Custom Model 3 Wood Dash

I removed the wood dash and stained it a Walnut color. I tried to get it a black stain but the wood would not take anymore color. I like the Walnut finish with the black leather seats.
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[@DrDsIT]

Brilliant change to the wood and getting it off without breaking it. Editing your thoughts in the face to face conversation was great! Keep it up!

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you

[@Gallardo6669]

OMG, the first guy who had the balls ti do this and helps others with that video.... Thank you so much!!!

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you. Stay tuned I have more up my sleeve

[@ephraimhill1109]

I would never have thought that was real wood. I'm kinda impressed.....

[@9danny81]

I love when people don't just accept when something isn't to their liking and decide to personalize it!

[@aaronstock8544]

I plan to do the exact same thing but in a natura loak color, great job, it looks beautiful.

[@PaulHoke]

Still a Great video. I still don't have the courage to pop my dash off. Thanks for modifying and exploring new ideas on these cars and sharing it with the world.

[@gbb0131]

Absolutely LOVE the color that it turned out.

[@Jer_Schmidt]

Stunning! I've never minded the way the wood looks, but your mod did improve it for sure.

[@Kris-qb4jk]

Best "tesla" channel out there. I'm so tired of the other's "review" videos. You actually have real world content. Thanks!

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you

[@pmich25]

I cringed when you said to make it black. I love walnut. I think it looks amazing and I'm really jealous. Don't change it!

[@laws1524]

I asked about the wood species and the guy at Tesla said he heard it was ash but wasn’t sure. In any case, your work turned out fantastic. Well done!

[@i1Tesla]

I think it is quarter sawn white oak. The is just cut with straight grain white oak

[@rdaviify]

A wood dye rather than stain may have got that black look, also a matte clear rather than gloss, but a great improvement on the factory colour

[@i1Tesla]

There is not enough wood to absorb the color. The factory finish is a matte color already

[@melodyfrancis6298]

I love it! When I get my car I think I'll ask my dad to help me with this! He made me a walnut dining room table and we used that ebony stain on it.

[@tonykari5124]

I've used it on my wooden oak stairs that go down to the basement. It came out Awesome. Just 2 coats & you get that perfect walnut look 👌

[@frankcoffey]

Beautiful. Can’t wait to get our 3, this is the year.

[@leonhaddock3971]

I like the subtle change. Had just been looking at some options, including what seems to be a go-to, the carbon fiber. I'm not a big fan. The wood caught my eye when I rented a Model 3. I bought a '23 Model Y Performance (Red) with the same black interior and wood trim. It is nice to know that real wood is used. I've done my share of custom woodwork and finishing. So that option of changing it up a little bit is inviting. I've got several white oak samples to lay up there for ideas. Great job on the video.

[@rollingtones1]

I can see several cadmium plated steel clips that were left in the dashboard. Those should be removed and re-attached to the trim that you removed BEFORE you reinstall it. This is certainly not the only car that this happens to! Great video and excellent workmanship. Next time, put a thin film of silicone grease on the outer part of the clips - it makes removal less scary. You only need a tiny amount to work.

[@Xetairex]

I liked it. I am actually thinking of going the other way - slightly whitewashing it to get a lighter wood look, then apply spray lacquer, and get a glossy finish. I am doing this to add a little bit of lightness to the otherwise drab look of the dash. I’m also doing a real wood veneer wrap to match this lighter color wood dash to cover the rear vent cover. Same technique, lighter color wood, and glossy lacquer finish on top. Tesla should really have followed some common design language by adding a rear vent cover that was also wood. (Model S has that) Anyways.. Thumbs up to your job!

[@i1Tesla]

Would love to see your work! email at [e-mail]

[@Stubrok]

Lol, good convo with yourself there, well done.

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you

[@AjayMatai]

Wow! Looks real nice. I like Walnut color too, very rich. I have to say, you are very brave doing this to a 60k car. But in the end, it definitely looks better.

[@chrisbpearson]

Awesome video. I’m looking to do a less-invasive update to mine. Any idea what type of finish the wood dash has from the factory?

[@i1Tesla]

It is a natural finish and wood is white oak.

[@rowlandh25]

Love the darker shade. Beautiful and unique man. Great job.

[@ronkerensky]

Wow! That is the coolest, boldest thing I've seen and I love it!!! You have Tesla video of the week locked down on freaking Monday!

[@CKGBarmy]

This is exactly what I was looking to do, and I’m going to be following your video specifically 🥳

[@joaocoupe]

Looks so much better. It looks like real wood for once. Nice job. 😁👍🏼

[@cwilsonpa]

very daring ... then again I'm not a wood worker. Nice job - I hope there aren't any rattles.

