48 Mercury wagon I have been working on for a few months. This is what it looks like today. As I get time I will add pictures starting at the beginning and follow it through to the end. I am just doing the woodwork, it was delivered to me with the chassis and body work already done.
Nice. I can only imagine how hard it is to find parts for a Merc woody - parts were hard enough for the '47 in my avatar.
Hi mamllc: It is always fun to see woodies being built. They are such a unique blend of craftsmanship. You are obviously very talented. Keep us updated please. Thanks. TEB
Thanks everyone for the nice comments. Yes, this is what I do for a living, restorations or custom. The wood on this one is going to be mostly original but with a few changes. Parts for these Ford/Merc wagons aren't so bad, a lot of them are available as repro's, not like some others I've done that are either find original or make your own. I had a little computer problem recently so my pictures are somewhat scattered and I think I may have lost a few. Here are some of the roof parts. I was looking for a picture of the car before I started on it, but no luck so far. I'll keep looking.
There are three pieces finger jointed together to make this part to the front door. This is probably the hardest piece on one of these cars to make. Once this is done the rest of the door is pretty straightforward.
Where does the time go? Getting very near the end of this project, guess it's time to get caught up with the pictures.
Mamllc, I used "Fiddleback Sapele" on my door panels and thats the first thing people notice when they see my car. The grain really "pops" with the varnish. You do beautiful work. I don't have to tell you, but most people don't realize, that unlike metal where you can bump out a mistake or add filler or Bondo, you make a mistake with wood and it's fireplace material. I know it's a street rod but if your client needs original tailgate hangers PM me.
Pretty much a one way street, much easier to make a board shorter than to make it longer, and clear doesn't hide much. I have the original hangers, he just didn't like the way they look so I made up the cables, but thanks anyway.
Any Woodie, is my ultimate dream car. Grew up with a father, whom was a pretty damn good amateur woodworker. So, it's in my blood, just like Hot Rods. Love your shop. Florida homes, have no basements, so could not bring ALL of Pop's tools down here. Rockwell table saw and Craftsman jointer will be around, long after I am gone. I just wonder about the skilled craftsman, whom "slapped" these "log-rides" together, on an assembly line. Thanks for sharing. Best thread I've seen all week. JT
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