Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan I put 5 or 6 coats on the bottom of the boards, the goal was strictly to seal out moisture. Topside the goal was to level the surface, that's where the sanding comes in. I wet sanded with a hard block between coats with 320 or 400, sorry I don't remember exactly what grit. For the finish I originally started with gloss Minwax Helmsman Spar but changed my mind and did the last few coats with the satin finish. The nice amber hue is strictly from the varnish, the wood is unstained oak.

I felt the gloss was too shiny

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Try a tap of the same size before the helicoil. Looks like enough thread left on the back end. If not enough meat go with the helicoil. Lookin good Dan!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I’ve got a set of chasers and I don’t use them anymore. Like a dull knife they make a mess of threads. I now use taps but carefully. Much better!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

NOW you tell me!:lol: I thought I was doing a great job because I bought a set of chasers before starting reassembly and not just using a bolt!. Oh well.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Should always just use taps not chasers.... A tap may clean that up for you enough - just use a "dead end" tap... it has a flat bottom instead of a pointed one and will thread to the bottom of the hole.

If your bolt doesnt wiggle or pull out when you get it in there it should be safe enough to keep your belt planted

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

^^^ I was always told the exact opposite. DON’T use a tap to clean threads, use a thread chaser - which is why I bought a set. I ordered a helicoil installation set from Amazon last night. I guess now I’ll be looking for a bottoming tap.

Black Sheep, I can already tell the full gloss will be a little too shiny for my taste. I’ll use up my quart and switch to satin like you did later. Good idea on 4-5 coats on the underside. Seems as though that should be plenty.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

You could always make your own chaser. Just file or grind a grove lengthwise into a bolt the right size.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Well, I’m back home. So work can start again on my ‘55.

Took a whirlwind, 24 hr, 500 mi round trip to my step son’s house to clean our 5th wheel trailer so it could be towed back to L.A. by a pick up service. Why? For those who havent followed this thread, my purchased-new, happy-birthday-to-me ‘08 Chevy crew 3500 dually LTZ Silverado burnt to the ground a year ago and I never installed a hitch in my replacement truck. It STILL kills me that rats caused it - nest materials around the turbo charger piping after a 2 week vacation and I didnt open the hood before it was driven!

Anyway, the helicoil installation kit arrived while I was gone but now I think I’m gonna go looking for a 7/16”-20 bottoming tap - is that the correct name?

EDIT Saturday: After the long delay the 1st coat went on the bottom sides today. Good thing it had extra long to dry as there were some minor drips. They’d hardened so I razor bladed them off, a light sand and you’ll (I’ll!) never be able to tell.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

So, this is starting to happen:(

It’s happening on both top & bottom, but more on bottom. NO, I did not shake the can. Light stirring only.

It did not happen on first coat, only second. So I assume it’s some kind of reaction to the prior coat. I allowed 24hrs+ drying time as per the label. Once I finished applying, I cleaned the brush - takes 5 minutes. I go back and see bubbles. I very lightly rebrush to remove them and re-wash the brush. I come back several hours later and these few bubbles are back!

I’ll wet sand probably with 400 grit tomorrow and the circles left behind will go away, but it still bugs me. Ideas?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

looks like the coats applied have not dried yet and are off gassing still. more time between coats I guess.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Maybe. Label says 24hrs between coats but it’s been cold for SoCal before yesterday and today. About 60-61 degrees when I applied the varnish. I’ve been recording my application times and temps.

A few years ago I used Minwax water based polyurethane on some exterior wood that gets no sun. It has held up remarkably good. But I didn’t even consider using that for my bedwood. Maybe I should have!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

the paint guy I dealt with for my issue with endura paint waay back said more coats equals more dry time between coats. temp, humidity and dry time all work together. over a wood surface the moisture content of the wood is also a factor. some paints are also force dryable. the area you have them sitting in is also a factor. if the area is small it stands to reason that the area would tend to have the humidity rise quicker, if not vented, because there is moisture coming out if the paint. so the dry time would go up again. my advice, let it dry well so not soft to touch, then quickly scuff and recoat. varnish also doesn't usually get hardener like an automotive paint so it relies on ambient conditions to dry. try some heat and a fan possibly?
not an expert, just my opinion.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

^^^ I think you’re right. I’m gonna leave a fan on above it tonight to see if the air movement helps. I’m sure I’ll get a little more “crap” in the finish but since I’m sanding every coat, it should be ok.

On the subject of sanding: I’m now wet block sanding with 320 after 2 coats. It doesn’t quite make it flat but I’m afraid to sand further and risk cutting through to the wood. I’ll try for total flatness after the 3rd coat. Opinions?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

try thinning so the lighter ends flash off faster and the whole thing drys quicker? more chance of a run though. lighter coats?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I tried to make my coats light as it was.

