Replies

1. 
   TerryH13 | Jul 12, 2002 02:03am | #1

   Woody,

   Try going to the following site and ask them they do everything from Grand Pianos to what ever. They are really know their stuff.

   http://flamingoveneer.com

   It's in New Jersey.

   Best Regards,

   Terry

1. 
   mapleman | Jul 14, 2002 07:10pm | #5

   Terry,

   Just thought I'd let you know, I was at the flamingo veneer site the other day - they have closed down and are auctioning off all of their stuff to the highest bidder.

1. 
   TerryH13 | Jul 17, 2002 01:52am | #6

   Thanks I was going to take a trip up there to buy more Carpatheian Elm Burl and Brazilian Rosewood. Now I have to go find someplace else to go.

   It's a shame they are closing that I have never seen so much good veneering stock in one place.

   Their furntiure is outragious. I saw a Grand Piano they were working on. for Baldwin I think. Unreal, all inlaided etc. If I can find it I'll post the furniture side of the business web site.

   Thanks again,

   Terry

2. 
   Alan | Jul 12, 2002 02:24am | #2

   Woody,

   A loooong time ago I designed, built and sold plans for a truck tonneau cover made from some solid stock, plywood and covered with veneer.  I used the wood-epoxy system throughout (though I did not use West products).  I see no reason you couldn't do the same with a gas tank:  epoxy is impervious to gasoline; and if it completely encapsulates the wood the gas can do no harm to it either.

   With a metal gas tank you wouldn't need to build any additional structure.  Just start veneering.  The only tricky part would be making sure you have a good bond to the steel tank.  It would be best, I think, to first scuff up the steel with some fairly coarse paper, and then do a coat or two of epoxy to make sure you have a good, well-bonded base.  After that it's just a matter of slopping down a good amount of epoxy, with some filler added to fill any gaps, and lay down the veneer.  You'd have to figure out some way to hold the veneer in contact while the epoxy cures (a vacuum press, perhaps).

   On my tonneau covers I put on a layer of (if I remember right) 2 oz. fiberglass using the epoxy as the resin.  On top of that I put spar varnish, for both the glossy finish and the U.V. protection.  If your friend wants a clear coat instead, make sure it has a U.V. filter in it:  even under epoxy, fiberglass and clear coat wood can degrade.

   Alan

3. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jul 12, 2002 07:57am | #3

   It is very difficult to veneer a dome shape.   Basically, you can't make a single seamless sheet conform to the dome.    For a quick demonstration, try wrapping that gas tank in a sheet of newspaper.  You can get the sheet to conform to the tank for some small area, but the sheet crumples around its edges.   To veneer a dome shape, you need to cut the newspaper or veneer into quasi-triangular gores.   That's how they make globes or baseballs.   For nice regular spheres like baseballs and globes, the gores are fairly simple, and people have figured out what shapes to cut out of the veneer.  For an irregular shape like a motorcycle gas tank, I dunno how to figure out what gore shapes should be.

4. 
   RSRose | Jul 13, 2002 06:28am | #4

   Woody,

   There was an article in a recent issue of FWW (can't remember which) that described applying veneer over the radiused edge of a round table. The problems and technique involved in getting the veener to conform to that shape are similar to those that would happen on the gas tank.

   Rich

5. 
   thmsjohnston | Jul 17, 2002 02:16am | #7

   Interesting stuff, veneering a m/cycle gas tank in wood. Somehow it just doesn't seem right. Is he doing this to a Harley?

   One major thing to consider. Unless this is going to be a "hangar queen" that just does the show circuit I would say give it a shot. If it will be a daily user or lives in a climate with high UV in summer or winter I would say forget it. I cannot believe even an epoxied shell over veneer over metal will look anything decent after any time in Florida/Cal/AZ sun. . Short term beauty only.  You surely seen the shape of the albeit fake wood panelled on Chryslers and Jeeps.... Send the tank to West Coast Choppers and get a faux paint job done.

   Sorry to sound negative but ....

   Earl

6. 
   DelDollens | Jul 17, 2002 03:19am | #8

   Just out of curiosity, is there a requirement that stipulates veneer?  The fact that faux painting would probably be the most cost effective and last longer seems like an attractive alternative.  However, would the customer mind if his tank capacity was diminished a little bit?  What if you were to have a custom tank built a little smaller than normal, but had the same mounting dimensions on the bottom.  You would also need the neck to be slightly elongated.  After this imaginary tank was fabricated, could you make a shell that fit over the tank?  The thickness could be 3/8" all around, you could protect the underside of the shell from the elements, and I would think the solid wood design would last longer than veneer. 

   Just a thought.

   -Del