Wood dash information please.

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Texsardo
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Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider Convertible 1800
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Wood dash information please.

Post by Texsardo »

A friend that builds boats gave me a very nice piece of Mahogany to use to replace my dash.
As I have no tools to work on cutting a new dash, I need to know what section to research to accomplish this.
How do you cut perfectly circular holes? What to use to cut the new dash from blank panel? Do you use a jig saw with a special blade. Any help appreciated.
Texsardo :oops: :?:
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azruss
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by azruss »

you cut the outside with a fine tooth jigsaw blade. take your time letting the blade to the work. A band saw works better. tape the face of the veneer with masking tape to protect the edge from splintering and the saw from digging grooves. cut the shape bigger by 1/16' or more and sand it down to finish dimension with a belt sander going in the same direction as the edge. The instrument holes have to be quite accurate. best to drill with a hole saw. these will drill the hole 1/8" larger diameter than the blade size, so again may need to drill undersized and sand to finish dimension with a drum sander. I would find a cheap piece of veneered wood to practice on to get dialed in.
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toplessexpat
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by toplessexpat »

I used a 2.25" hole saw for mine and it worked just fine. Also, I used the same hole saw to take much of the bulk out of the larger holes, and then a jigsaw to finish. +1 on using tape to prevent splintering.

For switch holes, I use a step cone drill bit.
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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by aj81spider »

I used the old dash as a template/guide for a router. That way you can rough out the holes and use the router/ template to get them the same as the factory alignment. You can use the 4 mounting holes to screw them together so they don't shift. That was the technique I used on the second one I did :-)
A.J.

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Texsardo
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by Texsardo »

OK, thanks for the insight. In other words, I need to find someone that works with wood a lot.
I have a jig saw and sand paper sheets. No hole saws, no step bits, nada. I do have my father's 70 year old hand saw though, :lol:
Seriously though, I appreciate the help but it looks like I will just be cleaning the old dash. I just thought maybe.
All the hole saws I have ever seen were the type with big honking monster teeth. I am afraid even with tape, they would make a mess of the wood. Plus the biggest I have seen in Lowe's was about 3". I don't have access to belt Sanders or other neat stuff. I could probably manage the main template cut but those holes need to be spot on. I just thought there might be some kind of hole saws with very fine teeth in a size for the tach and speedo holes in one cut. Would be great to find a bit with a diamond type edge. Some kind of grit that would leave a smooth hole. I don't think my sanding the bumps from smaller cuts to make bigger holes would be very good. Maybe I will try the place where they make wood boats here in Coeur d'Alene and see what they could do. Boats have dashs, right? Again, thanks for the response. :)
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toplessexpat
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by toplessexpat »

This is something you absolutely can do you yourself!

A 2.25" hole saw can be yours for $20 online, and I guess not much more expensive at Home Depot. There are larger hole saws that'll handle the tach and speedo, I just never had to use them!

The large teeth on the hole saw are, provided you're not just trying to force your way through the hood in a quick push, remarkably effective.

Grab a piece of plywood first and see how easy it is!

A
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RRoller123
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by RRoller123 »

Yes you can do it yourself, and doing it by veneering the existing pieces is actually easier than fabricating an entire new dash from a single hardwood piece. Just need some sandpaper, a few pieces of scrap plywood to make a press, some clamps, a razor knife, regular wood glue. if you decide to go that way I would be happy to post some instructions for you.
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Texsardo
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by Texsardo »

OK, seems like veneer may be more my speed. I thought you had to have special tools for veneer like heat paddle, precision clamps, st. So if you would not mind I am interested in your veneer plan. :)
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RRoller123
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by RRoller123 »

First, sand the original piece to roughen up the surface for a good bond. 120-150 grit is fine, and decide which portion of the veneer sheet you want to use. Cut out an oversize piece (maybe 1/2" oversize). Scissors or a razor knife works well. (side note: I don't use pre-glued veneer). Then completely cover the substrate in glue. I use Titebond #2. The #3 is too runny. A THIN, EVEN covering is absolutely necessary, no voids, and it must extend out to all the edges, without exception. Use a small brush to get it consistently even and thin. Apply a layer of wax paper to keep glue squeeze out from sticking to the fixture and ruining everything, then clamp the hell out of it in a simple 3/4" plywood scrap fixture. The fixtures may need to make accommodation for various small hardware pieces on the substrates. Simply done by drilling a few strategic holes. Wait at least overnight. Carefully remove, then trim close, but not exactly to the edges, with a sharp razor knife. Do this with the piece on a hard backup surface, scrap plywood is good. Don't try to hold the piece in the air and trim it freehand, it will chip. Then use sandpaper (rolled into a small dia. tube) to get the rest of the way to the edge. Take extreme care of which direction you run the sandpaper on the veneer, especially as you get near the edge, as it is susceptible to chipping. Sand across the veneer towards the substrate, not the other way around. Watch the grain carefully as you sand and go very slowly and gently. "Chipping Is The Enemy Of Veneer". veneersupplies.com is the best supplier I have found. The pictures of mine are done in Madrone Burl.

Good luck! And it is easier than it looks, just be patient and take your time.

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'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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Texsardo
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Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider Convertible 1800
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
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Re: Wood dash information please.

Post by Texsardo »

OK, looks like the next project after swapping my transmission out with on that 1st gear works and everything is a little tighter and yes, I am also replacing clutch with new.
I will have to see if I can find someone that I can borrow a lot of clamps from. All I have is small hand clamps for holding items together while I work on them.
I will check out the online site you recommend.
Any questions, can I pm you. Thanks also for the photos. Really helps the process.
Texsardo :)
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