[@i1Tesla]

No rattles!

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

I can’t believe how different Bob looked back then, he was so ordinary. I kept yelling at you to pull those little end clips off the dashboard! I always loved that new walnut finish! I love what Bob looks like today, December 12, 2019!

[@i1Tesla]

Me too. I live the way it looks now but it need the white covered up.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

@@i1Tesla It's really amazing how much better Bob looks now!

[@dandetweiler581]

Looks fantastic! Great job. Now you have me thinking, could you have accomplished this by just masking it off while still installed and staining it in place? I love the look. Gives the entire interior a warmer more welcoming feel. Thanks for sharing.

[@i1Tesla]

Dan Detweiler only if you don’t mind possibly dripping stain on your car, the smell and spraying the finish in the car too. I wouldn’t do that. But it’s your car. You do you :)

[@bigdream_dreambig]

I also don't like the idea of sanding it in place and getting all that dust in the vents...

[@richarda3659]

Think about all the sawdust created when he sanded off the original finish - that would get all over your car and into the vents. And think about trying to spray lacquer on it while it's still installed in the car - lacquer would get all over interior and ruin it. Plus the smell.

[@mikelieber1]

Looks really good, your right it steps up the car a notch... (nice job)

[@xjr1618x]

Looks great, you inspired me to do the same on mine when it finally comes

[@S1RLANC3]

You opting for the All Wheel like me? I finally got my e-mail but sadly, I'm still waiting for the All Wheel as I get a lot of icy hills where I am. I just hope it's not too small like most cars I get in.

[@evaluna8100]

I actually love the original wood dash. I will be going for white interiors but I don’t like the white dash. I would prefer to keep the original wood dash instead of white plastic, which is what brought me to this video. Glad those things are customisable. 😀

[@Guust_Flater]

Your car, your taste, your decision....and i like it too! 👍

[@SupeDefy]

Looks sharp! Like the color and it really does match the black interior. Adding this to my list of mods I want to do for my car.

[@Teslastorymma]

loved it man... great job... very creative. im going to consider the same.. i wonder if more wood finish can be added to other parts of the interior... ;)

[@i1Tesla]

Just the charging dock for your phone. You can see in the video I am working on a wood insert for that. Right now I have Cedar in place for an air freshener and a backing for the phone. I will do a video on it if it comes out nice.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

I was actually surprised they went with the medium brown to begin with. Would have expected a darker burnt umber or raw umber color like the one you ended up with. I don't know that I'm handy enough to want to tackle this myself, but it's something to keep in mind...

[@dinamarion590]

I was biting my nails the entire time...lol...great job! I don’t know if I can watch you take it off again.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

Yeah, I'd be terrified I would crack some plastic piece. 😳

[@TaylorTeets]

Thanks for posting this video.. This was exactly what I wanted to do to stain the light wood to a dark black color. Now that I see how much work you put into it and how it came out, I'm going to go the route of buying a carbon fiber cover.

[@YannR34]

Good job. I was afraid you put all in black, but like this, it's great.

[@jaybyrdcybertruck1082]

well done man! grats for having the guts to do this! was fun to see!

[@kevinwitt1398]

Feel the same way, the standard medium brown is too light, walnut looks great!

[@wadeyorke8144]

I like the white carbon fiber TESLA lettering. I also like the dash staining.

[@fredbowling7968]

Great job. I would never take the risk of breaking it or messing it up. I like the finished product

[@seanlittleton4287]

Looks great! I'm planning to put a padauk veneer over mine. You finished it with furniture wax, right? How has that held up over the years? Mine is parked in the sun all the time, so I need something with good UV resistance. I was thinking about using the marine-grade spar varnish I just used for a bench I refurbished.

[@nicolavilla1560]

Hi, great job ! I like this color 👍🏼

[@francisneal5108]

I like what you did. Very brave of you not to listen to your "alter ego" and continue your project.

[@blisteringherb]

That looks really nice. I saw someone who bought a wood dash replacement part and installed it in his MY with the white interior. I want to do that and stain it like you did.

[@teeheetee3]

Love the color. It’s a nice compliment to the dash. I know you wanted black but I think the brown gives it a rich look.

[@perkinsd005]

Wow!! Love it!! Wanna do mine?? Lol! I love those ghost stickers too. Where did you get those??

[@dogphlap6749]

+i1Tesla Thank you for the 'how to remove a Model 3 dash'. Sad but the zero information from Tesla about servicing their products means KZbin has become the next best thing to a service manual. I think you have improved the look of the interior of your car. Subscribed.

