Re-veneering the wood parts

[pope]

I am veneering the wooden parts on my 80/81 spider. What is everyone using to clearcoat the wood after it is stained. Lacquer, poly, epoxy, marine spar, or a water based poly? Anything I should be aware of that I have not asked about.
Thanks

Pope

[78spyderturbo]

I there I used poly about 6 coats and sanding in between looks great.

[Jazgeek]

howdy 78.... can you run through the process you took. I made my shift knob look so good that the rest of the wood looks dull by comparison so I want to give it a go.

Would it be better for me to go cnc some new wood or finish the old stuff?

I there I used poly about 6 coats and sanding in between looks great.

[78spyderturbo]

howdy 78.... can you run through the process you took. I made my shift knob look so good that the rest of the wood looks dull by comparison so I want to give it a go.

Would it be better for me to go cnc some new wood or finish the old stuff?

I there I used poly about 6 coats and sanding in between looks great.

I Pope I bough birch plywood at Michaels made new dash pieces using the old ones as paterns ,lightly sanded them and polyed them.Six coats sanded in betwen.[img][IMG]http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii14 ... rbo019.jpg[/img][/img]

[Jazgeek]

well done!

what are the extra guages you have? The steering wheel looks interesting, not sure where I've seen it before but it sort of looks like a datsun steering wheel. Seats look nice, that's next on my agenda.

definately sounds like a good weekend project..... (well not this weekend, maybe next).... I think I'll measure the guages too for chrome bezels to punch them up a bit too.

this winter is going on too long....

[mdrburchette]

Did the birch have the same woodgrain as original? I've been trying to figure out what kind of veneer they used from the factory. What color stain did you use?

[pope]

Hi Denise,
I have an 80 and the factory wood grain is ....plastic over plywood!
Formica, Wilsonart, something like that. I have recently veneered it with lace wood and 20 coats of poly.
Took a lot of wet sanding after every 5 coats. Lacewood in not a very smooth wood, but it is now! Like a babies behind. There is no stain on it, just the poly and I like the ambered look of the wood. The flash makes it a little oranger than it really is. But its close.

[mdrburchette]

Looks good, Pope. putting a veneer on it beats the heck out of cutting it from a board. I've been working on on made of mahoghany. That center piece was a chore to cut out! Here is a pic with 6 coats of poly:

[pope]

Beautiful work as always!
I filled in the clock hole with an epoxied piece of plywood and recut two new holes, so I can have the clock and a manual oil pressure guage that came from an older model. I cant get enough of more guages.

[mbouse]

HELP.

What are the two holes on either side of the courtesy light for?


i am getting ready to redesign my center panel on my carb'd '80. Looking for ideas. dumping the rheostats and seat belt light, redesigning the e-brake light. Gonna return the clock to its original position, moving the oil pressure gauge to the center of the dash. I'll be adding a volt gauge.

[pope]

Mike, the two extra holes are 1. Supercharger boost gauge and 2. NOX gas pressure gauge.
Just kiddin, one is the cigar lighter and the other is the hazard button. Denise, this is an old stock photo (not my car) I had laying around and it looks like the plastic is made to look like walnut.

[racydave]

poor old Dave has got no wood...

[Danno]

Mike B, here's a picture of it:

[So Cal Mark]

did the airbag explode in that console?

[mbouse]

thanks. curiously looking at my options.