Wood Grain Restoration

Unknown

Does anybody know of a source for wood grain part restoration, or has anyone seen a how to on wood grain part restoration? After 57 years in the desert sun mine are looking sad.

Unknown

BMF wrote:

Does anybody know of a source for wood grain part restoration, or has anyone seen a how to on wood grain part restoration? After 57 years in the desert sun mine are looking sad.

There are undoubtably folks that others can recommend who are in the business to do woodgraining... some good some better and some still practicing using your dollars. Check my website ... there is more infomation... and this link which is an article I put together to capture a how to do on wood graining.

http://members.aol.com/stepdown53/woodgrain0001.htm

Good Luck

Jon B

I"m sure someone will post the name of a book you can read. Let me just say that it's not as mysterious and difficult as one might think. I've seen complete amateurs at this sort of thing, do a splendid job. The concept is as follows: you examine the old dashboard and determine what the 'background' and what the 'grain' colors were. (Sometimes the graining is in two colors but generally one will suffice). And of course the pattern (take close-up photos if you can, for reference, before sanding and prepping the dash and door trim).



Then you paint the background color onto the panel to be grained, doing so in a type of paint different from the type in which you intend to do the woodgrain. For example, paint the background in a light brown in lacquer. Then, when that's dry, apply the grain in enamel, or even printer's ink. This allows you to wipe off the graining using mineral spirits, without harming the background color. In this way, you can practice to your heart's content, wiping off each succeeding attempt with no problem, until you've finally hit on the version you like. (There are many, many ways to apply the actual grain, and you don't need expensive tools. I got fairly good results from a piece of cloth!).



Lastly, when all is dry, you coat your masterpiece with a glossy clear coat to seal it in, and to give a shiny, professional finish. You can use any number of coatings for this; I used Varithane gloss finish because it's extremely hard.



In most cases you can remove all the panels and grain them out of the car, but in many pre-war cars you will have to do some of the work inside the car because the dash is welded in. This isn't too hard, just mask out around the dash.

[Deleted User]

You might be interested in this website:



http://woodgraining.com



This company offers woodgraining tools that utilize a metal plate with the grain pattern photo-etched into it. The plate is inked, and the pattern is picked up off the plate with a soft rubber roller, and transfered onto the piece to be grained with the roller. This is like the process of photogravure printing.

This is the best system I've researched for a beginner to get excellent results. Click on the "online store" link on the bottom right of their home page. Then click on the "video FAQ" for a series of short videos that show how their process works. It seems that with a resonable amount of care and patience, a novice could expect much better results than could be had with any "hand" process.



Tom Drew

[Deleted User]

In February, 2006 I visited the Grain-It company (woodgraining.com) booth at Zephyrhills swap meet in Florida. This product looked good and even I think I could do a good job using one of their kits. The price quoted was about $300 depending on which plate and finish was bought.

Unknown

Here is how mine turned out. I settled half way between doing it all myself and having Grain It do the job. I sand blasted the parts, epoxy primed them and applied the base color coats that are necsssary before the actual wood grain goes on. I then sent it to Grain It, where they put down the grain and sent the parts back to me. I applied the clear, color sanded and buffed. All in all it saved about 70% of what they would have charged me to do everything, and I got what I think are professional results. I am very tempted to get a kit and do it all myself next time. Seeing how I can do the rest, why not give it a shot. Half the trick is getting the base coat COLOR right as without it, the whole thing is going to be off. Anyway, take gander at my semi fuzzy pictures. If anyone wants or needs the Dupont Color Codes of the Ash and Walnut, let me know, I have them.

SuperDave

WoW! I do.. I do.. I do Whats the numbers?

Unknown

Yeah, me too. Great results. I have my Hornet and a 46 Chevy Aerosedan to do and can't wait.

John

rambos_ride

Love those pictures Dennis!



I've been toying around with an idea on woodgraining - Has anyone else used or thought about using decals?



The printing technology these days allows decals to be printed in sizes that cover entire cars, buses, and even airplanes!



