the Great 2017 Knob group buy, All knobs are shipped! THANK YOU! Options

[VaccaRabite]

Pictures are brilliant, but I guess being an engineer I would like to know full specs as well so that when the guy who has just had full details of my engine build also asks about that wonderful gear knob....

How about wood species, laminate thickness, glue type, blank size, turning time, polish time, polish, lacquer and anything else that you can think of that does not reveal anything proprietary! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Sure.
I've always held that this is something I do for the community here, and if people want to make their own, I'm all for it.

For this run the species is maple and american walnut.
In the past I have used maple and mahogany. Both work, but the walnut was a little darker this time so that's what I bought. Wood being wood, there can be a LOT of variation.

I use 5 layers of 1/4 inch walnut, and 4 layers of 1/8 inch maple.
They are glued up with Titebond 3, which is a very strong indoor/outdoor wood glue with pretty good resistance to water.

I make a bushing out of 1 inch round delrin rod. This supports the pressure of the crush ring. If you just used wood, the crush ring would split the knob. The bushing is epoxied into the base of the blank, and also serves as the attachment to my lathe.

After turning and sanding, each knob gets "a bunch" of coats of tung oil. About 8-10. When those have dried, they get polished on the buffer, and a stiff coat of wax is applied. And that's it.

It takes me about 3 hours to prep and make the block and cut the blanks out (not counting the dry time for the glue). A couple hours to batch the delrin into the bushings I need. Maybe an hour per knob to turn and sand. And about a day spent oiling and buffing.

Its important to point out here that this is WAY DIFFERENT from the race knobs made by Porsche in the 60s and 70s. Those were literally made of birch plywood. They were generally not finished beyond sanding, and were glued on to the shifter levers. The metal shifter rods apparently conducted a good bit of heat from the engine and the wood knobs insulated the drivers hands. They were also very VERY lightweight (as are mine). There is a myth that the factory race knobs were made of balsa. My research has not born this out. Everything that I have found points to the birch plywood, which makes a lot more sense the laminated balsa.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

Thanks for all the work n these beautiful works of art !!

Please send PP info when you get a chance.

Cheers

Lots of spaces for the second run. I need to update the first thread to account fro from new pays, and adding new folks to the second run.

Zach

When I get closer to being able to make the second run, I'll contact the second run folks for payment. I'm never comfortable taking money before I'm able to start the work.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

And now the pic I actually got online to post...
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c1.staticflickr.com-1435-1506268590.1.jpg)
Block has been cut up and the blanks have been roughed out on the bandsaw. Centers are marked and ready to go through the drill press once I have the delrin inserts made.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

I updated the first post. Looks like I am missing payments from 2 of the first run people.

Second Run folks - hang tight. We are 1/2 way through building the second run. I'll be contacting you to forward payment, shipping info as I work through the first run and get closer to starting your run.

Thanks all!
Zach

[nditiz1]

I updated the first post. Looks like I am missing payments from 2 of the first run people.

Second Run folks - hang tight. We are 1/2 way through building the second run. I'll be contacting you to forward payment, shipping info as I work through the first run and get closer to starting your run.

Thanks all!
Zach

I think just one Zach, I sent you the payment already.

[VaccaRabite]

I updated the first post. Looks like I am missing payments from 2 of the first run people.

Second Run folks - hang tight. We are 1/2 way through building the second run. I'll be contacting you to forward payment, shipping info as I work through the first run and get closer to starting your run.

Thanks all!
Zach

I think just one Zach, I sent you the payment already.

Yup. Just checked and there is was. Updated the first post. Thanks for fact checking me.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

Waiting on one more component I need before I can start work, the threaded aluminum rod for the Rennshifter knobs. I can start work on the Stockers now, (well, after the kids go to sleep tonight), and hopefully the rod will arrive this week.

Zach

[SKL1]

Looking forward to the second run- and the rennshifter mounting!


(drove the '73 today and the black plastic knob just doesn't do it!! I'll channel my inner 917 with the wood knob!)

[markhoward]

superfly!

[VaccaRabite]

The aluminum threaded rod for the Rennshift knobs showed up at my door yesterday.

All the materials are now in hand.

Zach

[Mblizzard]

I am lucky to have one of these in my cay! A work of art and extremely functional.

Sat on the shelf for a year or so because my wife would not let me install it until the car looked better! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

If you can get one of these I would highly recommend it! Not that this a reason to buy it but at car shows numerous people have pointed out how cool the knob was.

[VaccaRabite]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c1.staticflickr.com-1435-1506955422.1.jpg)

First knob came off the lathe yesterday. Still several coats of oil needed to fill the grain. But. Yeah, I'm pleased with it.

Zach

[mbseto]

Its important to point out here that this is WAY DIFFERENT from the race knobs made by Porsche in the 60s and 70s. ...

So not a replica, but an homage?

[VaccaRabite]

Its important to point out here that this is WAY DIFFERENT from the race knobs made by Porsche in the 60s and 70s. ...

So not a replica, but an homage?

Yup.
To the best of my knowledge, no one makes a replica. But I do know that one of my knobs is on a 917. So that's kinda cool.

I've thought about laying up some plywood and turning it to see how it would turn out. I don't know if there is a market for people who want unfinished plywood glued into their Porsches though.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

Just an update.
I currently have 5 knobs on the finishing block, and 1 on the lathe waiting for me to have some time in the evening to turn it. I should have all the first run Rennshifter knobs off the lathe and in the finishing block by the weekend.

The press fit knobs take a little longer since I have to machine the delrin inserts. I may get a batch of the inserts made this weekend when the last Rennshifter knob comes of the lathe. Then its boring the arbor for the insert and waiting for epoxy to dry.

Zach

[Cracker]

Zach,

I have not received any paypal requests or PM's relating to the knob...was I supposed to do something beyond asking for one in this thread? They look great by the way!

Tony

[ConeDodger]

Zach,

I have not received any paypal requests or PM's relating to the knob...was I supposed to do something beyond asking for one in this thread? They look great by the way!

Tony

Tony you're not on either list. Maybe Zach hasn't gotten it updated?

[Cracker]

Hmm? I posted immediately (after his post regarding a second run) on September 21st.

Tony

Zach,

I have not received any paypal requests or PM's relating to the knob...was I supposed to do something beyond asking for one in this thread? They look great by the way!

Tony

Tony you're not on either list. Maybe Zach hasn't gotten it updated?

[VaccaRabite]

Must have missed it. I'm adding you now Cracker.

When I have shipped some of the first run of knobs I'll start contacting the second run folks for payment. I try not to collect money too far ahead of when I think I'll have time to do the work.

Zach

[ConeDodger]

Must have missed it. I'm adding you now Cracker.

When I have shipped some of the first run of knobs I'll start contacting the second run folks for payment. I try not to collect money too far ahead of when I think I'll have time to do the work.

Zach

I agree with not collecting any money till you're ready to produce. There's always that one guy who starts feeling like you should ship the day after you collect the money and starts a "when should I start panicking" thread... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)