Woodgrain repair kit [for ideas only]

[Rembrant]

• Weave: Doubt you'll be able to do this one as there is a significant texture to it. And it changed from black to gray to medium gray during the 7-year era.

I wasn't paying attention to this thread, but I should have been!

I was wondering about replicating the weave pattern, even if it wasn't textured. I have two sets of the 85-86 Burlwood bezels...one in nice condition, and the other set pretty much junk, but good for testing. I also have a spare '85 grey weave radio bezel. I like the look of the Burlwood bezels, but I don't think they will look right in my bare bones truck. I was wanting to convert the nice Burlwood bezel set to either an aluminum-look XLS copy, or a grey print that might match the plain weave pattern.

I'll be following along with interest here...

 

[Ford F834]

There are a couple NOS non-cruise control horn pads running around on eBay, but the amount of trim is small, and to my eye looks a little different since it is applied to actual metal, not a plastic base.

it might not even be applied, but actual brushed metal.....

I have a used one, and I believe it is a film like the woodgrain over the metal. That is just my impression from the wear and staining. It also seems to have visual brush texture but no physical texture that I can see.

If I had sample pieces of the wrap I could photograph them next to the original. From what I see the stuff on the roll is not a match, but might be close enough if you were not mixing original pieces with wrapped ones.

 

[Gary Lewis]

There are a couple NOS non-cruise control horn pads running around on eBay, but the amount of trim is small, and to my eye looks a little different since it is applied to actual metal, not a plastic base.

it might not even be applied, but actual brushed metal.....

I have a used one, and I believe it is a film like the woodgrain over the metal. That is just my impression from the wear and staining. It also seems to have visual brush texture but no physical texture that I can see.

If I had sample pieces of the wrap I could photograph them next to the original. From what I see the stuff on the roll is not a match, but might be close enough if you were not mixing original pieces with wrapped ones.

I'd bet we are never going to get a perfect match and the only way to do that is to have all of the parts covered with the same stuff. But that's just my guess.

[Ford F834]

I'd bet we are never going to get a perfect match and the only way to do that is to have all of the parts covered with the same stuff. But that's just my guess.

Gary, I think that you are right as far as off-the-shelf offerings. Whoever did the Dennis Carpenter repro must have photographed an original and used that image to generate an applied finish. Sadly they used the wrong one... the replicated the “brushed grey” of the later medium duty trucks, not the brushed aluminum. Unless someone can scan and clone a film based off of the original I don’t think there is any perfect match out there either. This is the hydro dip that I wanted to try... albeit not as white and clean as the original it has very subtle brush marks:

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary, I think that you are right as far as off-the-shelf offerings. Whoever did the Dennis Carpenter repro must have photographed an original and used that image to generate an applied finish. Sadly they used the wrong one... the replicated the “brushed grey” of the later medium duty trucks, not the brushed aluminum. Unless someone can scan and clone a film based off of the original I don’t think there is any perfect match out there either. This is the hydro dip that I wanted to try... albeit not as white and clean as the original it has very subtle brush marks:

Ahhh, I get the difference now. (I'm no XLS pro, nor have a NOS part to look at)

But, would the hydrodip be any closer? Ford certainly didn't have the technology back in the '80's.

[Ford F834]

Ahhh, I get the difference now. (I'm no XLS pro, nor have a NOS part to look at)

But, would the hydrodip be any closer? Ford certainly didn't have the technology back in the '80's.

I wonder what the original process was if not water transfer? Modern hydro dip seems more durable, but the print is definitely a film that cracks and peels off after years in the sun. It is also trimmed with black paint in difficult areas. If you use rubbing alcohol you can see that there is woodgrain under the black in the nameplate area around the HVAC control area etc.,

[FuzzFace2]

I'd bet we are never going to get a perfect match and the only way to do that is to have all of the parts covered with the same stuff. But that's just my guess.

That is what I was thinking, all or nothing or have a mismatched set.

Being I dont have the door panels parts I would be looking at the dash bezel parts & wheel so they all matched.

Other than a Ford truck pro who would know the grain is not factory is they all match.

And I am thinking only a pro would know of the door panel parts also if I do the dash & wheel.

Now I do have sort of a question.

I am thinking you could not apply this over a black weave bezel as there would not be enough "meat" for the over lay to stick to and the weave may show up from under it.

What you think?

Dave ----

[Perry Bush]

I'd bet we are never going to get a perfect match and the only way to do that is to have all of the parts covered with the same stuff. But that's just my guess.

That is what I was thinking, all or nothing or have a mismatched set.

Being I dont have the door panels parts I would be looking at the dash bezel parts & wheel so they all matched.

