Handmade_by_Heary

I was reading through this thread and was about to add 'don't try sand the lacquer off' when I seen you sanded the lacquer off', but you got off lightly it seems with minimal cut through. The lacquer and veneer on these are very thin and it's extremely easy to cut through to the ply base. What I find works best for removing the lacquer and saving the veneer is a heat gun and a semi sharp chisel, one inch or wider. Gently heat the lacquer get the chisel underneath and start taking it off in strips with the heat gun moving in front of the chisel. End result looks good through, nice rich color 👌

Hi guys, just to add from my experience of these dashes and I've seen/restored a few by now (I'm Handmade by Heary). The dash panels and door cappings were finished in American black walnut of varying quality tone and grain. I've often seen them mistaken for teak but if you've ever stripped a dash down and removed any fixtures or fittings that cover the wood you'll notice how dark it is underneath. The clear coat used originally didn't have UV inhibitors and tended to turn cloudy and yellow. The veneer in turn is sun bleached (yes even UK cars 😂) and turns a lighter color resembling teak, this paired with the yellowed cloudy clear coat results in a rather confusing range of opinions of veneers used originally. Depending on how the car was looked after, if it was garaged or kept outdoors or even the climate the car lived in will result in various examples.

Hi Phil, Fantastic work, well done!! You must be well chuffed with your work, as you should be! The satisfaction of looking at that once fitted and knowing you did it is priceless. The color of the finish came up really nice too, it has a slightly mellowed look to it that will sit with the car really nice. If the cheapest you were quoted for a refinish on the dash and caps was £500 then I seriously need to raise my prices! 😮

Hi, that was most likely me (Peter Heary), I have to admit in my naivety some time back I did believe it was teak that was used on some dashes but after encountering, refinishing and stripping back a number of original dashes and wood panels they have all been walnut of various cuts. As has been mentioned previously UV damage plays a major factor in how we view wood trim with a distance of 40+ years from when it was fitted, clear coats used at the time didnt have UV inhibitors and thus over time the wood bleached while the clear took on a yellowish/golen tint and became cloudy. What we are left with is a wood panel that resembles teak but is in fact walnut. Just as an example see the images below of a 2500 original but unused dash panel set still in the rap and thus not exposed to UV damage and opposed to a fitted dash panel and what you would generally expect from a dash subject to years of use and abuse; you'd be forgiven for thinking teak was indeed used.

Hi Pete, I use modern stuff, 2k clears it's really the only option for wood panels that are essentially external application bring subject to various degrees of temperature, uv light, humidity and let's face it, in a British sports car, damp and wet. Plus with the 2k's you get to build up a good coat that gives a fantastic depth to the wood.

By all means let me know if I can offer advice, I make from scratch and restore so I've seen and done a lot. Regarding the Herald/Vitesse door cappings, to be honest I've not found I've had enough requests/interest in them to warrant producing new ones from scratch. Unlike the flat panel dashes of a number of Triumph cars the door caps of the Herald/Vitesse have essentially three faces (flat with a chamfer) and chamfers at both ends also, so certainly something that could be stained/varnished to the customers requirements provided it was manufactured in a light colored base wood but veneering would be a tad trickier. I've noticed however having worked on a number of sets that Triumph only veneered the large flat face in some cases and applied a tinted clear then to try blend it all in to one general walnut color 🤔 Below is a set of door cappings I refinished to match a new made Vitesse Mk1 dash...

Hi all, I seen my name get a mention or two on this thread, thanks for that! 😀 I do indeed make dashboards and door cappings, all handmade and finished, packed and wrapped by me alone; a Triumph enthusiast and woodwork lover. I make molded door cappings that fit around the profile of the door, I think they make for a cleaner, neater look as opposed to the bulkier looking square ones. I've a set in my own Spitfire secured with a good double sided automotive tape and they're locked in place for the past couple of years. If I can offer anyone help or support on tackling a dash refurb do let me know!

John, that's perfect, I'm delighted! 😁😁 I probably should mention I'm in Ireland so if you can let me know postage costs I could transfer via PayPal if that worked for you.

Hi John, That'd be fantastic! Much obliged to you 😁

Hi all, I'm really hoping someone can help me. I'm looking for a particular section/cut from a TR4, 250 or 6 door (I'm assuming they are all similar?). I'm looking to develop jigs/templates to create solid wood door cappings but need a door (or better still doors) to cut an exact profile. I'm hoping someone might have a scrapper door (or two) that they might cut the section from highlighted in the below image, I will of course cover all costs for time, effort and postage.