Don J. Howard wrote:
>
> The Romagni's wrote:
> >
> > Justin Wagner wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Amongst my various skills, trades... I'm a carpenter... $340 seems high
> > > for someone who's made more than one... and has, thus, already created
> > > templates and jigs...For example, if someone wanted me to go into
> > > production, I'd say, $500.00 for the first one, and $175.00 for each one
> > > after. For especially good work... $240.00? Anyways...
> > >
> > > Regardless... I know the dash is a focal point... but it's not like the
> > > factory dash was anything like a Rolls Royce.... It seems to me...
> > > what's important is that the car appears stock... which dosn't take a
> > > $340.00 dash to do... Spend the lesser amount... and take the difference
> > > in cost... and put it into some other details on the car... It will be
> > > well worth it.
> > >
> > > My 2 cents.
> > >
> > > Justin
> > Justin - I thought $340 was a touch high myself. He claims the high
> > price is due to the materials, all imported, and the finish, gloss, lots
> > of coats, hand rubbed, etc. I'm likely going to go with the dash costing
> > $180. It's cheaper than the big 3 and assuming his claim is correct
> > about lightening to an orangish color, probably closer to original.
> >
> > It would be great to hear from someone who has one of his dashes to
> > verify this.
> >
> > Thanks for your 2 cents !!!
> >
> > Marty Romagni
> > Painesville, Ohio
> > 1974 TR6
> My two cents is that a solid wood dash in a TR is a mistake. As you see
> from this thread the "plywood" dash is twice as much. There is a reason
> for this, it costs more to make. In fact those million dollar french
> empire antiques that you read about in your newspaper were veneered.
> Before I moved to the land of no basements and no days too cold to work
> on LBC's I did a lot of woodworking and study of antique furniture from
> our colonial period. Solid splits and curls, veeners are still good
> after two centuries. Most of the wood names thrown about by the
> producers of replacement dash faces ar not in any of the wood lists I am
> familiar with. I believe that the TR wood dash top veener was Claro
> Walnut. It comes from the same tree as what we Americans call English
> Walnuts. Yes they do grow in California, the wood is also popular for
> rifle stocks. Looks like a business opportunity replacing the veneer on
> existing bases if $340 is the going price for a replacement.
>
> Cheers, Don J. Howard
Let me chime in tor a second.
I built an instrument cluster for my Spit from a solid piece of Walnut.
But the weight of the gauges cracked the wood. I suggest using Plywood
with a veneer because of the strength.
Experience is the best teacher.
Joe Curry '63 Spit
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