Dash woodgrain

Let me know when you want me to adopt your Skyhawk.

 

Okay, I get it.

 

I found my Greg Setter Set!

 

I pulled my Greg Setter repro set out and wanted to see the backlit feature. The set I have has both the A/C panel and non-A/C, so I cut a template out of paper to let the backlight through only on the lettering.

Now, I do recall that the A/C hvac head had bluish tinted lights &/or tinted lenses in front of the (back)lights.

Surprisingly, EVERY word on Setter's decals are translucent. The hvac panel area lettering is correctly bluish, but the others are white-ish. The latter would receive ambient dash light which is different than the hvac panel backlighting.

The woodgrain color and grain contrast appears the most original looking of all repros I have seen - including the most recent offerings from Vendors.

If I knew that someone or one of the Vendors would put $$$ where his/their mouth(s) are to complete the project to Setter's level, I might be convinced to contribute the set to the cause.

My set is complete: BOTH the A/C and non A/C decals plus both console woodgrain decals - all with the package as received from Greg Setter directly. Maybe some headway could be made on this project.

 

i could use just some blank sheets of the stuff for the lesabre i have. they are same pattern.

 

If the letters are translucent but there is no light behind it - solid plastic - what are ya gettin'? Factory parts don't have translucent lettering for the radio or lighter that I'm aware of.

 

Well, for starters, you get the correct damn font (size and style) and lettering which for the life of me other Vendors can't seem to get right - I assume that's important.

I assume your comment (quote above/tob) is only directed at the radio end decals, the left headlight/wiper and lighter decals. Obviously, the hvac decals are designed to be "seen in the dark" using the in-dash backlighting. As I mentioned earlier, Setter's products were correct as to the hvac backlighting and bluish tint.

I only mentioned the translucency of the other decals because it became obvious in the backlighting pic of all the decals, but I think that's beside the point. The Setter decals appear to look and function as the OEMs did and, correct me if I am wrong, there is not another Vendor in the planet which sells a repro which is as correct as Setter's ... which all leads back to .... why can't a Vendor repro a correct product?

 

...agree, especially given fact they're taking time to make them...

 

Maybe, Ken.

 

Ken,

I don't disagree one bit. Why would any business set out to reproduce any part for any car and not take the time to do it at least as good as the one being copied/replaced. I have a set of Setters in my car and a set for my next car and my only complaint is that the wood grain is slightly different. Heres an image of Setters repro and a NOS climate control face - opened for the first time for this very picture. You can see the difference in the wood grain, but, it's close and very acceptable.

 

I am not sure if this is a question or a comment. But, in either case, unfortunately, it happens regularly. Business is business and there are some businesses which (in my observation) develop parts for makes/models other than the makes and/or models that company originally started with and the newer additions are not exactly the expertise of that company, but it is a business opportunity. Some companies have a well-earned reputation as to the quality of their products and others do not. There are multiple interior panel and upholstery manufacturers of our Buicks, for example, but there's quite a difference in quality, fitment and accuracy. I don't think anyone would disagree with that ... which leads to the point I'll make is that not all persons or businesses have the same expertise, talent or resources (especially in technical knowledge) in the repro business and the end product variability is a fact. And, while I do sincerely appreciate the efforts of the various companies to make repro parts for our Buicks and it is not my intent to call out any particular one, it is frustrating none-the-less when this sort of "backwards development" occurs ... as in, there once was a really good, quality and faithful repro available .... and then "poof", there was not - or, at least not to the same level. Now, each is entitled to make his or her own decision, but there are many, many past threads on this subject voicing the frustration about - those persons complaints about the number of inaccuracies - the repro dash woodgrain kits on the market. So, part of the question must include how much of a compromise is someone willing to accept, as in, is it "good enough"? On that point, it's purely an opinion and since it's your car, it's your choice.

To my main point in an earlier post, I would like to try to be a part of finding a person or company which can take-on the process of a more accurate repro product.

I will add another point about the apparent accuracy of the Setter product, in your side-by-side picture above, the vertical rectangular openings where the dial switches protrude have a silver color - different from the white lettering - on both the OEM and Setter decal. It is the same color slver as the "Climate Control" script in the A/C panel decal. It's details like this which are just inexplicable to me as to why a company wouldn't do its research because every other repro (other than Setter's) I have seen or purchased used plain white, not silver.

As far as the graining, I have compared my Setter decal to yours pictured above and the woodgraining is unique - as it should be in terms of the lighter and darker grain lines - as are the originals I have on two dash bezels. None are exactly alike - as it is supposed to be because the originals were die-cut from woodgrain decal stock. There are at least two other repros I have seen (purchased) which I believe are prints of woodgrain and are identical as between those. Now, that is a compromise in my book, but a personal choice to be sure and a reason to produce the most/more accurate repros. Would you pay $20 or so extra knowing that four or five other details which were not present on other repros were on the set you were purchasing and were the most correct available? Again, that's a choice, but I know I would.

 

I'd pay more and I have paid more. I'd rather use nice used parts than mediocre new parts. Especially if it is a part or component that being replaced is obvious that it was replaced and cheapens the look, feel or originality of the car. I'm sure others will agree and that's whats driving the prices of nice used parts.
BTW, Setter scored big on the dash inserts he made or had made, however, the console insert wood grain doesn't come close to the originals. I chose to use my old originals because I would never get used to the look of the reproductions. I actually had a conversation with him regarding the wood grain on his console inserts and he said that was the best he had available to him at the time. The sizing is spot on, though.
I have read many posts regarding TPP parts as being "almost exact" and "if they had just refined it a little more" or "its so close, but, not". Apparently it's not possible to have a simple window washer hose made that will withstand more than a year or two without disintegrating. I don't get it either. As Brett Slater said above: "It's 2020. Why ... ?"

 

I agree with both of you. Actually, yeah...the console inserts I wanted to comment on that. I put Greg's stuff on my car when I first bought it. I did not do the console and lid because they looked pretty good at that time. Now the console piece is starting to lift and it's just like contact paper. I have an AC car and thought the dash stuff was pretty good. I've been on the hunt for a console replacement. Like everybody, I have a spare console and was studying it recently. I see it has like a textured wood grain, it's not like contact paper. It seems like you almost need 3 raw materials to make these. One material for the console, one for the dash, and one that can be used for the translucent part. I think it's more complicated than it looks at first. The very best repro products are made by people who want it for themselves, then are willing to sell it to others. I think that's how Briz, Duane, Racebuicks, Steve Caruso, et al., got into it for a bit. They all made or make GREAT products. But, you can't get rich doing it with the amount of Buicks out there. Not that any of them were trying to get rich.

 

In what time frame was Greg Setter selling his reproductions? Somewhere, I have a set that I bought for my 71 Stage 1 and never used. I would have bought it in the late-80's. I was just wondering if it might be one of the good sets that Greg sold.

 

When I bought my set (the USPS postage label shows 11/8/2012), Greg told me it was one of or was his last complete set and he had already stopped production - i.e., it eas run-off inventory.

 

...chose this quote because it sums up what we're all saying here. Everything now's done by computer, there's NO excuse for font and fit inaccuracies, even woodgrain. I'm just a "half-fast" Photoshop user and managed to do a credible job on the '71 order form. Don't get me wrong, I'm not equating what I did to making dash labels...just sayin' that someone who's job it was should've been able to do a lot better. I'm woefully behind on 3-D printing tech, so I'm just musing here, wondering if dash label printing is a job 3-D can do...

 

Is there someone interested in making these correctly? Maybe a group buy to get it started? I would be interested in helping!