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TR4/4A TR4A Wood Dash Plywood or Solid Wood
- Thread starter Stinger
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Darrell_Walker
Jedi Knight
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Plywood is cheaper (advantage for the manufacturer, mostly). It is also more dimensionally stable and less likely to warp. You can get veneers in species and patterns that you probably would never find in solid wood (or again, would be cost-prohibitive).
About the only advantage of a solid wood dash that I can think of would be that you could sand/plane it down to refinish.
About the only advantage of a solid wood dash that I can think of would be that you could sand/plane it down to refinish.
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Generally, plywood is much more stable, i.e., less prone to warping and cracking than a solid piece of wood of similar thickness. It's also likely cheaper.
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The dash will be subject to a mostly exterior environment. As others have pointed out, the plywood will be able to withstand the exterior better. The plywood is made up of layers of alternating grain to minimize warping. I took my original dash and re-veneered it.
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LBCs_since_1988
Jedi Hopeful
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There is always the risk of delamination with plywood. I bought what I thought was a high quality veneered dash for my TR4A and after two years the veneer is starting to lift in a couple of spots. 
I once purchased a solid teak dash for a TR6 I owned. It was shipped with a bit of oil as it had no finish. It was very nice quality and it didn't warp while I owned the car. I actually don't see how it could warp if it's kept dry and held down by the dashboard retaining screws.
I once purchased a solid teak dash for a TR6 I owned. It was shipped with a bit of oil as it had no finish. It was very nice quality and it didn't warp while I owned the car. I actually don't see how it could warp if it's kept dry and held down by the dashboard retaining screws.
hondo402000
Darth Vader
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solid wood will crack along the grain lines too
Hondo
Hondo
Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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If I were doing this, I'd probably skip plywood altogether and use water resistant MDF.
hondo402000
Darth Vader
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how about venered plexiglass
I have solid cherry wood in mine. I cut it out using the original dash, along with the help of my brother Jim and my late grandfather. We did that back in 1980. Started with a rough board, planed it at the High School shop. used holesaws for the smaller guages but didn't have one big enough for the speedo, so we used a jig saw. I have refinished it a couple of times and repaired cracks, but it looks good. I'll never replace it.
Dan B
Dan B
