65 Eldorado-Tamo wood resto on door and quarter

[Chuck Swanson]

Well after a year or so, I finally finished the tamo wood trim on the doors and quarters.  Used the best tamo wood veneer I could find.  Took my door panels into FedEx years ago while I had them off to make copies on their color copier, to use as templates for the lines   (I had panels off, but wasn't planning on restoring years ago, just wanted copied).  I then took a piece of non-faded wood off under handle to match stain at Home Depot.  All panels re-chromed first.  One day I will do a detailed write-up, but pic for now   If you look closely, I bought a long piece of veneer on purpose vs multiple cuts, as pattern continues on each side (front to back).  The other side was cut from same large veneer, but underneath the first two cuts, so pattern of wood similar thoughout the car.  This was a lot of work (probably 60+ hours, plus 20 hours research, buying stuff, etc...spread out over a year), and no room really for errors on each step.  I will probably never take on this project again, but happy with the results.  Chuck

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

Chuck,

Beautiful work. How did you get the light color insert: pinstripe or different wood stringing?

[Chuck Swanson]

Thanks Ralph!  No stringing.  One piece of tamo  for each of the 4 panels like the factory, and then learned how to pinstripe for the silver lines.  Chuck

[wrench]

Nice job!

It’s obvious a lot of effort went into that project.

It’s funny how wood can be forgiving and unforgiving at the same time.

It’s organic and you have to ‘go with the grain’ so to speak.

[dinhnguyen57]

Beautiful job!  Are you sure you don't want to start a service for wood body paneling restoration for CLC members?   

[Chuck Swanson]

Thank you all!  No plans    I also rebuilt my entire under seat actuators and transmission, frames, new wiring, etc.... and works like a charm.  That is another big project, but no plans to offer that service either.  However, the odds of that one are greater as it just takes a lot of time, and the "no room for error issue" is not there.  Plus I have 6-7 spare seat total systems.  Chuck

[Chuck Swanson]

Update on the '65 Eldo.  Finally got the door cards and rear quarter panel done by a well known upholstery place.  All parts re-chromed, thanks to Red's attic in Texas.  All metal covered by below pics was blasted and powder coated (top rear 1/4 pieces and top parts in door cards, mirror bracket,etc...  Stainless polished, repaired by my guy in MA-Brightworks resto.  SMS for the correct vinyl color. New carpet from Stock Interiors. 

All leather below ,except for blue outer bottom trim, matching dealer manual color-2 hides.    Chuck

[Clewisiii]

Did reds attic do some parts brushed chrome for you.

[Chuck Swanson]

Yes, on this car and my '66
https://www.redspartsattic.com/car-show/

[Clewisiii]

I had set reds parts atic as one of my computer home pages to remind me to plan for my interior plating.

[amac4usc]

Chuck, beautiful job on your Tamo panels. I'm in the middle of trying to do the same thing for my 1965 Eldorado. Do you know the original stain color used from the factory? Also I found a place where I can buy some large 4' 8' Tamo wood veneer sheets but it gives me an option of 10 mil for pressing only or 22.2 mil bubble free veneer. Any suggestions on which one I should use? Thanks for any help on my project.

Andy



 

[Chuck Swanson]

Hi Andy,  Got the highest quality from here https://www.veneersupplies.com/categories/Raw__Wood__Veneer/Wood__Veneer__N__-__Z/Tamo__Ash__Wood__Veneer/   Will have to check stain, but I think walnut but only leave on for a few seconds/very light coat. 

Chuck

[Chuck Swanson]

Dark walnut.  Just installed this week finally

Had to redo the fuzzies and install properly with staples-they were also off by 3/4 inch to had to move them over,  remove extra leather under arm rest to lay flat, , door arm redo rest as plastic inside broken, rear 1/4 light area-re repair, etc...door handles-redo and install properly, mirror area, glue plastic properly, put correct serrated nuts on door arms and removed epoxy on 4 as was incorrect, redo leather on other arm rest as was not glued in curved area-now lays flat on plastic arm, and a number of other tasks such as removing wrong fasteners and installing correct ones.  Took around 20 hours+ to correct all the upholstery shop errors.