I usually use a chemical stripper and a putty knife to remove the old
varnish. Some residual varnish may need some light sanding to remove.
You should sand only in the direction of the grain, therefore don’t use an
orbital sander. I usually sand mine up to 320. Then I apply about 10 coats
of marine spar varnish using a Sharpe detail spray gun. I sand between
coats and use a tack cloth to remove any particles.
In the near future will be making solid wood dashes here in China a fraction
of the cost of having it done in the US. Presently I am making leather seat
covers for the Spitfires out of Italian leather for about the cost of vinyl
covers. Next I will be entire upholstery kits in leather for less the cost
of vinyl. So let me know when you start the rest of your interior work.
Good luck on your project.
Dayton J. Carpenter, Esq.
President of International Business and Legal Affairs
Foundsoft Science & Technology Group
12 F Office Plaza World Trade Centre Zhejiang
15 Shuguang Road
Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310007
China
Tele: 86-571-795-0135 ext 8011
Direct line: 86-571-795-0226
Fax: 86 571-795-0137
Mobile: 86-13606647888
>From: "John Weber" <weberjm@teleport.com>
>Reply-To: "John Weber" <weberjm@teleport.com>
>To: "Richard B Gosling" <Gosling_Richard_B@perkins.com>, "spitfires"
><spitfires@autox.team.net>
>Subject: Re: Dash restoration
>Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 17:58:36 -0700
>
>I reveneered mine for 30 bucks and about 4 hours. Sanded the original down
>with 150 grit and a belt sander. Much less on the sandpaper and you'll be
>doing it for ever; much more and you'll have no fascia panels left :(.
>
>John
>'75 Spit
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Richard B Gosling" <Gosling_Richard_B@perkins.com>
>To: "spitfires" <spitfires@autox.team.net>
>Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 6:39 AM
>Subject: Dash restoration
>
>
> >
> > What is the best approach to dash restoration?
> >
> > I am not looking to spend any more money than I can avoid on this - a
>pot
>of
> > varnish or whatever, a brush, and a sheet of sandpaper is what I'm
>aiming
>for.
> > At the moment the varnish is peeling/cracking at one end (very tempting
>to
>pick
> > at it like a scab!), plus a small section is a bit discoloured where a
>P.O.
> > thought it would be nice to put a strip of dymo tape with the tyre
>pressures
> > on (how hard are they to remember? Or even look up in the manual?)
> >
> > My idea is to sand the old varnish off, back to a smooth finish on the
>wood,
> > then apply a few coats of varnish. Good plan? Should I use a clear
>varnish,
> > or one with a bit of colour in it (to get a more-or-less stock looking
> > finish)? How many coats, how much sanding? What grade sandpaper? Is
>it
>OK
> > to use my electric orbital sander, or do I really need to do this the
>hard
> > way?
> >
> > Richard and Daffy (once I've done the dash the interior will look
>great...
>if I
> > replace the seat covers, arm rest cover, door panels...)
> >
>
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