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[sdmil1977]

The wooden dash panels on my 78 Spitfire are in fairly good condition but one of the needs some attention. The protective coating is peeling on one of the panels. Upon removal I noticed the wood is underneath the damaged area is exposed. It has already begun to dry out and crack. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to save this piece. I have attached a picture of the damaged area. Thanks!

[moneypitspit]

Depending on what you want to spend I'd just go on Ebay and see if I could pick something up. I have to buy a lot of things for my '74 Spit from there and so far so good.
Ron

[Roland Martin]

Hi Tommy,

The damage doesn't seem very extensive. It looks like a teak panel, so you should be able to repair/fill the crack with a combination of polyuerathane glue (gorilla glue) and sawdust. Regular wood glue doesn't bond to teak because of the natural oil in the wood. the crack is small enough that really any type of sawdust you can get a hold of will blend in fine. Pour a small amount of the glue in a disposable cup or a jar cover & stir in some sawdust until you end up with a moderately thick paste, be sure to wear latex gloves, this glue is awful to wash off. It might be a good idea to mask off the area around the crack, before to keep the paste away from the good areas. Spread the paste over the crack trying to squeeze it all the way in. It's a good idea to leave it just proud of the surface, as it dries, it may shrink & keep you from having to do it twice. Let completely dry, & sand it flush, finishing with 200 - 400 grit sandpaper. Watco teak oil finish should blend in very well with the existing finish. You'll probably need 2 - 3 coats. Make sure to completely soak the oily rags with water immediately after your'e done, the oil does self-ignite, trust me on this. Good luck!

[sdmil1977]

Thanks for all the advice. I will definitely try it out!