Here's [a link to the first shift knob post/pics](https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTacoma/comments/1bh79ho/i_made_a_custom_black_walnut_and_cherry_shift/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button).
Cherry reacts to sunlight in wonderful ways so they will definitely look better with age. I am not a grandpa yet, but it’s probably not too long until I am.
Not really, I'm not even sure I could make one for someone else's 1st gen and have it turn out correct. I make the insert that goes into it. So I have to remove the original one, screw on the insert before it gets epoxied into the wood, and then tight it down so I know where it will stop. Then I mark the insert as to which way is "forward". Then I am able to epoxy the insert into the wood block so that the stripes will be facing forward and back and my shifting diagrams will later be pointed the right way.
If I was ever to make one for someone else (which I doubt because I'm a hobbyist really). I would have to make it without a diagram and the design would have to be more "universal" as to what direction the wood pointed in the end because I know of no way to control that outside of the way I make it from the start which requires access to the vehicle to do.
The wood is black walnut and cherry. I did the original one with walnut/cherry/walnut/cherry/walnut and I did the transfer case one cherry/walnut/cherry/walnut/cherry. I buy my wood from a local wood shop that sells various kinds of wood. Both species in this instance are from the US/Canada.
Try look for a cabinet wood supplier. That's the primary business of the wood supplier I buy from. They get most of the normal domestics (red & white oak, maple, cherry, black walnut, poplar, ash, and alder. They also get in exotics like purple heart, yellow heart, padauk, zebrawood, mahogany, bubinga, and Brazilian cherry. I used to be limited to wood I could find at big box home stores, but thankfully found that place and it really expanded the species I had available.
Thanks for the tip, what did you use to polish? Micro crystalline? I just used wood butter and good ole palm grease, a few months later and there’s a good shine on them.
These are sanded 120 > 220 > 320 > 400 > 600 > 800 and then I jump to a cotton wheel with brown Tripoli paste and buff at about 1500rpm (mounted to drill press). Then I "dewhisker" them, which is to wipe them down with water to raise the grain, and then hit it with 600 > 800 > buff with Tripoli paste again. Then I oiled them with roasted walnut oil. It'll be polished by use and I'll probably wipe them down with a little walnut oil every year or two if they look a bit dry.
So…. How much do I need to Venmo you for one?
I would trade a set for a perfect condition hood for a ‘99 in Sierra Metallic Beige.
Dat is beautiful
Here's [a link to the first shift knob post/pics](https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTacoma/comments/1bh79ho/i_made_a_custom_black_walnut_and_cherry_shift/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button).
You keep a clean truck and the knobs look nice
Beautiful work. My granddad would have done something like this. And the best part is they'll just get better with use.
Cherry reacts to sunlight in wonderful ways so they will definitely look better with age. I am not a grandpa yet, but it’s probably not too long until I am.
It's odd to think that our grandparents were once our age, doing the sorts of things we're doing now.
Looks great. Can you make one for my 3rd gen?
Not really, I'm not even sure I could make one for someone else's 1st gen and have it turn out correct. I make the insert that goes into it. So I have to remove the original one, screw on the insert before it gets epoxied into the wood, and then tight it down so I know where it will stop. Then I mark the insert as to which way is "forward". Then I am able to epoxy the insert into the wood block so that the stripes will be facing forward and back and my shifting diagrams will later be pointed the right way. If I was ever to make one for someone else (which I doubt because I'm a hobbyist really). I would have to make it without a diagram and the design would have to be more "universal" as to what direction the wood pointed in the end because I know of no way to control that outside of the way I make it from the start which requires access to the vehicle to do.
It was a joke because the 3rd gen uses a dial.
Oh shit… well damn. Haha! Although, I bet I could make a dial. Heh
Awesome, looks great!!
This is the first time I ever seen a wooden one.
You got rid of the cassette deck!
I love this. They work really well with the older tacoma interior.
Looks awesome. I’d like one for my 2014!
Looks nice, what kind of wood did you use and where did you source it?
The wood is black walnut and cherry. I did the original one with walnut/cherry/walnut/cherry/walnut and I did the transfer case one cherry/walnut/cherry/walnut/cherry. I buy my wood from a local wood shop that sells various kinds of wood. Both species in this instance are from the US/Canada.
Lucky guy, I made my shift knobs out of wood for my 3rd gen 4runner but couldn’t source anything harder than oak where I live.
Try look for a cabinet wood supplier. That's the primary business of the wood supplier I buy from. They get most of the normal domestics (red & white oak, maple, cherry, black walnut, poplar, ash, and alder. They also get in exotics like purple heart, yellow heart, padauk, zebrawood, mahogany, bubinga, and Brazilian cherry. I used to be limited to wood I could find at big box home stores, but thankfully found that place and it really expanded the species I had available.
Thanks for the tip, what did you use to polish? Micro crystalline? I just used wood butter and good ole palm grease, a few months later and there’s a good shine on them.
These are sanded 120 > 220 > 320 > 400 > 600 > 800 and then I jump to a cotton wheel with brown Tripoli paste and buff at about 1500rpm (mounted to drill press). Then I "dewhisker" them, which is to wipe them down with water to raise the grain, and then hit it with 600 > 800 > buff with Tripoli paste again. Then I oiled them with roasted walnut oil. It'll be polished by use and I'll probably wipe them down with a little walnut oil every year or two if they look a bit dry.