Home made Burl shift knob and face plates installed

2T2-Crash · Last edited by 2T2-Crash on Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

I found a beautiful chunk of apple burl and decided to use it to make a shift knob and new face plates for my gauges and fuel guage. I haven't made the plates yet but here's the shift knob, it's in it's third coat of shellack right now

My dad has a 67 as well and I'm betting he's going to make one for his now. LOL

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grandpa pete · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:45 pm Post subject:

Nice to see some old school craftsmanship .

from someone WITHOUT gray hair Smile

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2T2-Crash · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:49 pm Post subject:

LOL.
That's my dad spinning the wood, I've never used the lathe and truth be told he loves wood crafting so much he probably wouldn't let me anyhow.

I've been doing the sanding and coating on it.

UberSlowWagen · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 5:17 pm Post subject:

turned out awesome! im just about to start a superior steering wheel resto out of wood and want a wood shift knob to go with it.
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far rider · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:42 pm Post subject:

nice! what did you use for an insert?
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2T2-Crash · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:36 pm Post subject:

61SNRF · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:03 pm Post subject:

Like!

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VICS94HB · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject:

can you make me one. how much?

VOLKSWAGNUT · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:44 am Post subject:

Nice.
The more exotic and grainy the better IMO.

Once installed... post in the topic below for a fresh bump.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=486841

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Cusser · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:25 am Post subject:

I made one like that from a dining table leg.

Can your dad make me a new table leg ?

Just joking, nice, and I see dad had at least "some" eye protection.
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2T2-Crash · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 10:20 am Post subject:

My dad isn't ready to start turning them for sale at the moment, partially because we need to figure out a better option for the insert, also because we are not sure what to sell them for. Apple burl (any burl really) is expensive and the piece we did that with was one I got for a steal at a garage sale. I'll let you guys know if he decides he wants to make and sell for sure.

2T2-Crash · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:24 pm Post subject:

Jon's62 · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:12 am Post subject:

Impressive work!

arizonabuckeye · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:05 am Post subject:

Man that is good work. Turning burl is no easy task.

For the inserts you could get some tubing with the right I.D. to cut the correct size threads. The insert is what like 3/4"? Cutting threads even in some mild steel would only take like 5-10 mins max. Then just epoxy that in. I bet with some looking you could probably find threaded tubing or threaded inserts that you could just pop in.

Maybe something like this:
https://www.fastenal.com/products/fasteners/furnit...0Nuts%22|~

2T2-Crash · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:26 pm Post subject:

My biggest problem now is cutting the holes for the gauges... Not the capability but actually cutting it because I lose a lot of pretty burl, which is rough to a wood lover.

I'm considering getting the chrome trim that originally went there, installing the wood with the trim, then rewording the gauges under the dash in a metal bracket.

I'm torn. Crying or Very sad

Rome · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:52 pm Post subject:

2T2-Crash · Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:38 pm Post subject:

tisius · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:35 am Post subject:

very nice!
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2T2-Crash · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:19 pm Post subject:

I have the square cut out for the fuel gauge, just need to give it the three coats of Shellac and then figure out how the hell I am going to mount the wood pieces to the dash.

I don't like the idea of having screws showing, even if they are polished brass.

Any ideas?

Rome · Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 3:36 am Post subject:

3 ideas come to mind right away:

For the smaller piece that contains the fuel gauge, won't the stock fuel gauge hold the panel to the dash by itself? That is, you push the gauge thru the face of the panel, take the assembly to the dash, then install the big U-clamp onto the gauge's retaining post from the trunk-side of the dash? The clamp's feet rest against the body's sheetmetal? Hold the clamp to the gauge with the knurled knob(s)?

2nd idea- an upper and lower strip of hook&loop fastener material, maybe like 3" long. Get some that is not too thick so that the wood does not sit far back from the dash surface.

3rd idea- 2 small dabs of clear silicone adhesive along the tops and 2 more along the bottoms of the wood, then use painter's tape to hold the wood in place overnight until the silicone cures. Enough to hold it, but enable pulling it off in the future in case of repairs or other access. You can test the size of the dabs using trimmed-off excess pieces of wood on some spare metal. Push the wood to the metal to squeeze out the silicone somewhat, just like you'd do on the car.


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Home made Burl shift knob and face plates installed
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