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How do you remove wood grain from a car?
I just bought a RAM that had an aftermarket wood grain dash kit put in. It wasn’t installed well and honestly, it just looks terrible. I want to rip the whole thing out but I don’t want to ruin the truck. Is there a way to safely take wood grain off of a car?
Amy Bobinger · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I have to admit, I think vintage surf-style woodies are awesome! Nothing makes me want to hit the beach more than those old station wagons with the wood grain paneling. But if you’re intent on getting rid of it, you can remove the wood grain from your car by dissolving the adhesive.
An important note: If the wood grain dash is not aftermarket and it was originally installed at the factory, you can’t remove it this way. You’ll need to replace the whole dash. But if it is an aftermarket wood grain, pick a day when you have plenty of free time and here’s what you should do:
- Heat the wood grain with a hairdryer until you can easily pry up one corner. Make sure the whole piece of wood is warm—otherwise it will be brittle and may crack.
- Pull the wood very slowly with your fingers, continuing to heat the dash if needed.
- Heat any adhesive residue with the hairdryer once you remove the wood grain, and wipe away as much as you can with a damp cloth.
- Use a solvent to remove any remaining glue, but apply it sparingly so you don’t discolor the surface of the dash.
- Install a new dash kit if there are any markings or discoloration left by the old one.
This can take a long time, but it’s the safest way to remove aftermarket wood grain. And while it might be tempting, do not use anything sharp to pry off the wood grain. This could damage your dash.
With all the work you’re putting into your RAM, you’re definitely going to want to make sure you’re covered with the right
car insurance
. Jerry
can help you handle that—no problem.While you might spend the day heating your dash with a hairdryer, you’ll only spend a few minutes comparing rates and securing a new policy with Jerry. Just download the app, answer a few quick questions, and we’ll send you the most competitive quotes for the coverage you need. Best of all? Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance!
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- Gregory R.
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