I've been freshening up the interior of my 1926 TuDor and have had most of the trim pieces off the car. I have noticed that I have many different styles of trim screws holding these trim pieces in place. Some are brass, or steel or even stainless. Some are Philips most are slot, some are flat head and some have an oval head. Been looking around and I believe that these screws should be oval heads, but should they be brass (which I can not find, yet) or chrome plated brass which I can find.
Another question, I've been experimenting with wood graining the trim pieces. Currently I have many different patterns in the car. I'm getting better at applying the wood-grain and this is helping me decided which grain I'd like to have for all the pieces. After wood graining a piece I apply some varnish that has UV protection in it. I wait a least a week for the varnish etal. to dry, but when the trim screws are tightened the screw head tends to tear and rip out the finish. Any suggestions as to how to completely tighten the screws without maring the finish.
Thanks
Mike
Maybe you can wait with the last application of varnish until the screws are tightened? Thus they'll have some protection too (and the paint layer that risks cracking is thinner)
I'll give it try on the next piece, thanks
Mike
Mike, I believe they should be nickel plated raised head countersunk screws, what you fellows call oval head. I have a good selection of wood screws of this type, but none with metal threads.
Allan from down under.
Vendors have the screw sets. http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/1601
I found this place called 'Restoration Specialties & Supply, Inc.'. They are in Windber Pa. They have a website http:\www.restorationspecialties.com . They have hardware, clips, screws, bolts; channels weatherstrip; fender welt, etc. LOTS of stuff for cars of all years.
My hardware is a mix of years of replacements. I was not sure whether the hardware should be brass of plated brass. Most of my oval head hardware is brass, but could very well have been plated, which has been worn off years ago.
Mike
Mike: By 1926 Ford was not using brass anywhere on the car. It should all be nickel plated brass or steel. Im not sure, but I believe some of the screws were stainless, even back then. The "improved" models had nickel almost everywhere. There was lots of nickel plated bolts on the engine. The radiator shell was nickel (except non starters in 26) the instrument panel, windshield wing nuts, top prop nuts, ect. By the late 20s, the car industry was well into the "Nickel Era" and brass was outdated and considerd "old styling". The trim kits are available thru the suppliers and are mostly all stainless (or chrome plated). Most of he trim screws are oval head straight slot (Phillips heads were not used anywhere on a T)
1926 trim screws were nickel plated, slotted, oval headed brass machine screws, which can be purchased from the vendors in complete sets. If I'm not mistaken the screws are very fine 32 count threads which are not available in most hardware stores. We do have an old fashioned specialty hardware store here that has hard to find screws and I have gotten by, by using stainless steel machine screws, with the heads buffed to a mirror finish on a buffing wheel using jewelers rouge. Make sure to buff in line with the slot and not across the slot so you won't round off the sharp edge of the slot. SS oval headed machine screws are also available from McMaster-Carr by the box. Jim Patrick
Found a picture. This size (10-32), only in 1" length also holds much of the interior trim in place.
Found a picture. This size (10-32), only in 1" length also holds much of the interior trim in place.