Black ebony OEM 'style' 4WD shifter knob.. lots of pics..

[voyager:01]

so i decided to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for a night with and head up to the country to visit our good friend Teatyme in VT.. Teatyme is a master wood turner and all around tree and wood specialist.. i had been wanting him to make me a new 4WD shifter knob in black ebony wood that was like the OEM one but a little longer and more stout.. the pics you are about to see are the events that transpired yesterday in a cold woodshop down in the valley's of VT..

here's Teatyme carefully lining up the piece of black ebony to drill the starting hole.. this piece of ebony was supposed to be a high end pizza cutter handle but it shattered before it was done.. there was just enuff left for us to use..

drilling the hole..

then he set it up in the lathe..

then lots of shaping..

forming the end..

more shaping..

primary sanding..

and here's where it gets fun.. Teatyme gets to use his new knurling tool for the first time.. and what better a time to try it then on the only piece of black ebony in the whole shop on a nearly finished piece..

WORKED SHWEET to reproduce the textured look of the OEM knob.. Teatyme is stoked..

next he scored a couple lines..

and now things get REALLY tech..

 

[voyager:01]

Teatyme then carves out the end just enough for me to insert the OEM shifter knob plaque on as the final step..

almost done.. lookin' good..

finishing off the end..

cool black ebony wood shavings..

slice off the nipple..

TOP NOTCH WORK TEATYME.. U DA MAN!!

so then when i got home it was time for the finishing touch.. i had an OEM little shifter knob plaque i mysteriously found on the floor of my rig..

and drumroll please.................................................................. here's the finished product.. a 1 of a kind custom black ebony 4wd shifter knob for a toyota land cruiser fj40.. and my cat Sam can't even tell it's not OEM..

installed..

i hope you all have enjoyed this presentation.. thanx for looking.

 

[3DAMAN!]

Must have been a good project. But the pictures are too dark ,too big, too blurry, to see any detail

 

[voyager:01]

Must have been a good project. But the pictures are too dark ,too big, too blurry, to see any detail

time to get a new computer screen for you my friend.. .. i can see them clearly on my new flatscreen.. sorry though if they are too dark for you.:whoops:

 

[bsevans]

“Teatyme gets to use his new braizing tool for the first time” - That would be his new knurling tool.

 

[voyager:01]

thanx.. i fixed it.. thanx for the feedback.. ..

 

[1979fj40]

Soooo.... when is he makeing mine? Thats really nice!

 

[Gusb]

Black Micarta might also be a good (and stronger) material for a similar project.

I spend some time with relatives every summer in VT but refuse to go there anymore in the winter

 

[voyager:01]

Black Micarta might also be a good (and stronger) material for a similar project.

i don't know too much about wood.. but that sounds cool.. i was under the impression that black ebony is pretty hard stuff.


on another note.. here's a couple pics of Teatyme's holiday turning sessions.. some nice wine stoppers and knives made from various local and exotic woods.. none of them are stained.. just oiled to enhance the natural colors and grains of the wood.. 'tis the season so pm me if you wanna know more..

 

[Eshu Elegua]

Great pictures ....all clear here...nice job!

 

[alex e]

Very cool. Wonder what humidity will do to it? Might've lightly applied a sealer of some sort? What did you use to engage the shifter column's threads? Is it press fit?

 

[ocdbeetle]

Sweet...I'm a wood shop junkie myself so I can almost smell the wood shavings....Great work...

 

[bsmith123]

very nice

nicely done

probably not one of a kind for long though! Looks really good and a great way to spend the w/e

 

[Mtrunner]

That's a great project/story. I thought the photos were great. Thanks for sharing the idea.

 

[BBQ BOY]

I love stuff like that. Every time you look at it it will mean that much more. Wish I was good with my hands in a mechanical sense.

 

[voyager:01]

Very cool. Wonder what humidity will do to it? Might've lightly applied a sealer of some sort? What did you use to engage the shifter column's threads? Is it press fit?

i actually haven't done the final install yet because i want to do a quick repaint of the shifter stick first.. so it's not too late to apply a sealer to the wood for protection.. i will definitely consider that.

as far as the column threads.. this was actually part of the reason the OEM knob never stayed on for too long.. because the threads on my rig are kinda stripped out.. so when i do the final install i am going to use a heavy duty epoxy of some sort.

[quote BBQ BOY: "I love stuff like that. Every time you look at it it will mean that much more."]

i gotta say BBQ BOY u hit the nail on the head with that one.. it's something i will see everytime i drive and it will remind me of my good bro and a fun weekend..

 

[Mtrunner]

What about a matching gear knob?

 

[voyager:01]

What about a matching gear knob?

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

That's a nice piece and great pics. Looks freezing ass cold tho.

 

[Isotel]

that is the most detailed writeup ever on a shifter knob, looks good, but it reassure the fact that i never want to live in the north east again.. Look at the way he is bundled up! lol