Ask a Shiter

[Wilko220]

Can anyone advise the best way to refurbish wooden door cappings? The ones in my Sceptre (along with the wooden dash) are in a poor state of repair. My first thought was to remove the wood, sand down and then paint with Ronseal varnish or similar, but I suspect the result might be rather disappointing. I want to achieve the original polished sort of look. Any tips appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[DSdriver]

Tricky stuff wood!

I think the original finish is a sprayed on laquer or varnish. If the wood is bleached by sunlight sanding it down might not be sufficient and it will have to be bleached first and then restained to the correct colour. Its probably less ag to find some off a car that has been kept on a shelf in the airing cupboard.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Can anyone advise the best way to refurbish wooden door cappings? The ones in my Sceptre (along with the wooden dash) are in a poor state of repair. My first thought was to remove the wood, sand down and then paint with Ronseal varnish or similar, but I suspect the result might be rather disappointing. I want to achieve the original polished sort of look. Any tips appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

 

The Triumph people speak very highly of a product called 'Rustin's Plastic Coating'. Apparently you can get a near factory finish on Triumph dashes and door cappings with it when used correctly, although I have no personal experience of it.

 

Here are some pictures of the results one chap got using it:

http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/foru ... 327409646/

(if you need to be logged in to see the pics let me know)

[Wilko220]

Yes, I can see the pics. Thanks for that - looks like great stuff.

[CreepingJesus]

I wonder if French polishing would work on the Sceptre's wooden bits? Blend in the faded bits with the shellac sticks, and then a good few coats of boiled linseed oil.

Anyhoo, my own stupid question: Any good reason why a tankful of super (rather than regular) should cause the fuel economy of a 10v Volvo V70 to get even worse? It's done all the same trips as usual, only ever driven by me. Weather hasn't varied much from usual, tyre pressures are ok, and the rumbly wheel bearing is the same as last week.I've been getting about 450-480 miles out of a tank, but this one's going to be doing well to pass 400.

I'm really stumped; it'll be back on ordinary 95-ron by the weekend, and I suppose the truth will out from that tankful. I just wonder if somebody knows something about the properties of super that I don't.

[vulgalour]

The Triumph people speak very highly of a product called 'Rustin's Plastic Coating'. Apparently you can get a near factory finish on Triumph dashes and door cappings with it when used correctly, although I have no personal experience of it.

 

Here are some pictures of the results one chap got using it:

http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/foru ... 327409646/

(if you need to be logged in to see the pics let me know)

 

Stop feeding my OCD!

[Des]

Here's a before and after of a dash I did recently.

 

 

 

The old varnish mostly scraped off, the outer ends were bleached from damp, looked better after a light sanding but I wasn't expecting great results so threw on a couple of coats in ordinary clear varnish, came up really well and makes the rest of the car look crap. I regret not taking my time now, it seems varnishing wood is far more forgiving than painting tin.

Those Sceptre timbers look pretty sound, I reckon a fine sanding along the grain, then a good clean with spirits to get rid of any dust, as many coats as you have patience for, letting them harden in the sun and flatting each time will work wonders, I wonder how varnish would respond to a cut and polish.

 

And there's always Fablon.

[myglaren]

Rather than sandpaper, or abrasive paper of any sort, better results are to be had using wire wool.

It is a pain to use (literally, quite often, wear gloves especially when trying to tear a piece off the roll. Applies more to the coarse grades than the finer ones.) and makes a hell of a mess but is much kinder to the wood, doesn't introduce impossible to get out scratches - run it with the grain though. Use a very fine grade between coats and you will get a mirror finish.

Try and stick to the recoating times on the container. Too soon and it will be too soft and may 'work up', too long and it will have hardened and the following coat won't bond with the preceding one properly.

[Morgan84]

French polishing is one good method,but it will turn the wood dark ( I think ),a coachtrimmer I know used to redo Jaguar wood trims by rubbing them down,then spraying with car laquer.Two coats,and the wood looked beautifull

[barefoot]

Can I take this opportunity to recommend Neats Foot Oil.

Available from horsey type shops.

Use a paint brush, slap it on those seats,

go and have a cup of tea,

a bacon sandwich

& another cup of tea.

Have a look at your seats,

you may want to put on another coat

or wipe it off with a rag.

Or do it all again & wait for a week.

but the stuff is sensational and only about a fiver /500ml

 

I bought it to use on a cow skin rug & ended up using it on boots,

leather car seats & rather disturbingly, leather jeans...

[barefoot]

... better results are to be had using wire wool.

...

 

even better to use scotch cloths - green washing up things.

[MrDuke]

What's the proper name for the rubber strips that fit between the door skin and the bottom of the glass? Mine are perished to f**k, totally beyond repair, and knowing what they're called may help me locate some more. Or at least something similar that I can bodge to fit.

[Morgan84]

What's the proper name for the rubber strips that fit between the door skin and the bottom of the glass? Mine are perished to f**k, totally beyond repair, and knowing what they're called may help me locate some more. Or at least something similar that I can bodge to fit.

 

I think 'weather strip' is a commonly used name

[Wilko220]

Thanks for the wood treatment tips, chaps. I think I'll try each suggestion out on a different section and adopt the "Polo Harlequin" look for the inside of my Humber...

[autofive]

what are these clocks ?

 

Imp?

 

[Morgan84]

Dusty and dirty !! Autojumble at its best

[Rocket88]

what are these clocks ?

 

Imp?

 

 

 

If not Imp, certainly of that family, possibly Simca?

[M'coli]

They are indeed Imp clocks.

[pompei]

What car is that, Des?

[Angrydicky]

Unless I'm very much mistaken, it's a Bristol (403?). Looks fantastic.

[Cavcraft]

Can anyone get radio codes free please? Standard old fashioned Vauxhall (Grundig) one if anyone could kindly oblige!

[warren t claim]

Out of curiosity just how hard is it to change an occasionally slipping clutch on a Porsche 924 2.0?

[Station]

Can anyone get radio codes free please? Standard old fashioned Vauxhall (Grundig) one if anyone could kindly oblige!

 

I've sent you a pm regarding free radio code!

[Cavcraft]

Ta Dave!

[Station]

Out of curiosity just how hard is it to change an occasionally slipping clutch on a Porsche 924 2.0?

 

You have the gearbox between the engine and the torque tube - I hear it's a pain in ass. I've never had good experiences with RWD gearbox removal ever, they're always a pain to get back in without proper garage equipment.

[warren t claim]

Out of curiosity just how hard is it to change an occasionally slipping clutch on a Porsche 924 2.0?

 

You have the gearbox between the engine and the torque tube - I hear it's a pain in ass. I've never had good experiences with RWD gearbox removal ever, they're always a pain to get back in without proper garage equipment.

 

Tidy 924 with an iffy clutch, walk away even though it's cheap?

[Station]

I'd get it if it was cheap! Have a look at Andy's 924 in Steve's garage, he has the transaxle out, he said it was easy ... but he's been doing the car for nearly a year lol

[SambaS]

I've a stupid question: Tax is up on Samba at end of April. I paid for insurance for the full year so it has 6 months or so left. When I sorn for a few weeks will it affect my insurance at all?

[Cavcraft]

I think you're supposed to cancel your insurance now if your car is on SORN.

[catsinthewelder]

I know that you need to SORN your car if the insurance is up but I didn't know that Billy, are you sure?

 

I haven't this year but my motors have all spent months SORNed while insured over the last few years as you get sod all back off the companys when you cancel a policy.