[@i1Tesla]

I don't think that removing the dash falls under servicing the car. It is more under customizing the car. No car company gives info on that. I don't fault Tesla on this

[@masseydvt]

I'm just happy to see a Model 3 with North Carolina plates. I'm picking mine up on Saturday, but will NOT be prying off parts of the car to change the color!

[@i1Tesla]

Congrats! You will love the Model 3.

[@rafaelsantoni]

Looks great. However, I think the darker stain will look even better. Congratulations on your Model 3.

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you. I wanted it to be darker too but now that it is in the car I like the walnut look better. I heard the base model 3 will have a black dash

[@yukihiro1412ver231]

Looks great. The darker finish definitely goes better with the dark interior. I don’t know why they chose that medium shade.

[@jcgoobee]

This is a very interesting video, and educational too. I might try doing the same when I get my order (in about 10 months or less).Two thumbs up!

[@Jalor214]

Impressive work! Well done! I wonder if the original panel maker would be happy if you don't like their deisgn. LoL... By the way, did you pay any attention if there's any supplier brand mark on the back side of the panel? Or did you take any video footage on that info please?

[@mcpoulet13]

Looks way better!

[@Teslastorymma]

you should do a quick update on the current condition of the wood trim dash, just to see how it hold out.

[@i1Tesla]

It is holding up perfectly. But I just wrapped it yesterday for fun and practice wrapping. Will change it on video this week

[@hockoy]

Love the look! I am into woodworking and will probably give this a try. What finish lacquer did you use? Gloss or semi-gloss? I was thinking of going with a satin.

[@i1Tesla]

Semi

[@NyBasim91]

Looks great I had a similar idea and glad somone did it

[@troy7774]

The original had a matte factory finish and looked precise and sophisticated. The current version looks wet and shiny and less precise. I think you should try a wrap but pick something matte.

[@i1Tesla]

The shot in the shop was wet and shinny. Once it is dry it takes a semi gloss shine. A matte finish would take a way some of the wood grain. It would be muted

[@Buttbstinkn123]

Your great at making entertaining insightful videos. Thank you

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you very much

[@luchesi6875]

you were clearly worried about fucking your new model 3 but still decided you could improve the product and you went for it and it came out excellent. Props

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you. I love the way it came out

[@michellaflamme6906]

Nice job! I was scared for you! Also like how you mixed in your inside voice in the video! My inside voice would have been totally freaking out. 😊

[@michaelvalentemd]

Very brave! I think it turned out beautiful.

[@chrisb6865]

I know this is old but do you think a gel stain would get you closer to the look you wanted? Gels seem to sit on top of the wood more than penetrate into the wood, with it being so thin I wonder how it would do...

[@billkohl7178]

Looks great nice job. Looks better than the brown

[@reginaldmathis1527]

Very underrated tesla channel!

[@i1Tesla]

Thank you. We are growing though

[@MaxMustermann-sm4qu]

Looks great !!! Gives it a much more premium looking touch. Nice work !!! ;)

[@andromedach]

I think I would have done a satin finish

[@MobtownGeorge]

It looks really good. I'd like a classic Zebrano Mercedes style dash and console. Trying to figure that out now. :)

[@ilonaloha1]

Looks sooooo good! How hard would it be to just sand and stain it without taking off the strip?

[@i1Tesla]

Only if you want to have stain and finish all over your car. Plus all the sanding dust. The only right way to do it is remove it.

[@techboy95]

That looks really great actually. Nice modification

[@dcle944]

The doer should be in real life and the asker should be virtual, not the other way around, but gosh, you're brave.

[@jamest468]

Thanks for the video. I did pray for you not to break or ruin your dash. It turns out beautiful though

[@eve8998]

WOW, it looks great!

[@dodgerbluestever6221]

It looks very nice. My only concern and question is what about the wood door panels? Did you remove them and stain them to match?

[@i1Tesla]

Yes

[@DRTerabyte]

Looks great! Awesome job! Any extra tips for on removing the dash? Looked fairly easy on video. My dads a carpenter and was going to have him stain mine as well. Great job honestly!

[@i1Tesla]

Work it up slow and go form both sides. Don't try to get the whole one side then go to the other. Remember the wood is THIN

[@gwmattos]

Real "BLACK WALNUT" and "BRAZILIAN WALNUT" are FANTASTIC woods. I agree 100%

[@garyschulmeister]

Looks amazing. I wish I had the guts to do it.

[@lineage13]

I wish I had a model 3

[@markjennings2315]

Way better. Well done.

[@sleepnclass]

I really like that color. Much better than the original. I kind of want Tsportline’s carbon fiber dash

[@gotgreen91]

Hey, do you happen to have a tutorial of your wooden center charging console? Nice job overall, your interior looks amazing!

