Peeling dashboard!!
Discussion
Hi all,
The veneer on my dash seems to be making a bid for freedom. After a small piece fell off as I tried to adjust the heater control I noticed that the rest was actually starting to peel away in bigger chunks. What have other people done about their own deteriorating dash? Can anything be done without completely removing the dash? Are there places who specialise in this sort of thing but don't charge the earth? All help / suggestions welcomed.
Cheers.
The veneer on my dash seems to be making a bid for freedom. After a small piece fell off as I tried to adjust the heater control I noticed that the rest was actually starting to peel away in bigger chunks. What have other people done about their own deteriorating dash? Can anything be done without completely removing the dash? Are there places who specialise in this sort of thing but don't charge the earth? All help / suggestions welcomed.
Cheers.
There have been a couple of threads on here quite recently about getting the veneer replaced, but it wasn't cheap & does involve dash removal, and sending it away for a couple of weeks or so.
There was also mention of a self-adhesive vinyl film wood veneer effect which is much cheaper but nowhere near the same quality and even this requires the dash out. So no quick fix really.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
There was also mention of a self-adhesive vinyl film wood veneer effect which is much cheaper but nowhere near the same quality and even this requires the dash out. So no quick fix really.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
if someone had a spare dashboard armature (they are metal under the fake wood) then you could do this on an exchange basis which would reduce the time a vehicle was off the road. The next person could have the old unit etc. Mine has been re-done so I offer this advice for others. Norman broke an S3 but I don't know if the dash has gone.
Great idea TurboTony. Have been meaning to do mine and then putting it off from day 1.Just so happens I have the week off, I am looking for a cheaper fix too,interior is the last of my priorities but cant take much to look better than it does at the mo, apart from a bit of swearing, cuts, time, etc.... Have been reading up. Anyway have got the door strips down to just metal and polished them up a bit have put them back on and they look... better anyway. Has anybody managed to make the metal dash plate look good by just polishing?is it possible to get a brushed steel look? Have not taken mine out yet, Anyway will have a play this week my other thoughts are body colored or powder coated,will probably go back to original one day but if I could have it looking better for £100.00 + blood, sweat and.. mabe not sweat..too cold, numb useless fingers and tears thats £200.00 or more towards a wheel refurb 
Similar subject comes up every so often on the Chimaera (and probably many other) forum and apparently there are some good quality "sticky back plastics" available and an almost endless range of finishes... Marble dash anyone?
Better than my efforts back in the 60's when Fablon was all the rage. 
Viper1day said:
Hi all,
The veneer on my dash seems to be making a bid for freedom. After a small piece fell off as I tried to adjust the heater control I noticed that the rest was actually starting to peel away in bigger chunks. What have other people done about their own deteriorating dash? Can anything be done without completely removing the dash? Are there places who specialise in this sort of thing but don't charge the earth? All help / suggestions welcomed.
Cheers.
The previous owner of my S3C had a wooden dashboard cover made by a master craftsmen, which sits over the existing dashboard as an 'interference' fit and hid all of the peeling veneer. I've just had my dashboard renovated and so this, along with an equivalent for the transmission tunnel, is sitting in my garage. I'm in Farnham in Surrey and I'm sure we could come to a deal - PM me if you are interested.The veneer on my dash seems to be making a bid for freedom. After a small piece fell off as I tried to adjust the heater control I noticed that the rest was actually starting to peel away in bigger chunks. What have other people done about their own deteriorating dash? Can anything be done without completely removing the dash? Are there places who specialise in this sort of thing but don't charge the earth? All help / suggestions welcomed.
Cheers.
Take the veneer off and replace with this ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140852659109?ssPageName=...
They do carbon fibre too
They do carbon fibre too
chad valley said:
Take the veneer off and replace with this ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140852659109?ssPageName=...
They do carbon fibre too
That's exactly the stuff I used, except in "Red Cedar" - I wanted a lighter colour because the old finish was too dark.They do carbon fibre too
I decided that if you take your time, it's going to look a lot better than the chipped peeling mess I started with. Mine wasn't even real wood, just blotches of various shades of brown and black on the metal, to give a wood effect that would only have fooled Stevie Wonder in an unlit coal cellar. Given that the majority of "wood effect" dashes and panels in production cars are either wraps or appliqués, I wasn't too worried.
There's a full "how to" on my web site at http://www.tvrgit.com including what sizes of bandaids you will need to stick your hands back together after they have been up the back of the dash for a couple of days.
Wow! Brilliant responses guys - Cheers!
I will explore the sticky back plastic / wrap options I think. I will just need to speak nicely to my brother who had the dash out for me last summer (when the veneer seemed fine) and still has the battle scars!! Must be easier the second time though surely . . . . . . . . .
Thanks again.
I will explore the sticky back plastic / wrap options I think. I will just need to speak nicely to my brother who had the dash out for me last summer (when the veneer seemed fine) and still has the battle scars!! Must be easier the second time though surely . . . . . . . . .
Thanks again.
tvrgit said:
I decided that if you take your time, it's going to look a lot better than the chipped peeling mess I started with. Mine wasn't even real wood, just blotches of various shades of brown and black on the metal, to give a wood effect that would only have fooled Stevie Wonder in an unlit coal cellar.
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