Other than a Ford truck pro who would know the grain is not factory is they all match.

And I am thinking only a pro would know of the door panel parts also if I do the dash & wheel.

Now I do have sort of a question.

I am thinking you could not apply this over a black weave bezel as there would not be enough "meat" for the over lay to stick to and the weave may show up from under it.

What you think?

Dave ----

Hi Folks - quick check-in... I've eliminated a couple options for the Rosewood pattern. color, texture, or gloss were wrong. Still looking and have asked my printer to help with his suppliers, can send out pictures of the NOS piece we have.

I agree completely about a vinyl overlay not looking exactly like the original part, but we can get pretty close and especially when parts are not immediately next to each other....some mixing might be tolerated?

I understand the suggestion to send samples to those who have the parts but i just can't comfortably do this work without having the parts here in hand. I also understand risk and cost, etc with shipping stuff so I just bought a steering wheel assembly on ebay that appears to have a very nice example of the aluminum finish trimmed horn pad. I'll keep the wheel to upgrade one of my Lincolns that used the exact same form but with the typical '70s skinny steering wheel rim. I can put all the horn and cruise guts in this one and have a factory looking padded "leather" wheel. Sweet. I'll sell the horn pad when finished. It's on the way and I'll post pictures with the samples as soon as I can afterward.

The surface under these decals has to be smooth, really smooth. The vinyl is thin and will show even tiny scratches underneath, so no way to cover a mesh surface...it just isn't stiff enough for that.

More once I have the parts here. Looking for a good sample of the burled pattern also. Were they all the same color, for all model years? Seems online like I see quite a range of colors from light to dark. Is that just fading or were there any real differences?

Perry

[Gary Lewis]

Hi Folks - quick check-in... I've eliminated a couple options for the Rosewood pattern. color, texture, or gloss were wrong. Still looking and have asked my printer to help with his suppliers, can send out pictures of the NOS piece we have.

I agree completely about a vinyl overlay not looking exactly like the original part, but we can get pretty close and especially when parts are not immediately next to each other....some mixing might be tolerated?

I understand the suggestion to send samples to those who have the parts but i just can't comfortably do this work without having the parts here in hand. I also understand risk and cost, etc with shipping stuff so I just bought a steering wheel assembly on ebay that appears to have a very nice example of the aluminum finish trimmed horn pad. I'll keep the wheel to upgrade one of my Lincolns that used the exact same form but with the typical '70s skinny steering wheel rim. I can put all the horn and cruise guts in this one and have a factory looking padded "leather" wheel. Sweet. I'll sell the horn pad when finished. It's on the way and I'll post pictures with the samples as soon as I can afterward.

The surface under these decals has to be smooth, really smooth. The vinyl is thin and will show even tiny scratches underneath, so no way to cover a mesh surface...it just isn't stiff enough for that.

More once I have the parts here. Looking for a good sample of the burled pattern also. Were they all the same color, for all model years? Seems online like I see quite a range of colors from light to dark. Is that just fading or were there any real differences?

Perry

Thanks for the update. You appear to be making good progress, so keep on keeping on.

On the burled wood, it was only used in '85 and '85. And it didn't weather well, turning pink or purple with UV exposure. I don't know that I have a good sample of it as mine are faded and purpleish.

Personally the burled wood is my least favorite trim. Perhaps because most of what I've seen has been purple? Perhaps. But I plan to convert Big Blue to one of the mesh weaves.

[Perry Bush]

Thanks for the update. You appear to be making good progress, so keep on keeping on.

On the burled wood, it was only used in '85 and '85. And it didn't weather well, turning pink or purple with UV exposure. I don't know that I have a good sample of it as mine are faded and purpleish.

Personally the burled wood is my least favorite trim. Perhaps because most of what I've seen has been purple? Perhaps. But I plan to convert Big Blue to one of the mesh weaves.

Well, hell. What I thought was my nice brushed aluminum sample, is not. Arrived today and it's actually painted silver over a damaged cruise bezel. My fault, didn't look at pictures closely enough, didn't ask questions. Oh well, the steering wheel is beautiful.

Got a couple more samples on their way for the Rosewood.

Looks like I'll be able to find a burled sample on ebay, have an offer submitted for a nice used cluster cover. there's also an NOS example but at $350 have to keep looking.

Does anyone know what the actual "official" Ford name is for this pattern? I see lots of burled vinyl samples online but none really look right so far.

The pictures posted here of the brush aluminum are great but need a sample in hand and I don't see any at all on ebay. Can anyone point me to a piece that's for sale? Or Ford F864 (or others) I'll buy yours then sell it back to you when finished? Borrow yours and return it with free decals when we get there? I'm open to all options, thanks for any help with this one!