Got me some cheap dash wood for my W123 300D - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MBeige · #31 04-06-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

Natural stain and 6-8 coats of clear poly.

Sweet!!!

Biodiesel300TD · #32 04-06-2012, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StaggerLee

What I want to know is how Andrew gets his fingernails so clean; or is that a "stunt" hand holding that key?

My weekly manicure helps

. Just kidding. This is what happens when you drive a computer for work all day. I wear gloves when I wrench, which always helps.

Biodiesel300TD · #33 04-06-2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

Sweet!!!

Thanks, I've made nearly 10 of these for other members, I'm happy to make one for you. But if you're a DIY woodworker type here is the DIY for making your own

DIY - Wood Key Head

MBeige · #34 04-06-2012, 10:48 PM

Mach4, was that guy's name Eric by any chance?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

I've heard you say many times that shipping costs just kill any possibility of sourcing anything from the US.

Some time ago I ran into a retired Navy guy at the JY. He was a Filipino and he was pulling Mercedes parts to ship to Manila for friends and family. I was shocked because I assumed that shipping would make anything he got prohibitively expensive. I was more shocked when he bought an R4 compressor from me of unknown quality (it was off my donor car and I never attempted to run the A/C so it could have been just a core) When I asked him about how he was able to buy stuff and get it shipped and make economic sense, he told me about a thing called a Balikbayan Box. This is a standardized box 18"x18"x24" that will ship from California to Manila for $75 - no weight restrictions (If it fits, it ships) And it even includes pickup.

The size of the box is such that they can maximize the load in a container and get the best shipping price. It takes 30 days or longer, but even so...

It's a fascinating service (Rates for E-Balikbayan Boxes - Manila Forwarders) and, my reason for telling this story is that, I'm just wondering if there might not be a service out there of a similar nature that would get something from the US to places in Europe on the same business model.

Imagine being able to get a box of Mercedes spare parts from Cali junk yards delivered for some similar flat rate fee.

Manila Forwarders is what my friends use, when they ship items overseas. They call it door-to-door because they deliver the package/box straight to your doorstep. Some friends of mine ship wheels + tires this way, while others pack them in a box and ship them overseas like mach4 stated.

I'm so glad the wood trim pieces on our W123's are simple enough. Mine is all original except for the climate control panel, which has warped and thereby replaced with a good used one from a former W123 owner.

panZZer · #35 04-09-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

Hey panZZer are you soaking the wood too? Or are you just placing it upside down in a very shallow puddle? (in the tupperware)

Well im a benz diesel owner--so you know what the frugal status is, just enough to submerge the surface, the reason for the tupperware is a seal lid because acetone evaporates like crazy --try overnite and if that dosent do it continue until it does its thing. the ones that work best are the panels that got half of the clear already cloudy-delammed, the more the better--as long as the stripes are good underneath. try to have to keep from hitting with sandpaper as much as possible and even then only lightly with 400 up

Stretch · #36 04-09-2012, 05:02 PM

Cheers panZZer - her indoors has only got the non acetone type of nail polish remover...

...I have to go shopping...

mach4 · #37 04-09-2012, 05:04 PM

Here's some information I gleaned from the guys that do woodwork on executive aircraft interiors.

Automotive urethane clearcoat is essentially the same as that used in aircraft wood cabinetry and trim with the exception that it doesn't contain the flame retardant that is essential in aircraft applications. The process is essentially to prep, stain and seal as desired. Then apply 4 coats of clearcoat and block sand with 400-600 grit sandpaper. Apply 4 more coats and sand again. Then apply 4 more coats, finishing with buffing to a high sheen using progressively finer compounds.

There are probably other materials and strategies that will get the desired results, but this is what has been used to obtain that dramatic high-gloss finish on high-end aircraft interior cabinetry and trim.

Stretch · #38 04-09-2012, 05:15 PM

Nice information - who did you email for that? (Or can't you say?)

mach4 · #39 04-09-2012, 05:55 PM

It came via an A&P Mechanic (Airframe and Powerplant) who was kind enough to talk to the paint guys who handle interior cabinetry at his shop.

Stretch · #40 04-11-2012, 11:53 AM

I haven't had the chance to go shopping for beauty products this week (to get the acetone) so I just gave some acetone free nail polish remover a go. Here's the stuff - available at Boots the chemist in the UK

Now I usually run for cover when something is labeled as "essentials" as it usually means it won't work or it will be less than adequate but in this case it surprised me. Take a look at this...

Picture isn't the best but it was flaking a bit on the left - using (unpainted) finger nail to lift it resulted in this

Here's a picture of the ingredients in this acetone free nail polish remover

I get the feeling that the stripping effect is down to soaking. The wood gets wet and the bond between varnish and wood get knackered - varnish comes off in strips / lumps. This nail polish remover gasses off really quickly leaving the wood underneath with a dry touch / feel within a few seconds.

As the label says - solvent abuse can kill instantly!

That is certainly the case for the glue on the back of the trim where the metal holders are mounted

The results shown are due to about 14 hours of soaking. Does that length of time tie in with your experiences panZZer and mach4?

panZZer · #41 04-11-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

I haven't had the chance to go shopping for beauty products this week (to get the acetone) so I just gave some acetone free nail polish remover a go. Here's the stuff - available at Boots the chemist in the UK

Now I usually run for cover when something is labeled as "essentials" as it usually means it won't work or it will be less than adequate but in this case it surprised me. Take a look at this...

Picture isn't the best but it was flaking a bit on the left - using (unpainted) finger nail to lift it resulted in this

Here's a picture of the ingredients in this acetone free nail polish remover

I get the feeling that the stripping effect is down to soaking. The wood gets wet and the bond between varnish and wood get knackered - varnish comes off in strips / lumps. This nail polish remover gasses off really quickly leaving the wood underneath with a dry touch / feel within a few seconds.

As the label says - solvent abuse can kill instantly!

That is certainly the case for the glue on the back of the trim where the metal holders are mounted

The results shown are due to about 14 hours of soaking. Does that length of time tie in with your experiences panZZer and mach4?

yea use enough to soak it -just submerged, if acetone is that deadly I would have been dead in my 20's.............

soak it and let it do its thing--the pic I posted was no staged thing--The stuff will FALL OFF, pelling with your fingernail risks marring the wood pattern, but perhaps burlwood wouldn't show as bad if there were flaws.

Stretch · #42 12-03-2015, 10:14 AM

(Holy thread revival Batman!)

I've recently had fun stripping some W201 centre console wood.

Wrapped in a bag for two nights

It came out like this =>

Old varnish just flakes off

Unfortunately the underside of W201 centre consoles doesn't seem to like acetone =>

Only a little bit melted...

...doh!

I'll see how disastrous this is after I've re-sprayed the wood with clear varnish.

vstech · #43 12-03-2015, 10:40 AM

eeeeewwwwww!

that sucks!

Stretch · #44 12-03-2015, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

eeeeewwwwww!

that sucks!

It was rather soggy

But now it seems to be getting harder

(Just as well this post isn't in OD!)

Lycoming-8 · #45 12-04-2015, 02:53 AM

Just as an FYI, Acetone can be purchased at Wally World in 1Qt metal containers. It is good for an attitude adjustment for small gas engines in cooler weather, as well as paint and varnish stripper. But as some have seen here it can be deadly on styrene type plastics, not so bad on the nylon or polyethylene parts. Also, as noted above, it does evaporate rather quickly and is quite flammable !!!