Reid,
I'd like to try and talk you out of making it out ok any sort of solid wood.
There are many more downsides to that than advantages.
The exposure to the elements will tend to make it crack and the one-way grain
will make it not nearly as strong as one whose basic
structure is marine plywood.
I made a dash insert for a Mk1 out of solid walnut and it didn't last until the
water in the radiator got hot!
But If you are determined to do this, I wish you luck.
Joe
"Simmons, Reid W" wrote:
>
> The veneer over plywood warps badly too. I'm making my own dash out of
> solid Walnut Burl. I have it kiln dried, then I cut and shape it, soak it
> in a vat of sealer for a long, long time, then finish it with several coats
> of marine varnish. I have never had one of these warp.
>
> Reid
> '79 Spitfire (original owner)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nolan Penney [mailto:npenney@mde.state.md.us]
> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 5:20 AM
> To: spitfires@autox.team.net; djcarpen@hotmail.com; weberjm@teleport.com
> Subject: Re: Dash restoration
>
> I don't know if you're going to like the solid wood dash. The directional
> stability is quite poor that way. Warping becomes a problem, as does
> cracking and the popping out or jamming in of gauges. Cross grained plywood
> type construction eliminates these problems. It does give you delamination
> to enjoy instead, but if you us the right adhesives, this isn't a problem.
>
> >>> "dayton carpenter" <djcarpen@hotmail.com> 06/16 2:57 AM >>>
> 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.
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