Interior trim revealed - Ferrari engined Alfa 105 Alfarrari build part 203 

Cost of labour $480,000, cost of components $75,000, cost of equipment and consumables $20,000 - Mrs Jeffs bloopers… Priceless 😂❤ well done Jeff I can’t wait to see this finished

I'd like to echo other comments here: a matte finish on the silver-stained veneer will look much better, be less reflective (so, safer) and hide most of the inevitable blemishes. I think that a more sophisticated approach would be to dye the veneer silver and then sand it back 'all the way', so that only the pores in the wood will still be silver, with the 'main' wooden surface being the original color. This would truly 'marry' the original GTV style with the silver theme (which I think is great).

If you're doing veneer again, use a file! So with a fairly fine timber file push down against the aluminium. It breaks it off and cleans up the edge all in one go. Also, glue the veneer down BEFORE you stain. Then don't paint it. Use a wax and leave the grain exposed!

That looked like quite a fight, I was screaming “vacuum bag” as I was watching, it’s the only way to get veneer flat. Matt clear is more forgiving too. Saying all that, if you are happy with the end result, that’s what matters. The stainless trim is a big win!

I would have gone for a matt or satin finish which is the trend these days in many high-end cars. Looks less "plastic", has less reflections and it will hide any imperfections.

The clear gloss will always show up imperfections. You could try a satin clear finish tinted with a little stain. A common woodwork finishing technique.

Dry veneer also expands when liquid (clear coat) is added in any noticible thickness. Common to wet top before gluing the veneer down. Then either flat roll it or clamp it between 2 boards. When you start to clear coat 4 thin coats is way better than 1 wet coat. It allows the clear to penetrate and bind or glue the thin fibres together instead of penetrating en mass and having the fibers swell, thus the bubbling. If yo do get a bubble, you can split the bubbling with a Stanley knife and put a steam iron on it to press it back down once the glue undernesth is tacky once again. If the one layer goes over the other the ubiquitous Stanley knife along the cut will trim the excess and give you an almost imperceptible joint. But more thin layers in preference to one or 2 wet coats. Veneer takes patience.....

If you have slag on the back of the cut plasma parts, increase your air pressure AND or slow the cutting speed down. They should come off the cutter spotlessly clean.

The wood work may have looked better if it were semi gloss rather than gloss. Happy New Year to you and Mrs. Jeff🎉

I like how that handbrake is recessed in when it off. Stops you smacking your elbow. Looks really good. For veneering though we used vacuum bags to get it shaped to the frame (ours were steel). And after colouring the timber we used wipe on poly, the same as what you seal guitars with. It was a lot easier to get the finish we wanted

I just finished watching Larry Chen’s video of you & this car. What you’ve done here is amazing. You kept going around the car and showing everything you did yourself. I love it ❤

As long as you're satisfied with the result. With all the issues it turned out much better than I thought it would.👍 Jeff you don't give up easy, and have way more patience than me. I would have ripped the veneer off in anger the moment it started lifting and done something else, but you never gave up. I hope we get to see you and Mrs Jeff go for a drive in the Alfarrari.

With timber laminates, layup and compression is important. I use a roller when using timber laminates to get good adhesion pressure and then dead flat timber sections with lots of clamps. Never tried onto metal substrate, though, my experience is on guitars.

I love how you said you didn't think the "shiny" engine turned pattern would suit but then went with ultra shiny fake wood 😂🤣

Love watching this video almost as much as when you work with metal my wife just commented how your shows are always different then other builders that's why you're the best

When Retropower does wood panels in custom interiors the use hydrographic film dipping on aluminum, covered by clearcoat. Looks exactly like wood and is apparently very durable.

27:15 those two in leather covered holes under the rev meter, will you be putting switches in them in the future or will you put something in the indentations to stop the leather from saging in them? Hardly noticeable, but still wanted to ask you about this. Love your Alfa Jeff, it's a beauty. Cheers! 👍💪✌

Jeff, your range of talents amazes me. Keep up the good work!!

Ripple might be moisture related if it’s water based clear? Wood expands across the grain sou would explain? If you did it again, lacquering before gluing on to stabilise might work? Or a solvent lacquer to seal before using anything water based?

the final result looks just the right blend of period look and modernity...perfect for the car...

You went above and beyond expectations. A long process but definitely worth the effort. Enjoy the drive.

Great video Jeff, getting it done mate! -Spanky was here

i use a food vacuum bagging system to glue/press veneer. the roll of bagging material is only 300 mm wide so it is restrictive

Glad you enjoyed the choccies mate, all the best for '24!

Love the concept but I also would have gone with satin finish. For future veneering, a glue "size" (10-1 ration water/glue) helps with uneven staining and give an initial grain raising for a better finish. Sticking veneer is always work, in the old days (when I started!) it was roller and press, usually a heavy weight. Vacuum bagging (as mentioned below) has made it so much easier and with a more reliable finish. Thanks Mrs Jeff, those are seriously interesting vehicles...

