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TATTOOED WOOD FLOOR

JASON MULLIGAN . September 27, 2022 . Tech
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Renovating a ’65 C-10’s Bed Floor with Custom Bed Wood

Pairing classic styling with innovation has become one of the paramount aspects keeping the automotive aftermarket industry alive and kicking. Nothing says “classic truck” like a slick wood bed floor. Most classic trucks come equipped with wood bed floors and it’s the first thing to rot and decay as the trucks age. Replacing the wood planks with factory-style restoration parts is fine and dandy,but being able to select a high quality wood from a different species of tree like common oak or exotic bamboo can set your truck apart. Bed Wood & Parts has developed application-specific kits that require no cutting to fit the factory bed.

Dozens of domestic and exotic woods are available to fit your build style. Several options of bed mounting strips and fasteners are available as well depending on your needs. Gas filler doors and hinged planks are also available. In the late-’60s, trucks began to feature metal bed floors from the factory as opposed to wood. Bed Wood & Parts offers retro liner kits for those who want a classic look on newer trucks; they’re also application specific. Custom kits for modified beds are available as well as bed racks for an old-school utility look.

One of the new and innovative features offered by Bed Wood & Parts is wood tattoos. The tattoos can be any design or logo supplied by customers or choose from custom designs offered by Bed Wood & Parts. The design is CNC milled into the wood, and then a variety of materials and colors can be inlayed into the design and sanded smooth to create the design or logo. The pinstripe design running down the two center northern white pine planks for this ’65 C-10 truck was created with inlayed crushed turquoise and onyx for a striking look. The colors, materials and design combinations are nearly endless.

1(a). The Bed Wood & Parts kit comes with pre-cut, grooved and routered planks of a single type of wood. We selected northern white pine, a new offering, to match the turquoise and white paint scheme of our ’65 Chevrolet C-10.
1(b). The Bed Wood & Parts kit comes with pre-cut, grooved and routered planks of a single type of wood. We selected northern white pine, a new offering, to match the turquoise and white paint scheme of our ’65 Chevrolet C-10.
2. One of the new and innovative features offered by Bed Wood & Parts is inlayed art featuring any design or logo imaginable. The pinstripe design running down the two center planks was created with inlayed crushed turquoise and onyx for a striking look.
3. Smooth stainless steel strips with hidden fasteners will secure the planks to the bed and provide a sleek look.
4. The old rotted factory wood planks have been removed and the old strips need to be replaced. The old bolts have rusted together; using a cut-off wheel is the easiest method to remove the old hardware.
5. The outside planks are first test-fit by Richard Ruiz of PPC Customs so that holes can be drilled into the wood to secure the outside planks to the bedsides. It’s important to make sure the bed is squared and level for proper installation.
6. Once the outer planks are in place, the remainder of the bed wood is laid down. Bed Wood & Parts supplies truck-specific kits with cuts already made for the wheel wells. The corners are routered and the wood is sanded smooth.
7(a). Normally the two center planks on the 1960-66 trucks are skinnier. In order to make the inlaid pinstripe design more prominent, the skinny planks are swapped for larger boards.
7(b). Normally the two center planks on the 1960-66 trucks are skinnier. In order to make the inlaid pinstripe design more prominent, the skinny planks are swapped for larger boards.
8. The rest of the planks are laid out.
9(a). New mounting holes are drilled into the bed supports since the center planks have been swapped.
9(b). New mounting holes are drilled into the bed supports since the center planks have been swapped.
10(a). Hidden fasteners slide into the smooth BedStrips for a clean look and easy mounting adjustment.
10(b). Hidden fasteners slide into the smooth BedStrips for a clean look and easy mounting adjustment.
10(c). Hidden fasteners slide into the smooth BedStrips for a clean look and easy mounting adjustment.
11(a). The strips fit into the grooves on each plank providing even spacing and clean mounting.
11(b). The strips fit into the grooves on each plank providing even spacing and clean mounting.
12. The fasteners are secured with a washer and nut on the underside of the bed.
13(a). Pushing down on the planks and strips while tightening the nut on the underside ensures a secure fit with no rattling.
13(b). Pushing down on the planks and strips while tightening the nut on the underside ensures a secure fit with no rattling.
14(a). The new Bed Wood floor with hidden strips and inlaid pinstripe design and logo provides a restored, unique style to the truck and matches the rest of the paint scheme perfectly.
14(b). The new Bed Wood floor with hidden strips and inlaid pinstripe design and logo provides a restored, unique style to the truck and matches the rest of the paint scheme perfectly.
15. After the planks have been test-fit, they are removed and prepped for sealing and finishing. Bed Wood & Parts offers an EZ Seal & Shine urethane clear sealer that can be sprayed over the planks. The sealer is applied similar to paint clearcoat.
16. The sealer and activator are mixed at a 2:1 ratio and sprayed over the edges and back of the planks. Three coats are applied.
17. After the planks have dried for a day, they are turned over so the tops can be sealed as well. Three more coats are sprayed.
18(a). After drying, the clearcoat is sanded smooth with 1000 grit, resprayed and sanded until perfectly smooth, and then the finish is hit with 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit before it’s buffed to a brilliant shine.
18(b). After drying, the clearcoat is sanded smooth with 1000 grit, resprayed and sanded until perfectly smooth, and then the finish is hit with 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit before it’s buffed to a brilliant shine.

SOURCES

Bed Wood & Parts
Bedwoodandparts.com

PPC Customs
121 Sunnyside, Suite 201
Clovis, CA 93611
559.281.8484

 

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