finishing firewall
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Topic author - Posts: 47
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:33 pm
- First Name: Don
- Last Name: Hanson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925
- Location: Rochester, MN
- MTFCA Number: 22351
finishing firewall
Purchase 3/4" oak finished on both sides plywood to make firewall for my speedster build. Think I would stain with cherry and then a good coat of varnish. Does that sound appropriate? If not please give me some advise. Thank you, Don Hanson
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- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- MTFCA Number: 52564
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: finishing firewall
It's a speedster, you can color it any way you like. Fine by me.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: finishing firewall
Stain to go with the rest of the Speedsters colors. What colors?
Test your stain choice on a piece of scrap before you stain the firewall. The wood used for the display or brochure isn't your wood.
Test your stain choice on a piece of scrap before you stain the firewall. The wood used for the display or brochure isn't your wood.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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- Location: Portland Or
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- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: finishing firewall
Also, read up on staining oak/plywood. There may be some steps that need done before applying the stain so it does not get splotchy.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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- First Name: Mario
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Re: finishing firewall
Hi Don, here bellow my original stock 1914 speedster project as well. It may inspire you.
Super Mario Bross
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
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Re: finishing firewall
I would use paste wood filler on that oak before staining. And yes, try your finish on a scrap before you do the firewall. Cutting out a firewall should produce plenty of scrap for practice.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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- Location: Angier NC
Re: finishing firewall
I don't consider myself an expert as I learn something from every project. I have been a finish carpenter for 30+ years and have built furniture and made several "firewalls" for T's and one for a 1911 cadilac. In all cases I used furniture grade birch plywood. Furniture grade plywood has up to 9 layers depending on the thickness. Birch plywood will usually take stain evenly and have a very nice even grain. Also in each case the edge of the plywood was covered. On the early cars, the edge was covered with a brass trim piece and later cars the cowell fit over the plywood. Be sure to coat both sides with the same number of applications and today there are several products using epoxy which in mho is best.
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- First Name: Ignacio
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Re: finishing firewall
Nice work. Does anyone have plans for a 1916 style that will have a brass square windshield?
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Topic author - Posts: 47
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2019 10:33 pm
- First Name: Don
- Last Name: Hanson
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- MTFCA Number: 22351
Re: finishing firewall
Thank you all for your input, it really is helpful and the photos fantastic help!!! Don
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Re: finishing firewall
If you are going to stain it with a cherry stain so that it will look like stained cherry, start with cherry veneer plywood. Oak will always look like an impostor. I use Minwax polyurethane finish which has UV protection. Let each coat dry for several days, block sand before the next coat. I usually use three or more coats of finish.
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Re: finishing firewall
Don, These days you need to think out of the box !... Dont be a Lemming !!
I just stained my firewall few days ago in cedar on 1 side and on the otherside i went... gold baby !! Trust me the end result gets people crowding at the car shows , like bower birds they like shiney things ! Just Look at my last classy project
I just stained my firewall few days ago in cedar on 1 side and on the otherside i went... gold baby !! Trust me the end result gets people crowding at the car shows , like bower birds they like shiney things ! Just Look at my last classy project
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- Last Name: Brossard
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- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: finishing firewall
Johnny you did a fantastic job ! Congrats. How did you make the brass modling corner? I'm asking because I'm ready to install mine...
Super Mario Bross
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
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Re: finishing firewall
Be careful what you get. As I recall, what they call 3/4", is really not true! It is 23/32" That makes for a loose fit for the brass trim.
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Re: finishing firewall
The brass framing around the firewall comes in lengths with pre drilled holes from most vendors .
With the thinner wrap material you can tuck it around the edges of firewall & the brass frame fits , hides & holds it in place ..
With thicker wrap it wont fold over the edges & can bubble up & lift around edges there ..but you can cut your wrap material to the firewall edges with a ultra sharp new box cutter knife .
Just be sure your surface is smooth as !! ..with no pimples etc before you wrap..
I stained & laquered to perfection both sides of the firewall so if any deterioration was to occur i can simply remove the wrap.
You can actually buy wrap in all colors of chrome these days & or other many textures ...also wrap that has different woodgrain textures too so you wont have to stain or laquer your firewalls... just wrap your firewall in your favourite wood grain texture.. its cheaper and more effective & with minimal labour too...
With the thinner wrap material you can tuck it around the edges of firewall & the brass frame fits , hides & holds it in place ..
With thicker wrap it wont fold over the edges & can bubble up & lift around edges there ..but you can cut your wrap material to the firewall edges with a ultra sharp new box cutter knife .
Just be sure your surface is smooth as !! ..with no pimples etc before you wrap..
I stained & laquered to perfection both sides of the firewall so if any deterioration was to occur i can simply remove the wrap.
You can actually buy wrap in all colors of chrome these days & or other many textures ...also wrap that has different woodgrain textures too so you wont have to stain or laquer your firewalls... just wrap your firewall in your favourite wood grain texture.. its cheaper and more effective & with minimal labour too...
...An idle mind is the Devils workshop
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Re: finishing firewall
Heres one or 2 examples...
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Re: finishing firewall
In my experience the oak plywood is easier to stain and finish than birch or cherry, which is more prone to showing blotchy areas when stained. So oak is a good pick. If I were you I would definitely do some testing on the scraps you have, following the directions for both the stain and the varnish. Make sure you let the stain dry thoroughly. Stain and varnish separately-don't use varnish-stain mix. Plug up any holes in the firewall before you varnish, so the varnish doesn't drip or seep down to the other surface.