Rosewood dash replace

[oops!]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

any sign maker will be able to ......

a, make a stencil for you.
b. put the lettering on for you with paint over your new veneer and before you add the clear.

or you could......
a. go to an office shop and get plastic stick on letters.
b. go to the printers and ask them to print the words on a transparent film, and stick that to your dash.
c. go to wallmart and get a letter maker.....the are not the pressed in plastic ones any more.
you have lots of options.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Mostly likely the orginal was screen painted, which you could do also. The sign maker could make a screen for you too or even screen it for you. This would be the most expensive route to take but by far the best. Having the lettering cut out for you in vinyl as oops suggested is a good secondary, the indiviual stick on letters are tuff to keep nice a straight. Spray the poly or lacquer afterwards and it'll last for years.....

 

[Grandlaker]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Before I get in over my head, I'm having marinemarks.com quote the job. If its over 200 I'll be pulling the panals and posting pics like crazy with everyones help on this board to walk me thru this.

Fingers crossed

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

a. go to an office shop and get plastic stick on letters.

This is what I was thinking..

With nice tape lines and a pair of tweezers you can do this.

Or get the guy to build it for 200 bucks .

YD.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Tweezers? I'd have to get my glasses out for that.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Another thought is one of those electronic label makers. The one I have at work uses different size tape from 3/4" to 1/4", the lettering can be different colors, and the tape can be clear if you want. If 1/4" font is to large it's size can be altered as well... This would keep all the letters in line, needing only to trim the sticker, apply, then clear over the top...

 

[Up to My Ears in Fiberglass]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Check out decalpaper.com
They sell inkjet and laser paper that allows you to make your own custom water-slide decals (the kind that comes with model car kits). White and clear backgrounds are available. Applied between coats of lacquer, these may be able to give you a DIY factory-like finish.

 

[Grandlaker]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Well, I'm guess I'm going to tackle this. Quote came back at over 600 dollars to refinish.

Once I get them pulled, I'll post step by step pictures.

 

[superpop]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

If it was me I might consider using the old ones as template blanks and buying a few board feet of rosewood or any nice looking exotic wood and making new panels. You could then replace the switches at the same time with new modern ones that have the icon on the switch itself rather than trying to jack around with stenciling or printing. Would really update the look of the dash, the one pictured below is on flea bay right now for about 100 bucks, if you are handy with wood tools though you could cut out all the sqaures for the switches and just buy all the switches you need from Carlyle or some other manufacturer.

 

[Grandlaker]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

The finish is shot so lightly sanding and refinishing it will yield less than satisfactory results. Sanding all of the old finish off is risky as you could burn through the veneer. The best way to do it would be to chemically strip the original finish, sand, clear, labels, clear again. Something like...

- remove everything from wood panel
- strip the original finish with Jasco or Aircraft stripper
- neutralize stripper with TSP/water, rinse well with fresh water and dry (all finish and stipper needs to be gone)
- lightly sand the panel with 220
- apply 1-2 coats of finish, something marine rated (UV protectants)
- wetsand
- apply new labels
- apply several coats of finish
- wetsand
- another couple coats of finish (trying to buildup the finish and level the labels)
- wetsand
- apply final finish coat
- put back together

(if you build up too much finish in the holes, run a drill bit through them in REVERSE to open the holes back up again)

starting with the stripper, how long do leave this stuff on ?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

starting with the stripper, how long do leave this stuff on ?

15-30 minutes, until it eats through and loosens the old finish. You might have to do a couple applications. A good idea is to cut a trash bag in 1/2, place your parts on 1/2 the bag, paint the stripper on and fold the bag back over it again,, so the stripper does not dry out. Don't use metal tools while working with the stripper as you don't want to gouge the wood, a brass brush should be fine though. You MUST use latex/nitrile gloves as stripper is BAD for your skin. Eye protection wouldn't be a bad idea either as I've had stripper fly off a brush and land on my cheek/arm,, yeah you'll know it's there when it starts burning.

If you have some saw dust it can help to sop up the stripper mess, rub it on the part to help soak up and remove the stripper and dissolved finish. Anything clean and dry will do the trick. I've used fine dirt in a pinch, not gravel, just dirt without any rock particles.

The TSP wash is just hot water with TSP dissolved in it, a 1/2 cup or so in a gallon of water. Use this to wash off and nuetralize the remaining stripper once all the old finish off the wood. Gloves for this too.

Once you have everything stripped and washed down with TSP, then fresh water, leave it sit and dry out. It shouldn't be stinky so you could put it in the house for a couple days. I wouldn't try to force dry it with heat as it could warp the panel. Maybe put a fan on it in the garage if it's too odorous to have in the house. You just want it dry before staining and/or finishing. You don't have to stain unless you want to. Also, (if staining) Watco Danish Oil stains have a richer color than other stains, Minwax stains have a really "dry" apprarance once finished, while the Watco kind of glows.

 

[SawDust{RM}]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Tweezers

 

[steve0701]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

I'm kind of in suspense here, as you are taking the lead on a much needed project I have been putting off for way too long. If you could post some pictures, I would really appreciate it. I crawled under the dash, thinking it would be a snap to remove it and all I saw were wires, wires, wires. I guess Cobalt believes in doing things the old fashioned way and boy is it a pain in the backside! If you have any advice on pulling the dash and the other wood pieces, please post them, as it would save me a lot of banged up knuckles and cussing.

 

[Tolyn]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Greetings!

Just looking at the wood, immediately reminded me of an "old school" panel with the engraved lettering on individual brass/metal plaques. I'm not sure how much space between you have to work with (not much probably) but it may be worth running by a local engraver/trophy company or fishing around on the internet for.

Respectfully,
-T

 

[kmagvette]

Re: Rosewood dash replace

Grandlaker...did you ever finish the job? I just purchased a 246 with the same issues and am looking for some advice.

Thanks