doesn't the new Carrera GT have a shift know made of balsa? Would be interesting to see if you would get one.

Excellence article says the CGT "simply stunning" wood shift knob is patterned after those found in the 908 and 917.

If someone can find some real data and pics, it can be copied.
Wood is easy.
I have wood etc to give it a try.
Cheers

Correct (another field of interest for me--don't ask :D). Don't breathe the dust or get it on your skin, as about a third of the population according to some estimates, can have a respiratory and/or skin reaction to this wood's dust. Solid and sealed it shouldn't be a problem.

Padauk, tropical toxic
Koa ....?

Huh - I din't even know about teh skin rxns - makes sense -- in Florida the Indians used to torture people by tieing then to a machineel tree -- skin would blister and fall off and then the ants would eat them.

Yet another reason I hate the tropics.

There's a number of exotic woods that folks are allergic to or that act as sensitizers (few if any initial symptoms, symptoms appear later after repeat exposure). Usually exposure has to be to the dust for symptoms to occur. Wear rubber gloves and a mask, and if no unexplained headaches or rashes occur, probably one will be fine. I liken it to don't repeatedly get paint strippers on the skin or inhale the fumes. Someone go for a homemade knob, but no snorting please.
Stack five pieces of 3/8" wood flats about 2'' square. Three dark, two light, alternated would work. Drill a hole in the center of each and run a bolt and nut through the middle. Glue the pieces together and when dry file the block semi round. Chuck the bolt/wood assembly in a drill press and use a file and sandpaper to get to final round. Make a C shaped carboard gauge to check the roundness. The bolt could be recessed one layer at the top to hide the head. The nut could be recessed too.

SPINNING MACHINERY CAN BE DANGEROUS. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SUCH MACHINERY, DON'T TRY THIS.

NO sub,
How do you know this?
Do you do lab, mediacal research? etc.
I have been building things, small gliders, from Balse for a number of years, 20. I have breathed way too much sawdust and foam.
I think I may have symptoms of residuals.
Can you name them?
Do you have a resource to link me to symptoms?
Cheers,
Mrdi

Here's a couple of starting points:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107859&highlight=toxic+hardwoods

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177018&highlight=toxic+hardwoods

I have the original 917 knob that I spoke of earlier and will use it for reference to produce some replicas. I will use a threaded insert that will match a 911. I can make 4 or I can make 20, I figure cost to be around $25 - $30. I would prefer to make them in a batch, so I’m looking for interested parties..

Let me know..

Thanks..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1093286169.jpg

76911S, can you guess what woods the original knob has?

TIA

BD, thanks for the plastics link and ideas. It's the cheapest and yet the hardest part to find for my little home-boredom project.

KobaltBlau

I can not tell for sure yet but I have a couple of sources for wood identifying, so I will be able to.

I am almost certain that the lite color is maple...

76911S, you have PM. I would be in for a shift knob.

76911S,

At that low price I'd definitely be interested. - Randy

I'd take one too, BUT, my lever uses the crush sleeve (901 shifter). Could you make some for use with crush sleeves?
-Scott

Scott is right on the spot. There are probably more people who have shift levers that take a crush sleeve to attach the knob. Isn't the screw a G50 thing only? I would need a crush sleeve type as well.
This raises the question of the intrinsic strength of the knob. Don't we run the risk of breaking the knob when pushing it (very hard) on the crush sleeve? I know I would not use the crush sleeve, but build thickness with tape on the lever so that the knob is a tight fit (I have broken a stock knob with that godawful crush sleeve)

Perhaps an aluminum insert to absorb the stress of the crush sleeve?

76911S,

I would take one at that low price as well. Thanks for the answer on the wood identification question.

On the crush sleeve, it seems that the wood knob could be made with the proper sized hole (no threads or insert), and we could all take GeorgeK's advice on how to fit it. Since you can indeed break a plastic later 915 knob (and probably others) with the cursh sleeve, it seems like it would be a good idea not to use it with a turned wood knob. Even though the wood knob might be quite strong, it would be a shame to break a beautiful new shift knob.

What about an alum sleeve that sticks out the bottom about 1/4" and a set screw or two to hold it on? Honestly, I had forgotten about the crush sleeve. I just thought screw on because that’s the way the 917 knob was...