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Re: Wooden dash refinishing

To: eyates@enteract.com, spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Wooden dash refinishing
From: PVanDuyne@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 May 1999 21:31:40 EDT
In a message dated 5/11/99 4:28:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
eyates@enteract.com writes:

<< What finish should I use to get the right color and texture for my dash? Is
 there a product out there that will be a perfect color match? I have no
 experience with staining or finishing wood, so this is something totally
 new to me. What steps should I take to strip/prep the wood? How do I do it?
 Thanks in advance.
 
 Eric. >>
Eric,

                I did this project two winters ago. I used STRIP EZ to remove 
the old finish, but be attentive. 
The "varnish" BL used is very tough and you have to wait a couple of hours 
for the STRIP EZ to soften the finish and then you have to very carefully 
remove the mixture with a small putty knife. Again be careful not to push to 
hard or deep. The teak finish is only a 1/16 veneer over plywood. In may case 
it took about five coats of STRIP EZ to fully remove the old finish and 
several pieces of the veneer were loosened in the process. I carfully saved 
each venere piece and reattached with glue and a steam iron. Once the old 
finish was removed and the veneer repaired ( took me a week of evenings ) I 
simply refinished with urethane, about a dozen coats lightly sanding between 
each coat. I applied the urethane with cheap ($.50) foam brushes, these kept 
the bubbles to a minimum. I choose not to try and re-stain the teak and I'm 
happy with the results. Behind the SCCA plate you can see the darker 
orinignal shade but I plan to remount a plate their if I can find one in 
better shape than the one I removed.

Pete
1980 Spit

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