Dash final Product

[Lou Earle]

Here is the finished product.

Total time for dash about 2 hours total- spaced out fro drying

Time for garnish molding 4 hours 6 to 8 total

Total cost

2 cans plastikote rattle can rich brown-8

prime-r rattle can can 5

rattle can clear 6

rustoleium gloss black 4 oz can 4

Less than 25 bucks

For my money this made more improvement in looks for buck spent

My total for the interior was about 800

Lou

[randroid]

Lou,

Absolutely beautiful! Now that you've made a list of materials may I impose upon you to detail your technique?

Thanks,

-Randy

[bob_amos]

Very nice indeed. Great job.

[steveplym]

The dash looks great! Wondering about your technique as well.

[John Mulders]

Looks real good Lou !

I definitely paid more for the dash....

[Lou Earle]

I washed the metal with mineral spirits then sanded everything with 220 grit and re washed.

Masked everything off and removed the glove compartment door, mirror and windshield molding. In masking I overlap the part to be painted and then use razor edge to cut it off- I get perfect edge that way.

Sprayed on Plastic-Kote rich brown rust inhibiting paint and let dry.You can spray on primer then the rich brown but I do not and have had this on one car for 3 years and no rust.

I DO NOT SAND THE BASE COAT. You want it slick so the 2"x2" patch of used terry cloth will slide over when applying graining- Rustolieum gloss black.

Practice a few times on something metal and your technique will develop but here is what I do:

On the top part of the dash START in the middle and work to one side only. You will let that dry and use masking tape later.

When applying graining dip the terry cloth patch in the paint and lightly squeeze it out- but you want a good bit of paint on it but not dripping. Then drag the patch from the center out to an edge I work from front of dash to windshield drawing the patch parallel to the front of the dash in a more or less straight line. I sometimes take a dry patch of cloth and remove some of the paint if I got to much on the item. Also if you really do not like it you can remove it with mineral spirits and paper towels. I also use a cheap small glue type brush to do me feathering in close spots.

NOW after one side on the top of the dash had dried put tape down center

\( see pic). Now start your graining by placing the wet terry cloth patch on the tape and drag across again in parallel to front of dash. This way when u end it will be under where the windshield garnish will cover the stop marks. Do not try and grain from side to center . It just makes a mess.

I really think one of the secrets is that I use darker colors rich brown ( almost rouge) and black and the imperfections are hard to see. I have had several people ask me how in the world I made those wooden window frames!! It will look like a dark mahogany or walnut piece you might see in an Antique store. I have tired doing lighter graining but it does not come out well. This actually looks a lot like a dash on a 49 or 50 maybe just a little more red tint to it.

Then I sprayed it all with rattlecan clear and let it sit an hour Then sanded with 240 and re sprayed clear about 4 coats wet. I did get some crinkling but I will sand that off tomorrow and re spray a small spot.

I have had nothing but compliments on the dashes of the others I have done.

But again I would stick with the dark colors

By the way I am thinking of doing my 48 convertable dash like this - it is messed up with a bad paint job now - I know it is not orginal but opinions please>

Lou

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Notice how the tape gives u a place to start When tape is removed it will look like 2 pieces of wood joined there.

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[steveplym]

Thanks for the tips. Looks great and I really like to colors. Always liked dark wood and looks really good on your dash.

[Normspeed]

Beautiful work Lou. Looks exotic, like rosewood.

[PatS....]

Beauty