Was Dash Resto Work Today

["amc74hornet" <amc74hornet@xxxx>]

--- In BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Plumpy72@xxxx wrote:
> In a message dated 3/26/2004 6:10:11 PM Central Standard Time, 
> amc74hornet@xxxx writes:
> I have yet to test to see if the portion of the dash between the crash pad 
> and the windshield has been also painted. It dosen't appear to have been but I 
> will not know till I test it. If it has due to the vinal grain molded into the 
> plastic it will be a real pain to strip and prep 
> To the best of my knowledge, that dash has never been painted.....at least 
> the top anyway. It came out of my 72 and I know the car has sat since 78. I 
> removed the dash about three or four years ago and I am anxious to see how it 
> turns out. 
> 
> The Hornet instrument cluster that will be going in the Gremlin originally 
> had the "spun aluminum" around the guages. When it was pulled off, the aluminum 
> separated from its plastic backing. The backing will be used as a pattern to 
> make a new insert using a burled walnut vaneer. The vaneer is pressed between 
> two pieces of plywood right know in an effort to get it to lay flat. The old 
> plastic backing can also be flipped over and used to trace an outline for the 
> glove box door and surround. Not sure what stain to use (no too light, not too 
> dark) but the pieces will get several coats of polyurethane. When finished, it 
> should give the dash a nice custom look.
> 
> Later all.........
> 
> Rick

A trick to makeing vaneer flat is to mist it with water and then clamp it between the plywood. Letting it dry out in the sun would speed the drying time up too. Provided you have some sun. I see by the weather channels reports it wet again down by you. High humidity might be a problem getting the wood to dry flat unless forced to with some kind of heat. I also have built furneature in the past as a hobby. Min-Wax makes some quality stains and have a color chart so you can get an idea of what color you want to use and a aresol spray can of polyurathane will give it a nice finish. Stay away from the water soluable polyurathanes as they don't hold up that good in my opinion.
"Doc"