Another Mod Question
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 1
From: STL
95 e320...sold the rest
If I can snap some pics later of my interior, do you think you could do a little work on them?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 2
From: Seattle
1990 300ce
To me, without the woodgrain showing and only solid paint, the trim pieces will look very plain or bland. It works in darker interiors for some reason, but I think paint will disappoint you.
and do not, I repeat do not, sand those pieces. You are almost guaranteed to blow through the wood veneer. You need to use a chemical stripper to get the clear finish off. I'm not sure what material the clear finish is, so I'm not sure which stripper to recommend. But I'm sure somebody on one of the MB forums knows the answer. I saw a tutorial where a guy did this on his w126... I think it was on mercedesshop.com. He used an erasol (sp) spray can of stripper.
You spray it on, let it sit for a while, and use a putty knife or scraper and scrape the old finish off. Then you clean the wood, carefully sand by hand with a fairly fine grit, stain, wet it with a sponge to raise the grain, then sand with super fine grit, then start applying layer after layer of clear, buffing/sanding between layers... then you polish your last coat. It's a long and painful process that takes TONS of patience, but if you do it right the hard work will pay off!
But don't sand it!!!!
and do not, I repeat do not, sand those pieces. You are almost guaranteed to blow through the wood veneer. You need to use a chemical stripper to get the clear finish off. I'm not sure what material the clear finish is, so I'm not sure which stripper to recommend. But I'm sure somebody on one of the MB forums knows the answer. I saw a tutorial where a guy did this on his w126... I think it was on mercedesshop.com. He used an erasol (sp) spray can of stripper.
You spray it on, let it sit for a while, and use a putty knife or scraper and scrape the old finish off. Then you clean the wood, carefully sand by hand with a fairly fine grit, stain, wet it with a sponge to raise the grain, then sand with super fine grit, then start applying layer after layer of clear, buffing/sanding between layers... then you polish your last coat. It's a long and painful process that takes TONS of patience, but if you do it right the hard work will pay off!
But don't sand it!!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,849
Likes: 3
From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
Or you could scuff the clear and spray tint them with a translucent paint...hobbyshop tint spray or even VHT! Try that...getting it all the way down to the wood will be a BISH.
I think the wood needs to be re-stained (or dyed) with a brownish red stain. The high gloss clear finish takes a lot of sanding and polishing to get right, but I think this would be by far the best solution for this car.
Like this...
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 1
From: Denver,CO USA
"88 300CE- First Year Production
Damn you Zorro, I painted my interior like that too. All the woodgrain is now black and the grey are still grey, suits the color of my car inside/out. Any cool looking seat covers for our cars? The cusions in my car are cracking in too many places.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
1987 300e
I wanted to do this myself, but was afraid of the results (not getting the clear right). I also thought of finding a thin pre-stained thin veneer, wetting it,and forming it to the console wood peices, but I think that would be more difficult. Hmmm
P.S. I found the website mentioned earlier here: http://boostnbenz.1baddsm.com/DIY/Wood/
Last edited by Lui; May 20, 2008 at 12:04 AM. Reason: website
