Instead of burying the info in the prior topic, I thought I would start this fresh.

As an alternative to using a heat gun or grinding the woodgrain off your console, I have found a much, much easier solution where manual labor is not required.

Go to your local hardware store and buy some acetone. Take your metal pieces from your console and soak for 15 minutes. Remove pieces from acetone and woodgrain will simply fall off like a snake shedding its skin. During the 15 minutes you can fill the time with other pressing activities such as drinking a beer.

Work smarter, not harder I always say. It doesn't hurt to have a background in polymers either. I just did this experiment in the lab 5 minutes ago on the endcap of my spare console. The 15 minutes was generous as I had other business to attend to, so it could have been shorter.

On a serious side note, some things to keep in mind:

1. Acetone or other ketones should be chosen. Other solvents such as OMS, IPA, xylene or even gas will not work. I tried a few. The acetone works best to swell the vinyl coating.

2. If you go this route, absolutely do not put other plastic parts of your beloved firebird in contact with the solvent if you plan on using them again. Metal only!

3. Obviously, use in a well ventilated area away from ignition sources. Acetone is pretty volatile and evaporates quickly.

cool, thanks for the tips. Acetone...that's fingernail polish remover right?

That's right. Most nail polish remover used to be acetone. I think they have gone to ethyl acetate now, which would also work. The key to this technique is allowing the part time to soak in the acetone so that the woodgrain swells.

Don't forget to sand it when you are done with the chemicals. Gotta do some manual labor.

Jim

What would acetone do to fiberglass?

I'm not sure what it would do to fiberglass. I have not worked with that before. It may not do anything but in any course of action, its always smart to try it on a small unnoticable spot or extra scrap piece.

D'oh! Now why didn't I think of that? Better living through chemistry. Thanks for passing the along Limelight

Tom

Limelight, wheres part one to this thread?? I want to see what started the subject!!

Here ya go, Johnny ...

Woodgrain, Part 1

Ah, now I understand what started this, thanks Q. I am tired of working so hard to keep my console looking good all year! The applique keeps bubbling when its hot out! I'm lookin' hard at getting that 300 dollar camaro center console on Ebay!! Brand new, perdy, and won't bubble. Okay folks, just try and stop me.....I'm about to bid on it!! Go ahead, try and stop me!...........

Or....I'll call Classic in the morning and drop 400 on them. Anyone bought theirs??

I finally found some time between work, life and other projects to get some pictures in order of the vinyl removal as it occurs with time. It is kind of neat and does better than words will describe. If interested, take a look:

http://groups.msn.com/69LimelightVert/shoebox.msnw