Dash restoration

[Augoose]

I've got, best I can tell, dash trim made from some sort of synthetic material which is made to look like wood. Its been pretty weathered and is starting to crack around the screw holes due to over-tightening. I'd like to buy/create a replacement and am looking for ideas on what material to use.

The pieces have a gradual curve or inward bend to them (hard to see in the pic) which makes it difficult and I've got zero woodworking skills or knowledge regarding woodworking. Can anyone recommend a type of wood or other material which I could use? I'm not necessarily partial to a wood appearance and am open to any solid color (grey, charcoal, etc) that may compliment the overall dash.

Thanks!

 

[cpenrose]

Re: Dash restoration

DIY Boat Decking and Yacht Decking Material | PlasTEAK & PlasDECK The 5th one down.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Dash restoration

DIY Boat Decking and Yacht Decking Material | PlasTEAK & PlasDECK The 5th one down.

That's pretty interesting. Have you worked with that material before? Is it rigid enough to support the gauges and maintain its shape or would it sag inward?

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Dash restoration

I would make it out of plastic. Wood will look nice, but the upkeep would be terrible.

Better yet, take off the old one, fix the cracks with epoxy of super glue, sand, and then repaint.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Dash restoration

I would make it out of plastic. Wood will look nice, but the upkeep would be terrible.

Better yet, take off the old one, fix the cracks with epoxy of super glue, sand, and then repaint.

Thanks for the suggestion - I might try to fix what I have if I can't come up with a replacement solution. Do you have any recommendations as to where to get the plastic materials to work with and what kind?

 

[Grandad]

Re: Dash restoration

I've had good luck using Formica, although your compound curved dashboard will be more challenging than my flat dashboard. - Grandad

 

[a1964rn]

Re: Dash restoration

I'd lay a couple of layers of fiberglass over those, redrill/cut out the holes, and paint it.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Dash restoration

Your friendly neighborhood auto body shop or custom stereo installer should have a good list of suppliers of various materials for dashboards that are heavy enough to hold gauges. Just get a piece of what ever style or color you like and cut (or have them cut it for you) to the size and shape you need. Take out the piece or pieces you want to replace and use them as templates.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Dash restoration

Thanks all for the advice - lots of ideas I would have never thought of otherwise. I'll report back when I have a plan!

 

[britisher]

Re: Dash restoration

I have 2 suggestions...
First is to trawl Ebay for vendors who have replacement panels. You would be surprised how many have these panels just for your make/model. The other suggestion is to use Formica. This is the cellulose plastic that is used on countertops, etc. It's relatively pliable and weather proof. I suspect that the 'wood veneer' is just trim and is not structural. Hope this helps.

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: Dash restoration

It looks to me like it is a woodgrain vinyl over a plastic bezel. You can recreate this in real wood if you want. It will take a little patience and time to wet and bend the wood then dry it in the same form and coat it with epoxy or a good stain and sealer. You can redo them in aluminum as well, or recreate them in Fiberglass. Being they are probably abs plastic Fiberglass will initially stick to it but will lose its grip and eventually be worse than it is now, so that being said if you repair them then repair then with a good soldering iron and an abs plastic repair stick. Autobody shops and harbor freight can be sources for this. We do this to repair motorcycle fairings all the time when they get cracked. Then once repaired you can paint over it whatever color you want. If you really want to get tricky you can paint in a woodgrain. I plan on doing just that with my dash. mine when I bought it was black but it originally was a woodgrain vinyl over the fiberglass dash. I am removing all the painted over vinyl and going to paint it in a woodgrain style.

 

[BIG RED 89 STINGRAY]

Re: Dash restoration

Just wanted to add my .02 cents. I have be playing with a process called hydrographics (youtube it) you can basically dip your painted pieces in a film with a design on it. They make several wood grains to choose from.. Just a thought. =)

 

[Grandad]

Re: Dash restoration

Just wanted to add my .02 cents. I have be playing with a process called hydrographics (youtube it) you can basically dip your painted pieces in a film with a design on it. They make several wood grains to choose from.. Just a thought. =)

Welcome to iBoats Big Red. That's an interesting process. I wonder about its durability. Its obviously very thin. You said you've been playing with the process; do you know if the film would stand up well to the heat of direct sunlight on a hot day? - Grandad

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Dash restoration

Just wanted to add my .02 cents. I have be playing with a process called hydrographics (youtube it) you can basically dip your painted pieces in a film with a design on it. They make several wood grains to choose from.. Just a thought. =)

Welcome to iBoats Big Red. That's an interesting process. I wonder about its durability. Its obviously very thin. You said you've been playing with the process; do you know if the film would stand up well to the heat of direct sunlight on a hot day? - Grandad

I don't know if it's the same hydrographics Red is referring to, but I've seen motorcycle fenders (metal) done w/ it, and truck fender flares (some sort of plastic) done in camo w/ it. Film is applied to a 'water' bath, and the parts are dipped w/ a rolling motion, and carefully lifted on their way out of the bath to keep the pattern uniform & smooth.............

Not a 100% successful 'proof' of UV stability, but it does make it seem like it'd be good for some applications. I do think both of the applications I referenced were clear coated. That may help make the dipped graphic media UV stable & more long lasting..

I agree, very interesting. I suspect that many of the parts we see w/ graphics are done this way & it's assumed to be some other type of application.

 

[BIG RED 89 STINGRAY]

Re: Dash restoration

Thanks grandad... I have been cruising this forum for a little while.. Frisco's youtube vids led me here:joyous: Hopefully I will be starting my Stingray resto soon!! jb is correct on the process.. and about a lot of things being "dipped"..Mainly I started looking into the process to finish a new shotgun for the wife!! Really happy with how it turned out.. and so far seems really durable... Like any "painted" surface.. it's all in the prep and clear coat... your thread caught my eye because i too will be redoing my dash.. I'm thinking maybe carbon fiber look.. or might go with the wood grain?!?! If you dip you could also do the steering wheel to match..