One of my (now ex) employees was a master cabinet maker years ago before he nearly cut his hand off!! and changed professions. He suggested I put ONE drop of dish soap onto the sanding block as I start blocking. Works like a charm. The block loaded up a little but I brushed it off easily and kept sanding. I didn’t QUITE get to totally flat across the boards but almost. I will for sure after the 3rd coat

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

You may already know this, oak is a open grain wood. To get a total shine you will need to do lots of coats.

I have found for exterior wood that "Spar Varnish" last longer, living in Idaho at about 5000 feet above sea level, with approximately 50-60% humidity and temperature going to highs of 100 degrees in the hot summer to -25 below in the winter, that the spare varnish stands up to the weather several years longer than any other clear finish on oak.

Your truck is looking great.

Keep on keepin on

NC

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan-

Finishing my bed wood is still in front of me, so reading this thread with interest on how to get a nice finish on the boards.

Has anyone tried a grain-filler on their boards, especially on oak? Here's a excerpt from Rockler's site on filling wood grain-

"Ever wonder how expert wood finishers get the mirror-like finish you find on examples of fine furniture? It isn't by hastily slapping on a coat or two of standard-issue polyurethane varnish. There are a number of steps involved, beginning with the way the piece is originally constructed on through several coats of clear finish and final hand-rubbing. In between, there's the all important step of filling the wood grain pores to produce the perfectly flat surface that gives the final clear finish depth and a glass-smooth shine. Crystalac Clear Waterborne Wood Grain Filler makes the process about as easy as it can be. And in case you've never used wood grain filler, here are a few filler facts to help you see why."

"Wood grain filler is used strictly to fill wood grain pores and should not be confused with "wood putty". Wood putty (or wood filler) is a much thicker mixture, and is used to fill larger cracks and voids in the wood. Grain filler is a binder mixed with a filler material, such as silica, "micro balloons", clay, or calcium carbonate to for a thin paste. Most grain fillers are roughly the viscosity of pancake batter, making them easy to work into the grain of the wood, but still thick enough to span and fill the open pores of the grain"

http://www.rockler.com/how-to/using-wood-grain-filler/

Very curious if anyone's used this and how it worked.

Here's another DIY instruction on using grain fillers

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/wo...-pore-fillers/

I wonder if you could apply a coat or two of sealer, then the grain filler, then stain the grain filler a contrast color and top coat it for a little more contrast effect.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Yup, I’m aware many coats are needed. I’ve read threads where guys claim they did 20 coats! I don’t plan on doing that many but maybe 6-10 if necessary. Initially, I planned on using polyurethane. But after lots of reading online I came to the conclusion that varnish has a little more “give” to it when the temperature and humidity change. Glad to hear you bear that out!

Once the sanding with 320 shows a truly flat surface all across the boards I’ll do another coat or two and finish with a 1500 grit sand and machine polish as the final finish.

As for grain filler, I’ve read about it. It comes out like a tan, thin putty. Since I was not staining my wood other than natural I decided not to try it but it might work fine. But if it DOESNT? Then what do you do with $400 of oak you don’t like?!

EDIT: Saturday 2/3/18: After much wet block sanding I applied a 3rd coat switching to Satin finish. The sanding cut through the varnish slightly on a couple edges but it’s invisible after the varnish went back on.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Yeah well I guess we learn ---(not from the internet! hahahaha) ---- Worked in a machine shop for 4 years building plastic injection molds, presses and clip and die punches. everything we did was with taps and dies and never used a chaser in my entire career there with them guys. I was a kid back then and learned the best of knowledge from the "old guys", my mind was very malleable back then... Now that I KNOW IT ALL (NOT!) not so much :lol:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

After a several day delay I put the 3rd coat (and likely the last) of varnish on the bottom of my bedwood boards today. 3 coats OUGHT to seal them well enough from the bottom since they will never be exposed to direct sunlight.

I have found that the label suggestion to wait 24 hrs to dry is too little. Even at 75-85 degrees lately you need to wait more like 48 hrs to sand and not load up the paper easily...and then then it wants to load.

EDIT:
Nothing new to report today because I was drafted into helping my nephew & brother-in-law build a retaining wall...or my DD truck was. And of course this happened the day AFTER I washed and waxed her. Poor beauty had to actually work. But she’s a tough beauty.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I finally re-tapped the shoulder belt mount hole successfully and mounted the belt. This allowed me to install the seat for the first time since it was done.

The 5h coat of varnish went on and that seems to be enough. I wet sanded with 1500 grit to remove dust nibs and started machine polishing.

EDIT: Sorry about the dumb pictures rotating.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Looking good Dan!

Cheers, Jim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Seat looks great in there Dan!

:uhmk:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks so much JJ for the kind words and for rotating the image!

I like it but it’s almost too plain. Maybe I should have requested a red line where the pleats end on both the seat and the back....but oh well. It’s done now.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Nice work Dan, seat looks awesome! Plain is nice!!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks Red!

