Author |
Message |
WestyMan1971 Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 682 Location: The Granite State
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:17 am Post subject: Copying westy interior? |
|
|
For a while now I've had the thought of removing my original Westy interior ('71), re-using the hardware, and copying the pattern with some nice birch plywood.
The woodgrain laminate on mine is cracking pretty good and I think the ply might actually be lighter than the original fiberboard.
Has anyone done this or anything similar? _________________ Visit the Vintage Volkswagen Parts & Tech Wiki today!
'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate
Parts for sale! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Traveling Writer Samba Scribe
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 1112 Location: Florence, Italy
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
I took off all my peeling laminate, sanded, primed, and painted it a garish blue, along with a proper kitchen countertop...
_________________ Cheers,
Davi
1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
patayres Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2009 Posts: 991 Location: Bend, Orygun
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
David, that looks like a proper 'vardo' on the inside! _________________ 1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Traveling Writer Samba Scribe
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 1112 Location: Florence, Italy
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
patayres wrote: |
David, that looks like a proper 'vardo' on the inside! |
What the hell's a vardo??
Edit: You're talking about a gypsy van!! _________________ Cheers,
Davi
1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
patayres Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2009 Posts: 991 Location: Bend, Orygun
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Exactly... the traditional Romany horse drawn wagon.
I noticed on your website the Hungarian ancestory and traveler tendencies... don't mean anything derogatory at all. The Romany/Gypsy culture is very interesting... hence my Django avatar and Romany motto, which translates to 'Honor for road travel.' _________________ 1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Traveling Writer Samba Scribe
Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 1112 Location: Florence, Italy
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No offense at all... actually, my wife and I describe the look more like what a Buddhist pimp would drive, but hey...
I have to say, over here in Europe, they hate Roma to a person. Rich, poor, educated...It's nuts. We know a wonderful, highly educated (college professor) Christian couple who moved from one neighborhood to another. They reassured us: There are a lot of Roma in the area, but don't worry, the street's almost all white.
Whew! What a relief! _________________ Cheers,
Davi
1977 2.0 FI Westy
2011 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere
1976 Feet (they work surprisingly well) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Desertbusman Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005 Posts: 14655 Location: Arizona
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Copying westy interior? |
|
|
WestyMan1971 wrote: |
I think the ply might actually be lighter than the original fiberboard.
|
I'm not aware of any fiberboard that was used anywhere in a '71 Westy interior. Mine was all plywood. And the old original plywood is so much better quality than any of the new Birch plywoods that I've seen. _________________ 71 Superbug
71 Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
|
WestyMan1971 Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 682 Location: The Granite State
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, upon closer inspection, I do believe you're correct. Guess I never looked close enough.
Any Idea how it would look sanded down with a couple coats of clear poly? I'd like to ditch the plastic moulding and router the corners round as well, might need to reinforce and pull the staples to do this I guess. New doors routed the same way too. _________________ Visit the Vintage Volkswagen Parts & Tech Wiki today!
'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate
Parts for sale! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Desertbusman's right, you are going to have a hard time finding plywood of that quality today, and you may never duplicate that German workmanship.
It should finish nicely, I have yet to find a void or flaw in that stuff. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
patayres Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2009 Posts: 991 Location: Bend, Orygun
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, the Roma don't hold a very dear spot in the hearts of most Europeans. Some of the reputation is earned, but most is blind prejudice. They were targeted along with Jews for the Nazi death camps... the irony being that Roma are one of the most directly linked races to the true 'Aryan' race from Northern India. The fact that they have lived on the outskirts of modern societies for over 1000 years and kept a very pure tradition to their culture vs. assimilation certainly contributes to the mistrust many have for them. _________________ 1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Desertbusman Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005 Posts: 14655 Location: Arizona
|
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Refinishing the wood under the laminate has been discussed a lot here. Try doing a search. And if the cabinets are sound and solid you might consider a new laminate covering. That original ply is so awesome that I keep every little piece no matter how small. Same with any original lamnate covering. _________________ 71 Superbug
71 Westy |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Andrea and Skip Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2007 Posts: 37 Location: Urbana, Il
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Those of you using plywood:
are you using 1/4 or 1/8?
I'd like to use a hardwood (like maple) mostly just because it looks so much better, but tracking it down in 1/8 is proving to be tricky.
I'm thinking I will just taper it down on the edges . . . am I creating too much work for myself? _________________ '76 Bay-- Resurrected. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Remark Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Findlay, OH
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I removed the laminate on mine with a heat gun, sanded smooth, and stained it close to the original color. Just be careful when sanding, the first layer of the plywood is thin! (Ask me how I know!) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
peaceful warrior Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2005 Posts: 5274 Location: Taoswest, USA
|
Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm redoing my whole interior in birch, but I am paying a premium for it.
I am using the old interior as guides for cutting the new pieces, and I to am getting rid of the plastic inserts. I am dove cutting all corners, and I believe the interior will be awesome when completed. Too each his own,
do what feels right to you.
My main reason for going with new ply, is that the old has delaminated in the corners and joints due to owner neglect and the abudance of mice that like to nest in VW's in the Southwest............ They must be deutsch mice...... _________________ "Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
"Notchboy" says "Man up!"
"Tram" says " My bus is bigger than your bus."
66 13W Deluxe, 68 Westfalia, 87 Syncro.
TOOB Member #15
Brian |
|
Back to top |
|
|
visibleink Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2002 Posts: 1668 Location: Austin, Texas
|
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 3:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
I redid all my cabinets, sink, and bed in birch. I wanted to layout my interior they way I wanted - there are pics in my gallery.
It wasn't too pricey but I got the cheaper prefinished Chinese stuff. No regrets, it's light and strong, and I like the look.
Not the best pic but you get the idea. I primarly used 1/2 inch. Still super strong but I lost weight compared to the stock cabinets/bed. _________________ Been on the samba so long I remember petting that dog to see VWs, WYHI, and green bug girl.
<-- Helga, she slammed her dub in '53 and adjusted valves with her teeth |
|
Back to top |
|
|
WestyMan1971 Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2008 Posts: 682 Location: The Granite State
|
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Resurrecting this thread because I never got around to it and I'm thinking of making this my winter project.
Remark wrote: |
I removed the laminate on mine with a heat gun, sanded smooth, and stained it close to the original color. Just be careful when sanding, the first layer of the plywood is thin! (Ask me how I know!) |
Are you happy with this? How has it held up? Do you have pictures? _________________ Visit the Vintage Volkswagen Parts & Tech Wiki today!
'71 Westy "Maggie" - M-Plate
Parts for sale! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
WestyPop Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005 Posts: 1732 Location: SoCal
|
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
This thread may have some good references for your plans to eliminate-the-laminate; especially note EZ Gruv's light colored birch strip/refinish job that really shows off the wood details. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=159366&start=0
For many folks the lighter colors seem to 'work better', notably in winter camping and on longer road trips, a very subjective thing. Your bus = your preferences realized. _________________ Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
______________________________________
J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RatCamper Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008 Posts: 3305 Location: Australia
|
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
Who redid their cabinetry laminate with a collage of maps? I like that look and am considering emulating it. Hopefully depending on the severity of the current wave of medical madness I'll be picking up a bench cabinet. It's rough but workable and infinitely better than nothing at all. _________________ Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based pop-top camper (LCA / Sunliner). Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|