Jeff. I would have given up and gone ABS by this stage. So congrats on sticking with it. I will wait to see the whole effect before saying anything else ;-)

Great attention to detail. When you are doing work like that every slight issue stands out but won’t really be noticeable to most people. The veneer on my old Range Rover is a combination of real veneer and coated plastic, it’s very difficult to tell the difference between the two and if I do work like this I suspect I’d go the fake route or get a coating dipped onto it.

luv the chicken! You get so many suggestions Jeff, but you always throw a curve ball. Well done mate

Jeff, check me if I'm wrong, but $100 Aussie bucks and hour is maybe what a dealership mechanic is charged to the client for- you cannot get into a basic auto repair shop in much of the US for much less the $150 USD, often more. For work like we see in Alfarrari, $250 USD an hour is bargain basement. You want Chip Foose, bring your accountant and three bankers. It 's a wide range, and so are the results vs, expectations. What you do, Jeff, is virtually priceless- you work what ever it is, till it's perfect in your eyes; you expect more than most and it shows. I cannot look at this car and honestly see the old green thing you started with; the "rustoration" for this car must have been half of the cost. What a smashing way to end a year, and what a challenge to find a next project it's equal or better. You are the man, Jeff. And now to the "important part"; Mrs. Jeff, You were saying? HNY, and all good things. A question; are you likely to ever grow beyond your little snugly filled shed? Btw, a garage door limit that keeps it from closing the door can be rigged to a solenoid to stop the lift and those annoying headaches!

Hey Jeff. The wood veneer. When you said it I was 🙈. I would use a wallpaper roller to ensure stuck down flat. Then I would leave it a few days for solvent to evaporate off. The first primer coat would be a very thin dust coat. And then flat off between 2nd, 3rd coats etc. The stain should be done after the glueing down. And before the dust coat. Patience is the key here and allow a day or two between the next stage. Or a heated /drying room. The stainless edging makes it 👌 Shame about those ripples.

Where's the Toyotruck? I cant wait... Alfarrari is incredible. As usual, the result of the console is near flawless. Happy new year to you and Mrs Jeff.

Fantastic work good sir !!! I work with 2 part epoxy. It is self leveling, removing the waves in the material. You only need 2 coats on this size of a project, a base coat to seal, and a finishing coat after sanding and shaping. Any dull spots after final trim can be buffed out with an ordinary wax or polish. Leaves a glass finish. I had a client who wanted a farmhouse sink for his outside patio. He wanted the strong look of a stainless steel sink, in red. I coated ordinary 2x4 & cabinet grade wood in epoxy for that flat finish, sanded, painted (can spray paint, fire engine red) then coated w/epoxy AFTER assembly as it fill cracks and joined panels.... I see him occasionally and says it's still Rock solid and always gets compliments.... Cheers to you and your family and Happy New Year !!! From Tallahassee, FL

The centre console material/colour/finish is the first and only bit of the entire build I have not loved (at all!). However the whole idea is that it’s a very personal car and if no one disagrees with any aspect, then the boat is not being pushed out far enough. Keep going in the same way, Jeff!

I'm also a wood worker, hard to see, but some of those "bumps" in the clear coat are more likely raised grain fibers because you first need to apply sanding sealer to wood to stabilize the wood grain fibers. Then sand s other, then clear. This will also prevent rippling. Without the sealer, wood will absorb the moisture and warp and ripple

best wishes for 2024 and you did a great job. The color matches the interior of the car very nicely 🙂👍🏻

Love the silver stain and polished trim, looks great Jeff! 👍 will be sad to see this series come to an end!

The Alfarrari is Awesome

Vacuum bag or even sandbags could’ve kept that headache down a bit. Love the vids and that thing is amazing

You Nailed it Jeff Well Done! Happy new year to you and Mrs Jeff. Looking forward to the Truck build👍

Best idea for doing veneer is using vacuum bag method to press the veneer into the aluminium as much as possible. From my knowledge this is how the pro's that do veneer finishes get the veneer to sit flat before then sanding and polishing/lacquering.

Knowing the actual “Man hours” you have put in, really puts things into perspective

Happy New Year guys, and nicely done with that interior, so close now!

Love your content, Jeff!! Greetings from South Africa!! ❤😊

Jeff have you thought about hiring a videographer to make a nice short film of the car when it's finished. I'd love to see a high quality video with good audio of engine/exhaust. ?

I would have used mat clear coat, it’s too shiny in regard of the original wood fitted in the car, but incredible work, as usual. Happy new year from France

Happy New Year to you both!

Great work Jeff, can’t wait to see it running 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Shame you couldn't have done a gated shifter as a cheeky nod to the Ferrari bits . Still doing gorgeous work though .

So well done Jeff. Even doing it yourself, it would be a costly hoppy but extremely rewarding experience. You have done the hours with trial and error to perfect what you do. I love watching a craftsman like yourself at work. hopefully I can learn something. Cheers.

