TheSamba.com :: View topic - Question about Beige/Tan cabinet laminate

Sat Sep 05, 2015 1:31 pm

GW sells cabinet laminate to fix up the cabinets as seen here http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4336&category_id=&category_parent_id=

It says on that page that the tan only works for model years 85+

Did VW really change the interior tan cabinet color or is GW just trying to keep the early model years down as usual or am I missing something?

Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:13 pm

I have an 1983/84 with that tan color....

Older vans often had the fake wood looking stuff.

Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:42 pm

Alika is correct, that started in 1983.

Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:18 pm

Actually it started during late 81 models. Just look at the Samba classified and you can find them there in some 81 Westies. I think all 82 came beige/tan. My 5 all did.

Mark

kalispell365 wrote: Alika is correct, that started in 1983.

Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:49 pm

Model year 82 started late 81 and had that beige laminate. Same with the vertical brown/green striped seat covers. Earlier wood grain laminate models had the horisontal shorter stripe seat cover.

Sat Sep 05, 2015 5:53 pm

I have an 83 aircooled with the vertical brown/green striped seats.

So, this should work with my van correct?

Sat Sep 05, 2015 6:44 pm

It doesn't matter what your seats are.
There are 3 colors of cabinet face.

80-81 brown "wood grain"
81-87 tan/beige
87-91 grey/gray

Mark

Fiddlestyx wrote: I have an 83 aircooled with the vertical brown/green striped seats.

So, this should work with my van correct?

Sun Sep 06, 2015 6:34 am

crazyvwvanman wrote: It doesn't matter what your seats are.
There are 3 colors of cabinet face.

80-81 brown "wood grain"
81-87 tan/beige
87-91 grey/gray

Mark

That's the exact info I was looking for, thanks.
Thanks to everyone else too.

Mon Jun 27, 2016 6:33 pm

does anyone know a source OTHER than the sold out GW shop? like a big box brand or online store?

Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:04 am

jerryherb wrote: does anyone know a source OTHER than the sold out GW shop? like a big box brand or online store?

It's Pionite ST617. I have a couple rolls I bought online.

Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:06 pm

If you can't find laminate, I had Home Depot color shoot me a cabinet door and mixed up a darn near perfect color match!

The post from my build thread......

djkeev wrote: I'm building a shelf behind the passenger seat.
I want it to look like it belongs hence it should be Westfalia Beige.
Done properly, I'd source some Formica/Wilson laminate.

I'm not sure if it going to be permanent or if I'll even like it when complete so I'm just going to make it out of Birch Plywood and paint it to blend.

I took the small door to Home Depot and had it color computer matched.

I chose "Eggshell" to mimic the sheen and here is the result.

I painted a piece of cardboard as a color test......
Pretty darn good!
Color varies due to photography light conditions but consistently matches.......

Oooops. Upside Down! :oops:

This one with full late afternoon sun you need to study the photo to pick out the paint chip!

Dave

Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:29 pm

Formica "Desert Beige" is way less expensive and as close a match as the Pionite.

How close? So close my Mother asked which part was new? You can see my cabinet build in my pictures.

Brian

Tue Jun 28, 2016 5:03 pm

bjrogers86auto wrote: Formica "Desert Beige" is way less expensive and as close a match as the Pionite.

How close? So close my Mother asked which part was new? You can see my cabinet build in my pictures.

Brian

I've used both. The Formica has more yellow tint, the Pionite a shade lighter tan but closer IMO.

Tue Nov 17, 2020 9:08 pm

I am re laminating my kitchen cabinet to match the rest of the tan/beige cabinets. I bought from the guy in the classifieds who provided me with the wrong color of laminate. Apparently I’m the only person to complain in four years.

So I have hunted down examples of Formica and Pionite laminate for all to see and order correctly in the future.

On the left is what is provided by the samba member.
In the middle is Pionite st617.
On the right is Formica desert beige in #58 matte finish.

I like the Formica the best.

More information about each.

Westy westfalia laminate color samples Pionite st617
I’ve read here that this is what GoWesty sells as part of their fridge replacement. Maybe someone can confirm?

And the Pionite money shot.

Westy westfalia laminate color samples Formica

The Formica money shot.

Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:09 am

You might want to compare them under outdoor light, preferably overcast.

From your pix I like the Formica Desert Beige colour best.

Wed Nov 18, 2020 5:20 pm

Yea. Lighting sucked on these. Mix of different florescence bulbs.
I tried flat on the cabinet versus vertical to get some colors to develop a bit differently.

I don't think any match, but the Formica is the closest.

Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:51 am

Based on your photos I also like the Formica over the other two. Keep in mind though that even if you could find the exact OEM laminate in the original color the odds of it matching 40 year old laminate that has been exposed to the sun and general wear and tear is slim to none.

As for the computer color matching of the color for paint, I took one of my tables to my local Sherwin Williams for a match so I could paint the front bed board (the original wall paper on it was shot) and the replacement panels that I fabbed for the hatch and slider out of MDF bead board. The match was near perfect. Now I just need to get around to painting the other interior panels that are not covered in laminate.