How do I save wood graining from the sun?

[egor]

I'm trying to save what's left of the wood graining on my '38 Special sedan from the sun. Is there anything out there that has some UV protection and won't erase any of the graining I still have?

Thanks.

[Fred Rawling]

Here is what I plan to do on the wood grained dash of my 1935. The coating is starting to look like it is crystalizing. I am going to hit it lightly with 0000 steel wool to see if I can get the loose stuff off without cutting into the graining and then put a coat of clear varnish or verithane over it.

I will experiment on one of the less visable sections first.

This process worked on an under dash accessory ash tray that had a wood grain and a design painted or printed on the woodgraining.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

Be very careful of using anything on original woodgraining. I understand that the woodgraining is a decal that was set on the dashboard sheet metal before it was stamped into shape. It's the restored stuff that's painted on.

[Fred Rawling]

That is a good point that I did not think about.

[West Peterson]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Be very careful of using anything on original woodgraining. I understand that the woodgraining is a decal that was set on the dashboard sheet metal before it was stamped into shape. It's the restored stuff that's painted on. </div></div>

Ox.

I never heard that before, and it's hard to understand how the "decal" wouldn't get ruined during the stamping process. I was always under the impression that Buick used the same printing technique as the other luxury cars???

[jeff]

The decal / stamping process sounds correct. My '38 shop manual has a few paragraphs on the process. Interesting to note that they have two recommendations to deal with a damaged dashboard. The first is to order a new one (here's where they describe the factory process), while the second approach is to remove the panel, and paint with an appropriate shade of Duco (sounds like a brand name of lacquer). Being on the low budget path, I took this as an acceptable temporary fix for my '38 Special - only substituted the word "Krylon" for "Duco"!

[West Peterson]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The decal / stamping process sounds correct. My '38 shop manual has a few paragraphs on the process. Interesting to note that they have two recommendations to deal with a damaged dashboard. The first is to order a new one (here's where they describe the factory process), while the second approach is to remove the panel, and paint with an appropriate shade of Duco (sounds like a brand name of lacquer). Being on the low budget path, I took this as an acceptable temporary fix for my '38 Special - only substituted the word "Krylon" for "Duco"! </div></div>

Thanks, Jeff

Are you saying that the first approach is still a viable solution given a larger available budget? And if so, do you know how much buick is getting for them?<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Duco, by the way, is a durable, quick-drying finish invented by DuPont in the 1920s.

[West Peterson]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Here is what I plan to do on the wood grained dash of my 1935. The coating is starting to look like it is crystalizing. I am going to hit it lightly with 0000 steel wool to see if I can get the loose stuff off without cutting into the graining and then put a coat of clear varnish or verithane over it.

I will experiment on one of the less visable sections first.

This process worked on an under dash accessory ash tray that had a wood grain and a design painted or printed on the woodgraining. </div></div>

I like this idea, and may try it on my own dashboard (Packard). However, I'd like to know, first, that the clear finish I use will not wrinkle or crack due to imcompatabilities. Exactly what type of clear finish product should be used?

[D Binger]

West,

The wood grain on my 30 Chevy was not decals, it was paint and then laqured over to get the finish.

Dan

[egor]

Thanks, Fred.

Let me know how it turns out.

Steve.