[@i1Tesla]

Not yet it is coming soon. Stay tuned and subscribe so you don't miss it

[@PeterBirett]

It‘s a great idea to keep your very first follower in conversation.

[@1blisslife]

That's a nice looking color. The only Tesla in the world with that finish! I wonder what the Tesla shop near you will say when you take it in for service. I hope they like it too.

[@JoeKForReal]

Nice job. Did you do any type of paint protection like a full body wrap?

[@i1Tesla]

I have the front sprayed with AutoFlex clear film

[@mirkonaumann1417]

Good video. The darker dash wood colour seem matching better to the dark interior. What do you think about the white dash that will be available for the performance version that comes with white interior? Too bright for driver eyes? Will it be disturbing on sunny days?

[@i1Tesla]

Not sure on that. It is a ceramic white. what is the material? Is is plastic with a ceramic coating?

[@mirkonaumann1417]

Check from 03:25 of kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmHKkpaqhZWJqdE

[@i1Tesla]

I do think the white will be distracting and throw a glare on the windshield

[@mirkonaumann1417]

Than like glasses it need to be reflection free, not really matte but strewing some. Ceramic sounds glossy.

[@DerekRasina]

I re-watched this video today Brian and it does look great. I did notice in your recent videos that you don't have it in your car any more. What's with the signed dash that you are currently rocking?

[@i1Tesla]

I like to try different versions, and since it is so easy, I do it all the time. The signed dashed was just a joke.

[@KeithNewlander]

Nicely done! Do you think a gel stain might penetrate more and allow a darker color? My ideal color would be a dark grey stain as well.

[@i1Tesla]

I don't think the wood will take any more color. It is a very thin veneer of wood. If you want a grey stain you may want to use grey paint. Just be carful you don't wipe off too much and get a white wash look. You can always wipe on more.

[@pepstein]

Looks good to me. Black might look even better, but it's a nice improvement over stock.

[@stevepin9998]

I want the walnut look. What do you think the walnut stain would look like. As dark???

[@markpetrillo92]

You are a very brave man, ripping your car apart! I'm planning to wrap mine in carbon fiber.

[@d.b.cooper2277]

Mark Petrillo Real wood to faux CF? 😐

[@jerryaguilar5736]

I really like this, and dislike the factory brown on my Model 3. I'm gonna do this step by step. Looking back, is there anything in the process you would do different?

[@i1Tesla]

No, it turned out great. Hoping yours was a success

[@OCallahanj]

Hi. after seeing this I am inspired to do the same. Can you give me advice on the sanding and staining? I am new to wood working. I see you used a sanding sponge, how much did you sand off? What finish did you wind up using?

[@tecnocato]

I am thinking about a coal black look with the exposed wood grain... wouldn't that be kind of ironic, especially if we charge it with solar? :)

[@Model3dude]

Take a look at RPM Tesla. I had both my Mod3's done by them. You seem like a DIY guy, so many if not all items that they sell will be easy for you to install. They have many items and options. P.S. Not being paid to tell you this LOL. Good for you it did come out great!! Thanks for sharing!

[@i1Tesla]

Not a fan of the wrap in the wood. You still get the textured look from the wood underneath. I would rather paint the wood a black if I want it black. I do like some of their stuff.

[@wademt]

i1Tesla like you said, painting might give you the look you want. The downside of painting it in my mind would be undoing it if you changed your mind. The stain approach is something I was thinking also. I may just try applying some oil. What do you think of that? Any suggestions?

[@teslaus5675]

3:10 good to know how it works. Thank you for sharing 👍🏿

[@i1Tesla]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@ZylonFPV]

I like the finish you ended up with, I prefer it to black 🙂

[@SailorBarsoom]

It looks right nice. The talking to yourself was cool. Now cover the entire car with wood veneer, probably the same walnut color. That'll catch every eye in town! OK I kid.

[@DrewBaumann]

Great job. I too love walnut. Do you have anymore pictures that show your new dash against the black interior? Would love to see it in sun light.

[@i1Tesla]

Just the video montage

[@stevenhachikian7681]

You are the man!! Looks beautiful, I like that you used Minwax. I use to woodworking when I was younger and would love to give it a try on my model 3. What brand of lacquer did you use? Also how do you think it will hold up in the sun?

[@i1Tesla]

I used one coat of Mohawk semi gloss. It has held up great

[@awo1fman]

Love the new look. Definitely not like all the other Model 3s out there. My Model S came with the cliché carbon fiber, which I hate. I'm really hoping to swap it out with wood at some point, maybe DIY veneer.

[@i1Tesla]

Wow you could swap with someone. All I hear is that everyone loves carbon

[@PurpleSideBlack]

Dark wood stain is much better. Nice job.