Either vacuum bag the veneer on. Or make a inner and outer mold out of wood and clamp the parts between the two moods and leave them like that for a day or two. Then sand and stain the wood and use a low sheen clear. You have to be really spot on to use a gloss, otherwise it won’t look too good.

That centre console looks really good! Impressed with the trim around the edge.

Think it looks great Jeff!

Happy Holidays Mr and Mrs Jeff...

Happy New year's for genius constructor mr. Jeff😅!

this looks awesome!

Chicken needs to go on front of bonnet, car looking realy great

That looks amazing 👏

Looks amazing.

You definitely nailed the colours for the whole car. 👌

A wonderful job. Congratulations, greetings from Italy😊

Great safety chicken!

I think a brushed aluminium effect using scotch brite and a satin laquer finish might have worked quite well

Looks grate mate!

That plasma table is a game changer...

Well done Jeff, a bit of tweaking and it will be spot on Mate.

Looks great

Looks good for a knocked up in the back yard, which gets more respect ❤ spot on

Great. Awesome effort. Would have liked a attempt on a gated shifter but none the less it looks great!

Did you solve the crank ring sensor problem. You do nice work Jeff.

Like you said jeff it all takes time

The chrome trim around the edge looks very nice. For the color (especially the glossy surface)... You like it, and it's your car in the end.

A home built press to fix the veneer flat? First episode in years that looked to be a bit of a mare until the end.

Another "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing twice " episode

Love the console cover! Thanks for the tip with the stainless trim too - I reckon I'll grab some of that. Rolltrak is the brand in case anyone's interested 😊

Centerconsole looks really neat! In camera seems a bit too shiny, and those waves bother me a bit, but maybe in person, the look is different. Perhaps some satin finish would be more "woodlike." In gloss, I would see it polished to flat several times and with more coats of clear. Either way, this colorscheme is esthetically pleasing and whole combo loks period "sorta correct". Definitely cheers for not doing anything obvious and trying something new! As always, thank you for nice piece of entertainment, and I can't wait for more progress.

From what I’ve seen before applying timber laminate is usually done with vacuum so there isn’t any lifting. Maybe next time 🤞

For future projects like that consider Cerakote coatings.

Hi, Jeff…beautiful work on the shift and brake boots, all of those little details really make the car so fun to look at! Not sure what glue you used on the wood veneer, but the auto clear coat may not be entirely compatible with it. Veneer can be terrific, but the glue, stain and top coat all have to work together.

I think it looks amazing. I know you used veneer just for me😂. Ignore the comments about using the gloss finish. The gloss goes perfectly with the buttons, trim, and shifter. Bravo!

Looks great yes some imperfections but gives it that classy elegant sporty european theme imo

The veneer is a bit of an eyesore on a beautiful car.

I think the real solution for the hand brake was to raise the brake up. Spacers under the mount.

Check out some guitar refinishing vids, there's a lot of info on veneers, stains, and wood prep for automotive style finishes to be found there. Like BigD guitars or crimson.

Beautiful Job ♥️👏👏👏

The veneer looks better than I thought it would to be honest, but not really a fan of the high gloss finish though. I'd rub it with 0000 steel wool to dull it a bit, then lightly polish it with a liquid compound to just bring out a nice smooth satin finish. Maybe a veneer softener might have helped too, but as a first step before you done anything else.

Brilliant! 🇨🇦

I wasn't sure about the colour scheme in the beginning, but it didn't turn out half bad at the end, perhaps a bit busy overall. I suspect you'll be revisiting this one... 🙂

The Trick That Cabinet Makers Use Is To Use A Normal Domestic Type Iron When Gluing The Veneer On To Your Solid Parts

For the side panels of the center console maybe you can use the same C rail to force them to follow a line and then weld them from the inside to the center console C rails so they form a unified console, you can even add some reinforcements in the inside.

Another brilliant video - unfortunately your solution doesn't really come out on video - but if you are happy will take your word that it is good. The end is rearing it's head ... really am looking forward to the first road trip with Mrs Jeff ...

I feel your pain with the wood and ripples, I had exactly the same issue of some panels I did for my van. So frustrating

You never thought about using the iconic switching gate from a manual Ferrari? Regardless of that thank you for the entertaining content! Your skills are always stunning.

Came up good. Like the colour contrast with the leather and the wood stain. The stainless edging really works well. Perhaps a less reflective semi gloss finish on the wood would hide the defects

I don't get going through the effort of using wood veneer when it's stained like a piece of laminate? I would go with a more natural looking wood stain or just use a sythetic material that'll be much easier to work with and will look just as good/bad.

Labor of love!

Wait wait…..Fusion 360 with the trackpad of the laptop!!!. If hold my beer was a person. 😂

Wood laminate is normally vacuum packed on and left for days.

I was hoping for carbon fiber, but the wood veneer works well. Great work, Jeff.

Looks amazing and a real credit. Looks factory from here! It was clearly alot of work so perhaps Hydro Dipping would have been a better choice?

I'm laughing but not at you, but because the mistakes you're making are the exact same mistakes I've made not once or twice but many times.. You've done an unbelievable job..