My 83 lived garaged untill I bout it, now it's out side 24/7. All my wood with the exception of the tailgate is in 9 condition. The tail gate was at the beginings of being brittle to the touch when I bout the car but with weakly washes and leather protectant it became softer to the touch. We have had non stop rain for a few weeks now untill yesterday and I was able to wash the car. The tail gate wood is back to that brittle condition (more so now it seems) and I don't think it will survive the winter unless I can seal it. Thompsons water seal comes to mind but I don't know how it would react with the wood..?? The tail gate will not survive the wet winter so....wi'll it get ruined now aith Thompsons or over the next few months with out as it's never going to be dry enouph to keep on the weekly conditioning. Any one sealed up old brittle wood grain before?:confused: I wanted to do some thing today but it's pouring out again, I'd like to be ready the next sunny day (week ends) before it's almost too late
I've never done it, FT, but you might try one of the SEMS plastic/vinyl cleaners. The woodgrain sounds like it needs some of its own chemicals to help revive it. You should be able to get it from a bodyshop supplier on your rock. Have a look here: http://www.semproducts.com/
I don't think Thompsons water seal would work, although some versions are parifinn (spelling) wax based, perhaps Armor-all or a like brand of conditioner. I know on my F-150 I have used tire shine on the gray plastic lower valance to bring if back to life.
Well, I'll post a pic next week end. In the last 2 weeks my wood, especially the tail gate has worstend big time. The only real saving grace is GM painted the wood erea medium broun under it so from 20' feet away you can't really tell it's flacking off. Armour All is junk IMO, for the price a pound of butter would give the same results and butter is cheaper, but then the dogs would be licking the car! Yesterday I put a coat of Thompsons water seal on the tail gate, we'll see how the out come is in time. The tail gate is now shot so I did'nt have any thing to loose
Your right, it won't hurt to try it, if its gotten that bad. Let us know how it works out, if it helps out great. I've ate my words before.....they usually taste like chicken.
I had a 70 Torino Squire Wagon with fading wood grain. I used a Kiwi liquid brown shoe polish and mineral oil solution to treat it. It looked good until washing, then had to re-treat it. Not a miracle cure all, but it was a very effective short term solution.
I did the tail gate a couple weeks ago, as I stated..had nothing to loose. I think I'll do the rest of the car. It's been rained on and washed since and water is beading on it a hell of alot better than the rest of the wood. Best part, no chemical reaction witch was what I was afraid of