To the board in general: Progress is slow now for a variety of reasons. Mostly because its home and I have to do all the work myself! Lol. But also a very elderly relative took a fall and was hospitalized a couple weeks, visits, etc. We bought a post-retirement RV and that has also been put on the back burner when we thought we would be prepping it for a month long trip. Basically, life got in the way.

Bought some stainless bolts today for final install the seat tomorrow. I have to figure out how to install new rollers on the window regulators, then I have to do side window installation while I wait for the rear-most cross sill to be painted - THEN I can start bed assembly!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, that life thing does seem to get it the way alot (ask me how I know, ha ha). Seat looks good, you can always add a little color to the door panels, if you think it needs it...Jim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

That's a beautiful truck you've built.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks so much, Jan. Love what youre doing too. Keep up the good work.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Pulled out my window regulators today. The rollers are partly broken and they’re all frozen. They don’t rotate at all.

I bought new ones from CPP awhile back and finally opened the envelope today to see they come with new rivets. I wasn’t sure how to go about installing them until it occurred to me to check YouTube. Sure enough, Danchuk has a short video telling you how to replace them for a TriFive car - whose regulators are essentially identical to our TF trucks.

Here’s the video. There may be others.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xF1rok1yN9s

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

PS: Has anyone lubricated their window gears? I plan to, and I guess I’ll use white moly grease? But I have Gibbs oil too. Any other suggestions that will work well and stay where put would be appreciated.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I'm suprised your not going with Power Windows, after all its one of those might as wells as long as your in this deep.

Gee I have them for my build .... :)

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Can't remember where but I KNOW I've seen power window actuators that use original window handles that you crank up or down 15 degrees. Won't change the look of original yet you'd have power windows.

Darn memory keeps failing me.:waah: Must be old age. :lol:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Hi guys.

I considered power windows and I asked Mike; the guy who owns the shop that did much of the mechanical work, about them. He said he didn’t recommend them because he’s had reliability issues with all the kits he’s installed. I’m ok with that because it saves me money and I like the “old-school-ness” of manual windows. YMMV, but I’m ok with the decision; at least for now.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Here’s a little tutorial on removing & replacing the window roller rivets. I found it to be extremely easy and fast. Took 5-10 minutes per regulator, maybe less.

Contrary to the guy on the Danchuk video on YouTube I didn’t drill out the rivets. I didn’t like how he hogged out the rivet instead of drilling it straight.

1. I decided to simply grind off the head flush using my bench grinder and punch it out with a ball peen hammer.

2. The replacement rivet and roller simply go back in the hole with a couple taps. They have shoulders on them so it it’s not possible to hammer them in too far.

3. I don’t have a rivet flaring punch shown in the video and I learned the trick too late, after I’d done a couple “wrong” - but they work fine. You simply “split” the clinch side of the rivet using the ball peen end of the hammer. Once it splits you just tap the ends flat. Stupidly, I used the hammer head at first and it deforms the hollow end of the rivet, clinching it. The swell was not enough to bind the roller.

4. You can see the two results in the picture but no one will ever see them and they work fine. Learn from my mistake! Easy peasy.

5. A quick touch up with dull aluminum spray paint and they’ll be good as new. I will make a separate post on this subject so a future searcher can find it. I hope it helps someone.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

FYI Update: I was just unsatisfied with the way the 5th coat of satin looked. It didn’t look bad, just “meh.”

I took one of the boards to my painter and he suggested block sanding with 800 grit and giving it a couple more coats with semi gloss this time. I did the 6th coat today. I’ll give it a 7th and that’s it. Enough already! I want to get the truck finished and be driving it for the Spring and Summer.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

SO DAMN PISSED OFF.

See the “RANT” post I put on the main board. It tells the story.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Man, That sucks rotten egg shells !

I feel for you Buddy .

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Duplicate posting of what I put in the separate thread. Just filling in here to show the outcome.

Well gentlemen, the windows are in. It took all day and I’m not all that happy with the outcome. Took longer than a pro & I had to uninstall/reinstall each because the roller that goes into the channel welded into the door came out - frustrating - but I got it done.

These repops mostly fit - but not exactly. Only 2 of 4 tabs on the outside of the wind wing matched the holes in the door. I didn’t drill for additional screws YET but I suspect I’ll have to.

A pro experienced with these trucks could maybe avoid the paint scratches but I don't see how they could make reproductions fit better.

The fuzzy C channel wrinkles at the upper rear corner depite clamping the heck out of them. Nothing a pro would do could change that. MAYBE cut “V’s” to make them conform to the curve of the door but I noticed that wasn’t done by the guys on YouTube that installed their own. Anyway, here are pic’s of the install. Anti-rattle strips or “whiskers” are not yet installed and it’s obvious they require extensive trimming to fit close-to-correctly. I was annoyed so I quit for the day.

On to the next thing!

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

nice to see you have it figured out. after being disappointed/ticked off with the first outcome you always tend to be critical of the second time around. it looks good in the pics though. some paint touch ups next?