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How's your wood??

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L

Legal Bill

Jedi Knight
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So I was watching the Moss covertible top video and they said you should replace the front wood top rail if it showed any signs of decay and splitting on the front leading edge, even when the rest of the rail was in very good shape. I took a look at mine, and sure enough the front edge had some sections that were crumbly. I was planning to reuse it, and maybe put in a little moldable epoxy on any portion of the edge that looked rough enough to show through the vinyl. A new one costs over $130, but if the top will not look right, I guess I'll bite the bullet and get it. What are your thoughts on this issue? Have you reused yours? If so, what shape was it in and how did the finish product turn out?
 
Since it's covered looks isn't as important as it's ability to hold a nail/screw tight. I've had good look with wood fillers and varnish.
 
I took a nice piece of oak from a local lumber yard and asked a woodworker friend to make me a new one. It took him about 20 minutes, and then another 3 hours of my shaving it to fit properly. I was happy in the end. It seemed too simple to pay for a pre-cut unit that would have to be fit anyway. I wraped the top around it , but left the rear face uncovered so I have a nice varnished piece of wood showing in the cockpit.
 
I used JB Weld to fill in all the divots and extra holes. Worked very well. Sanded it down and put the vinyl on top. The piece already fits my windshield, and a new one may not.

Jerry
 
I ignored it and it went away.

Problem was it went away while driving down a small mountain, in the driving rain at 50mph, and 56 miles from home. It flew back and hit me in the forehead and flapped over the trunk. All I could do was laugh. I did not even know there was wood in there at the time.

A woodworker uncle of mine, who lives hundreds of miles away took the 12" that was left, figured out the curve from that and made me a new bow. It fit great. I will not ignore that again.

Good luck.
 
Hey Bill,
I filled in the bad spots with plastic wood, formed a few new edges with
the same, sanded it smooth and was good to go. Like Jerry said, that way you
know yours will fit your windshield.
Regards,
Mike
 
Roscoe, Some years ago i put a new top on my bj8, my wood was in good shape so i just sanded them ,stained and varnished all the peace's and left them exsposed, i think its one of the nicest non stock thing ive ever done to it, Mikkus
 
Thanks, guys. I had a feeling the Moss video was just trying to sell me a new front bow. I still have to strip off the old vinyl and really assess it, but I'm leaning towards reusing it. The JB Weld idea sounds good.
 
Legal Bill said:
Thanks, guys. I had a feeling the Moss video was just trying to sell me a new front bow. I still have to strip off the old vinyl and really assess it, but I'm leaning towards reusing it. The JB Weld idea sounds good.
Click to expand...
Automotive bondo works great on wood!
Patrick
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
Legal Bill said:
Thanks, guys. I had a feeling the Moss video was just trying to sell me a new front bow. I still have to strip off the old vinyl and really assess it, but I'm leaning towards reusing it. The JB Weld idea sounds good.
Click to expand...
Automotive bondo works great on wood!
Patrick
Click to expand...

Makes sense. Probably easier to sand than JB Weld too.
 
While Bondo adheres well to wood, I'm not so sure it will like getting nailed and screwed into without cracking.
 
Greg--

Exactamundo. Use a marine-grade two part epoxy filler (as opposed to glue)that will not only let you bring it to the proper shape but will also hold whatever fasteners are run into it. JB Weld might be a bit thin--see if you can find Belzona or equivalent.
 
I can appreciate using the epoxy-fillers, and their ability to be drilled and have screws driven into them, but how are they for accepting tacks (for the hidem strip)?
 
Hmm--I'd think you might have to predrill the stuff so that the tacks don't bend up. Once it gets hard it gets HARD.
 
GregW said:
While Bondo adheres well to wood, I'm not so sure it will like getting nailed and screwed into without cracking.
Click to expand...
Works just fine. I used it a lot to make repairs, etc., carpenter shop enviroment. It started out slowly to use it this way but then more and more carpenters like and prefer it. I was skeptical at first when I saw it being used this way several years ago.
Patrick
 
My problem is just on the leading edge of the front bow, so I think I need it mostly for shape. that said, there are some tacks in the area, so I'll have to make a decision after I get the thing stripped down and see how bad it is.
 
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