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MG TD TF 1500 - Dashboard covering

After a long layoff, I'm trying to get back to working on the 52 TD again. The project of the day is trying to cover the dashboard. I have noticed in looking at pictures of others that the material is stapled to the outside edge of the dashboard and trimmed right along the edge but it is stapled to the backside in all the openings, i.e., the speedometer and tachometer, the center dash and the glove box openings. Stretching it around to the backside would be easier but I'm guessing that there is a reason it is stapled on the edge and trimmed. (Maybe so it will fit flush against the inner dash frame.)

Also, Dave, in looking through your site, you used adhesive glue on the front of the dash (if my memory serves me correctly). Does that turn out better than just stretching and stapling the material? I have cut out a practice dashboard and bought some material to practice stretching and stapling. I'm wondering if I should also glue it.

As always, thank you for the insight and help.
Patrick

PS. This site is great in a number of ways. The least of which for myself, is that is keeps me motivated and stimulated to learn things, even though I haven't made the time to work on the '52 in months. I do make the time to read it a couple of times a week.
Patrick Earles

The material (Rexine) is very tight and smooth against the dash....I would think a contact cement, rolling and clamping a board over it while it dried would get a similar look.... as long as the vinyl (?) is very thin.... Rexine is still available under the name Buckram from book binder supply houses....
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Patrick,

If you get the glue very even, and clamp the finished piece between two boards, you will get a nice flat finish on the vinyl. I actually glued first, and then clamped and allowed to set, removed the clamps and boards, and finally stapled.

I have no experience with just stapling and stretching, but I would think that by gluing first you can get a more consistant pull and minimize wrinkles. Also, if you stretch and then cut the darts and pull, you could get a dart that eventually 'creeps' into view. It can happen if you dart the hinges on the glove box.

I hope this helps,
dave
Dave Braun

Patrick,
If you know someone with a vacum bag setup used for veneering wood it would really help remove all the wrinkles.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor TD3983

Patrick,

I glued and stapled.

RK Rich

#2

RK Rich

#3

RK Rich

#4

RK Rich

Thank you everyone for the comments.

Rich, the pictures are great and the final product looks very well done. I noticed that the outer edge material was streched around and stapled on the back side of the dashboard (very uniform and precisely done I might say) while the original that you took off was stapled around the outer edge. Around the outer edge is how my old one was done - although it was not the original covering. Outer edge stapling is how I have seen others do it also, and I just assumed that was because the covered dash had to mount flush to the inner dash panel. Did you have any problem with mounting your covered dashboard to the inner dash panel.

Still learning lots,

Patrick
Patrick Earles

RK Rich, great pictures of your process. Those should get picked up by T-Talk.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

RK, they're a great set. I'd appreciate if you could send a set to me (perhaps with a bit of text) so that I can post them on Ttalk. Thanks, Bud
Bud Krueger

great picture on the shop wall above the orkbench...were we supposed to be looking at something else???
regards, tom
tom peterson

This thread was discussed between 06/09/2011 and 13/09/2011

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