Steering wheel, dash, and shift knob.

[tomshobby]

Thought you guys might like to see what I have been up to lately. I decided I wanted a nice trim set for my TR6 so decided to make my own. I first designed the wheel complete with a custom hub. Then I purchased the wood for the project. And after a few weeks of work this is where I am at.

Still a long way to go.

 

[TR4nut]

Wow Tom- impressive wood working - I can mentally grasp how you did the cubby lid (nice!), but what steps did you take for the wheel?

 

[Andrew Mace]

:thumbsup:

Can't wait to see the rest of the dash!

 

[hondo402000]

Sweet!

 

[John_Mc]

Is that to go in a Bentley?

 

[Greg_M]

Impressive work! My wife wouldn't let me tie up the stove that long. Did you cut the wheel out of a larger piece and then round it off?
Greg

 

[tomshobby]

Thanks for the compliments.

This is the wood I started with. It is a blank for a gunstock. The smaller piece is for the shift knob.

 

[tomshobby]

Here is the rest of the dash Andy. Just getting started with it. Already have applied several coats of hand rubbed finish. It will take many more to get the finish level, apply finish coat and sand it back down until the pores and low spots become level. Then do the rest of the trim work. After that repair any places that might chip while doing the edges. Then a rub on a finish coat and block-sand to level but not back to the wood. Finally a final finish coat and level it. Next a rubbing compound to bring it to a satin finish. and last a special wax to protect and clear and cloudy appearance the rubbing compound will leave.

The finish will be like that on my original dash after I refinished it.

 

[Anthony_S]

Hey Tom,

Those look super cool! I see your in WI too, I am also. I don't know anyone near by that has a triumph. I think your the closest I've seen I did see a nice tr6 drive by my house the other day and I almost left my house to follow them so I could say hi and give them a high five for having a triumph. Maybe I will run into them sometime....not literally of coarse, haha......anyway NICE wood work.

Anthony

 

[tomshobby]

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for the nice words. If you are looking to hook up with some Triumph folks and other British car owners check our club site: www.madbrits.org. My contact info is on the lower left side of the home page. You are welcome to join us on any of our adventures.

I have been working on the dash since I last posted and am pleased to announce that it is much closer to being ready for finish coats than I thought.

I have added two coats to it since then. Taking one down and then spraying the second.

This pic shows the wheel and dash. The black bands on the wheel are only temporary to hold the front and rear halves together and won't be there when the wheel is finished.

 

[jsneddon]

WOW Tom!

That wheel is spectacular. Well... OK.... the dash is spectacular too. But the wheel? Absolutely gorgeous.

Amazing work - can't wait to see pics of it installed.

-Jim

 

[tomshobby]

Thanks Jim,

I have always enjoyed this kind of work and have had this project in mind for several years. Today I ordered a small amount of birds-eye maple for the inside of the glove box door. I have used that combination on a few other projects and have always liked it.

 

[angelfj1]

Here is the rest of the dash Andy. Just getting started with it. Already have applied several coats of hand rubbed finish. It will take many more to get the finish level, apply finish coat and sand it back down until the pores and low spots become level. Then do the rest of the trim work. After that repair any places that might chip while doing the edges. Then a rub on a finish coat and block-sand to level but not back to the wood. Finally a final finish coat and level it. Next a rubbing compound to bring it to a satin finish. and last a special wax to protect and clear and cloudy appearance the rubbing compound will leave.

The finish will be like that on my original dash after I refinished it.

Tom: Very nice woodwork! Don't forget to add custom walnut burl door pulls at the top edge of your doors. I have seen quite a few of these in the UK and Europe. Should be a piece of cake for you to make them up on your router table.

I'd be interested in more detail on how you glued up the walnut wheel rim and how you intend to mate it to the old rim. Did you remove all of the Bakelite from the old rim down to the steel hoop?

Frank

 

[DrEntropy]

That's drop-dead beautiful work, Tom!

I'm envious of your skill and patience. To me, woodworking is an enemy.
Basic carpentry is about as far as I get without breaking out in hives. :wink:

 

[elrey]

Very, very nice Tom. Who's finish are you using? :thumbsup:

 

[tomshobby]

Frank, Doc, and elrey, thanks for the compliments.

elrey, I am using Birchwood Casey's Tru-Oil finish. I used it when I was making custom gunstocks in the 70's. It protects the wood under adverse weather conditions, from handling with course gloves while hunting day after day, and from the sun. It is also very easy to repair if needed. I used it on my original dash 7 or 8 years ago and it still looks great.

Frank, I have been using some ideas from other people and some I have worked out myself to build the walnut rim. The metal work will be my own design and not sacrifice my original wheel. I have been planning this project for several years starting when Brosky sent me a dash he no longer needed. Doing the dash is relatively straight forward. It was working out the wheel design and construction methods that was more challenging and will still have a few changes made. The thread a few weeks ago about building a wheel provided some of the final ideas that helped bring the plan together.

If the birds-eye arrives either this week or early next week I will have the dash finished by Thanksgiving except for the final surface finish. I will let the finish cure for a couple weeks before that step is taken.

The final finish will be a light satin look. The final steps will be a 12,000 grit followed by a special wax used on gunstocks.

 

[tomshobby]

I decided that the hardware needs attention also. I disassembled the warning lights this morning and plan on having new labels made for them. Also noticed the lens covers are clouded. I also noticed they are not the same color tine, anybody know why or if they are supposed to be different?

 

[elrey]

B.C.'S Tru-Oil. Great stuff, hadn't thought to use a gun stock oil. Do you thin it down or leave it full strength? 12000 grit! Deluxe! The micromesh I assume. You must be very familiar with every sq. cm. by now. Again, that is a VERY nice product you are turning out. It will be a wonderful thing indeed to be able to enjoy the fruits of your own labor on a daily basis. Inspirational.

 

[DNK]

I used the same on mine

 

[elrey]

Looks great Don, and chatoyant.