I have graphics on my truck (for my website) that have been on there for over 2 years with no peeling, bubbling, or fading.



My thinking is that..applied over a clean surface this stuff should look good and hold up over time - as well as be more easily replaced due to normal or abnormal wear and tear.



Some soapy water, a heat gun, and some patience is all you need to apply the transfers - most of the printing places will actually install the graphics for free or a minimal charge.



I know this would not be acceptible for a restoration - but for a custom or somone on a budget I would bet you could get the entire interior for under 200.00 - comments...?

hudsonsplasher1

You could give VCFinishes in Michigan a try. They did the dash on my 39 convertible, and I'm very pleased. They do a water transfer process in there shop, so you would have to send the parts to them. There phone # is 367-9888, 374-8864, or email at mcvaughn@wmis.net, or vcfinishes.com. They do a great job. Good luck.

Unknown

John and Dave....I just realized the codes are not here at my apartment. Will post them when I am with the car this weekend.

Unknown

I think I watched a show once where someone used cheese cloth to create a wood grain effect. They laid on the cloth, and sprayed through it. Any one else ever see or hear of this?

Unknown

BMF wrote:

I think I watched a show once where someone used cheese cloth to create a wood grain effect. They laid on the cloth, and sprayed through it. Any one else ever see or hear of this?

Yes, this has been done in some cases. The cheese cloth is pulled to create the grain. The real reason I responded to the thread is the unique pattern on the early Pacemaker dash. This pattern can be recreated through the careful use of cheese cloth.

Cheers

Park_W

While quite a few folks can do wood graining, a lot tougher is the leather-grain look used in '51-'52. One who can really do these well is Bill Gratkowski, in PA. Tel. (814) 827-1782; email BGbillgrains@csonline.net (remove the BG first). Bill did Ken Shulte's and my '51, and Dave Sollon's '52. Beautiful work. He did just my dash, and it's really difficult to see any difference from the adjacent original grained door pieces.

Unknown

Here are some videos,, Wood,, Skins it all just whats on the printing plate.

base coat and print away.....

Jdee.

movies...

I like candy clover LOL.

Unknown

Dennis in NY wrote:

Here is how mine turned out. I settled half way between doing it all myself and having Grain It do the job. I sand blasted the parts, epoxy primed them and applied the base color coats that are necsssary before the actual wood grain goes on. I then sent it to Grain It, where they put down the grain and sent the parts back to me. I applied the clear, color sanded and buffed. All in all it saved about 70% of what they would have charged me to do everything, and I got what I think are professional results. I am very tempted to get a kit and do it all myself next time. Seeing how I can do the rest, why not give it a shot. Half the trick is getting the base coat COLOR right as without it, the whole thing is going to be off. Anyway, take gander at my semi fuzzy pictures. If anyone wants or needs the Dupont Color Codes of the Ash and Walnut, let me know, I have them.

Dennis in NY - did you ever post the Dupont Color Codes for Ash and Walnut? Sure would like to have them



BST RGDS

GARY ( happychris )

BigSky

I have been thinking of doing a Steel Woodie on one of my other makes, does anyone know if these processes will work on the exterior?? Or as someone mentioned, is there a vinyl out there to use?



I have been working on this idea so I appreciate the tread and thoughts!

[Deleted User]

Husker Nation wrote:

I have been thinking of doing a Steel Woodie on one of my other makes, does anyone know if these processes will work on the exterior?? Or as someone mentioned, is there a vinyl out there to use?



I have been working on this idea so I appreciate the tread and thoughts!

Note the material use on the PT Cruisers to make them into "STEEL WOODIES". In the past the woodgrained material was available from auto repair supply houses. The so called wood trim is some sort of composite on the PT Cruiser. Maybe available too?



Good Luck... Always thought a Stepdown stationwagon would be a great addition to the species.... Think that Dick Bell's son was creating one of these in years gone by... did not follow it so do not know if it was finished.



Cheers from HOT