Wood Kits

wi0v

Senior Member
Received my wood kits today and was wondering what every has done to them before installation. Wood Preservative, paint, stain ect.
 
Depending on your environment and weather compared to where the kit was made......you would be wise to let the wood just sit in a dry location for as long as possible. This is the hardest step to do, because you are tempted to just fly at it, to get the work done. Quite often wood just has to "moan & groan" before working with it. Dry fit everything before staining or glueing (Important). I had our local paint dealer mix up a couple of quarts of transparent stain along with enough black tint to simulate the color and texture that was on the original wood from the factory. Sometimes the various joints need a little tweek and tuning for proper fitting. No matter what you do, check and re-check.
 
Check each wood part you have received, with the original part you are replacing. You have to remember that the original plant workers that cut and worked the wood came out of the carriage industry, of which many of them were true tradsmen.
Some of the wood joints on the new kit pieces may be somewhat different from original, for simplicity sake.

Enjoy.......
 
I think I'll get some exterior wood stain like the use on log houses I think you can get it in Black.

Thanks, for the help.
 
Just because you have bought your wood in "kit form", don't think for one moment that it will fit perfectly. Wrong! Sometimes the pieces fit great.....next piece requires a lot of assistance and work. Be patient and enjoy! That's just part of this great hobby !!
 
Depending on your environment and weather compared to where the kit was made......you would be wise to let the wood just sit in a dry location for as long as possible. This is the hardest step to do, because you are tempted to just fly at it, to get the work done. Quite often wood just has to "moan & groan" before working with it. Dry fit everything before staining or glueing (Important). I had our local paint dealer mix up a couple of quarts of transparent stain along with enough black tint to simulate the color and texture that was on the original wood from the factory. Sometimes the various joints need a little tweek and tuning for proper fitting. No matter what you do, check and re-check.

I place my wood that I'm making next to the wood stove over night when I'm not working on it. Two months ago, it was standing as a live Ash tree next to my house.
Terry
 
Gary,

There is probably a lot of different thoughts on this. When I got my Tudor top kit this summer I had the same question. A member of our Model A club who also is a 'master' woodworker - builds furniture etc. recommended a 50/50 mixture of Polyurethane and Tung Oil. Wipes on very easy and does not discolor the wood very much.
 
I place my wood that I'm making next to the wood stove over night when I'm not working on it. Two months ago, it was standing as a live Ash tree next to my house.
Terry

What woods are good to use if you make your own pieces? Ash? Oak? others?
 
I believe Classic Wood in NC uses white ash. I have seen in several places, Ford originally used almost any hardwood - oak, maple, ash, even elm (I think I saw), etc. Just be sure it is dried well so it doesn't split or crack later.
 
All the original wood I've seen has been Maple. I buy some nice Maple boards at Menards to use when I make floorboards. It's the correct thickness right out of the package. Yes, they are wrapped in plastic!
 
I plan to use linseed oil on mine. It'll have many months to cure and gas off, but when the car is all finished this should restore an "old" smell to the new interior.
The use of epoxy primers, modern paint and fabric will give it a definate "new car odor" so why add the smell of a modern wood treatment to this "glue factory" smell?
Part of the overall appeal when climbing into an old car is that old smell. I'm not talking about the odor of rats & cat urine, but rather the odor of old upholstery & wood & time...OK & maybe just a "little" rat piss;)
Nutty as it may sound, I love the old smell of linseed whenever I walk into a furniture restoration house and it's one of the last remaining products we can buy (still legal today at least) which works well and hasn't lost that historic odor.
*CURIOUS* has anybody here done this?...and did you find the odor overpowering or irratating to the lungs?
 
One of my cars (not Model A) has the original interior and sometimes I'll just open the door and get a whiff of originality.

Let everyone else go apes**t over "new car smell", give me 'old car smell' anyday!

Same reason when I walk into my library. All the old books and literature make it one of the best smelling rooms in the house- 2nd only to the kitchen.
 
One of my cars (not Model A) has the original interior and sometimes I'll just open the door and get a whiff of originality.

Let everyone else go apes**t over "new car smell", give me 'old car smell' anyday!

Same reason when I walk into my library. All the old books and literature make it one of the best smelling rooms in the house- 2nd only to the kitchen.

Couldn't agree more! Now, if someone could bottle and sell that old car smell they'd get rich quick.:D
 
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