Ash or Oak?

[ttbikes]

I am getting ready to order some veneer to start refinishing wood work on my 1964 Tradewind. I can not make up my mind if it is Ash or Oak plywood and I am looking for opinions . To me it looks like oak but when I look at the veneer samples it kind of looks like the ash sample also. Thanks in advance.

[SteveH]

I would guess Oak because of the open grain, but it's a guess.

[Aviator]

Oak. You can,however, stain ash to look like the oak, but the grain will be a bit tighter on the ash.

[MaxTow]

Oak -

Ash has a finer grain structure.

[overlander64]

Greetings ttbikes!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of 1964 Airstreams!

Originally Posted by ttbikes

I am getting ready to order some veneer to start refinishing wood work on my 1964 Tradewind. I can not make up my mind if it is Ash or Oak plywood and I am looking for opinions . To me it looks like oak but when I look at the veneer samples it kind of looks like the ash sample also. Thanks in advance.

Attachment 174729

When I was researching my '64 Overlander, it is my impression that Oak veneer was utilized on '64 Airstreams with the International package with a different species on those that were base Land Yachts. I know that when I had to have the refrigerator cabinet rebuilt on my '64 Overlander Land Yacht International, the veneer required to match the balance of the interior was oak. The base stain utilized to create a match of the original cabinetry was MinWax Golden Oak. The result was fantastic with a near perfect match to the balance of the coach's woodwork . . . the match was so good that I asked the cabinetmaker to rebuild my original dining table with an oak tap that matches the rest of the cabinetry.

Good luck with your Tradewind!

Kevin

[RangerJay]

Granted - my 2002 Bambi is not a 64 Tradewind - but regardless - I was more than a little deflated when I called the Service Centre to ask about stains after building a set of Oak bunkbeds - the answer? - "we just go to the hardware store and get something close" ......

In the end I chose Minwax "Early American" - the match was perfect.

Good Luck,


Jay

[BigAl]

Red oak to be specific.
Al

[BigAl]

And looks to be rotary cut.
Al

[Bill M.]

Big Al is right on. Red oak. Probably rotary cut.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by bill m.

big al is right on. Red oak. Probably rotary cut.

+1



`

[ttbikes]

Thanks everyone. I had been thinking white oak with golden oak stain. Now I am thinking red oak veener and testing a couple of stains. Also think it will lose a lot of the orange tint when I strip and sand the good surfaces. For a while I thought the varnish might have been orange shellac but alcohol does not soften the finish so the finish must have darkened with time. Going with hand rubbed lacquer for the new finish. A lot of work but maybe the wife will help.