A while back I started shopping for a bed kit for my 56. Premade kits were out of my price range and while oaks look nice out of the box, it doesn't hold up that great over time. I started contacting decking supply companies and settled on Koa or Tigerwood in 5/4x6"x8'. The wood was under $200. This weekend a friend and I milled out the pieces and installed the kit. The hold down strips were coated in spray can bed liner and new bolts were used since the rusty ones were old.

Garage - Big Red by Hell_Fish - Ford-Trucks

 

That is a very nice looking bed project. That will probably hold up longer than the rest of the truck.....so another 60 years!!

What did you use on it as a finish?

Dan

 

What you likely have is Gonçalo alves also called (misnomered) "Brazillian Tigerwood"or"Brazillian Koa". It is an attractive, sturdy and durable S American hardwood. The heartwood will fairly quickly darken with age and air exposure to a rich and attractive chocolate brown with darker streaks and the sapwood will stay a contrasting lighter yellowish color. Don't leave anything sitting on it in one place very long when freshly cut or it'll develop a semi-permanent lighter shadow picture. A very good wood choice! Did you put a finish on it?

 

That looks great, nice job Dustin.

 

No finish. Was thinking linseed oil, but not sure yet.

 

Very nice!

 

Very different, I like it a lot!

 

Linseed oil is probably a great choice.

 

Nice looking bedwood. I must say that is a very skinny WINDOW!!!!

 

As it should be.

 

I think I would use spar varnish. It works very well on the Mahogany and
Teak in the Classic boats I have re done. Once it drys well I have painted
over it without any problems either. It's strong stuff. And easy to work with.

 

If you don't put something on it, it will weather to a light grey color. 100% pure tung oil is better than linseed oil. Raw linseed does not polymerize it just soaks in and eventually evaporates like using motor oil. Boiled linseed oil is a partially polymerizing oil so would be better than raw, but is a softer finish than tung which is a fully polymerizing (molecules connect to form long, strong, interlocked plastic like chains) oil.

 

Is there a windshield in the truck yet? Curious as to how the chop was done and how the windshield was fitted.

 

Like the choice of wood. Has nice characteristics even before it has aged. I'd like to see the rest of the truck. Profile from the back looks mad! (in a nice way)

 

Dont for get that when you do the finish you will need to apply finish to ALL SIDES--top, bottom, edges etc of the wood or you will have problems