classical Dash ??
....and any pictures of their workmanship, keep meaning to get around to getting mine reveneered, and as the weather's so crap at the minute I guess now is as good a time as any
Andy
In my experience, it's 4-5 hours work in total to take the dash and switch plate out, swap the dials and leds etc, and put back in. I also recommend that if you take the dashes out and send away for 5-10 days for refurb, you don't use or even turn your car's ignition on. Otherwise things like the heater control box etc can burn out (circa £300 for a new one, if you can find one).
The easiest way to do the job is to have a replacement dash ready, so as you take dials/leds off the old one, you can put them straight onto the new one. And your car is off the road for only a day.
The easiest way to do the job is to have a replacement dash ready, so as you take dials/leds off the old one, you can put them straight onto the new one. And your car is off the road for only a day.
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