Milling your own bed wood - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kxnomore · 03-18-2007, 04:58 PM

Has anyone here milled their own wood for the wood planks? How did you do it, and what were the dimensions? I really can't afford the $450 right now for pre-milled wood. I do have a router and a table saw, though. the wood at Home Depot would only be about $250.

Is it worth the trouble?

Thanks!!

wibilly · 03-18-2007, 05:31 PM

i did one for a friend a few years ago with red oak wood was just under $50 at a local saw mill and that was with oneextra 8' board your old boards are all you need for patterns.one of the venders i think it's gmc paul has the demensions on thier web site if you have already disposed of your old ones. it's pretty easy

DangerBoy · 03-18-2007, 05:33 PM

If you have access to a planer to make a nice smooth surface on the face of the boards that would be better. Although if you sand it down nice and smooth it would probably look real nice.

RustyParts · 03-18-2007, 05:34 PM

Go here for your info http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

blukangoo · 03-18-2007, 05:39 PM

One of these days I am going to do mine but I am not going to use solid wood.
I am going to use a waterproof plywood and cover it with a Paint they use on Boats.

The nice thing is that I work in a carpenter shop and get to use the machines.

I don´t know the dimensions but if you wait a couple of days I can measure them. I am going to have to measure them one of these days anyways.

I am going to order the thickness I need in one big piece and cut and sand it myself.

blukangoo · 03-18-2007, 05:42 PM

Damn you guys are fast.

Thanks for the link RustyParts, now I don´t have to measure them myself.
I will check them though, I work with the metric system over here.

cabinetguy · 03-18-2007, 05:43 PM

If you have a dado set it is real easy.Then seek out a local Cabinet shop to run those through the overhead sander.Smaller shops are more likely to help you out.

BowTieOgre · 03-18-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kxnomore

Has anyone here milled their own wood for the wood planks? How did you do it, and what were the dimensions? I really can't afford the $450 right now for pre-milled wood. I do have a router and a table saw, though. the wood at Home Depot would only be about $250.

Is it worth the trouble?

Thanks!!

A site called ChevyParts has a pre-cut and grooved oak kit for the short fleet beds for only $225 plus shipping...not sure of the quality.

PanelDeland · 03-18-2007, 07:05 PM

Shipping to Germany would probably double that.

kxnomore · 03-18-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyParts

Go here for your info http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm

Thanks Rusty. That's exactly what I was looking for. Lots of good tips there too. The best part is the help from this site. Thanks man.

dave3156 · 03-19-2007, 02:38 PM

I made my own bed wood. I used poplar and it turned out nice. Make sure that the boards turn out VERY square with no bow in them. The strips won't fit right if you don't. The hardest part was cutting the grooves in the edges for the bed strips to sit down into. I did it with a table saw and some of the grooves did not turn out wide enough. Make the grooves about twice as wide as you think they need to be. Also be sure to sand the boards down real smooth. If you leave the side thats up just a little rough it will show up in your finish. Also seal both sides of the boards. I used 3 coats of spar polyurethane on top and two on bottom. Measure your truck. I found mine not exactly the same length as what the spec said. It was close but not exact. Good luck with the project.

Mt Man Chad · 03-19-2007, 03:27 PM

I milled a set for a friend out of some 80 years old mill wood we picked up for free. It turned out great, for being twice as old as the truck.

A good wide planner and a nice dado blade for a table saw is about all is required.

blukangoo · 03-19-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Shipping to Germany would probably double that.

Your right about that. That´s why I´m going to make them myself.

I just ordered parts from LMC for $200 and they wanted $244 to send it over here. I found another way to get it over here for $55. After it gets here I will most likely have to pay 6% customs to the Germans on top of that.

kxnomore · 03-19-2007, 05:28 PM

So did you guys purchase new strips? During the removal I had no choice but to grind and chisel out some very stubborn bolts, and in doing so kind of elongated a couple of the holes.

Plus all my bed strip holes were round, not square like I thought they'd be. Do I have to order special shanked bolts, or would you just order the new strips? And if so, who likes the polished strips vs. painted better?

AKChevyman · 03-20-2007, 07:12 AM

I like both the polished and painted just depends on the truck if it is going to be a work truck go with the painted that way you can fix them at any time.

03-18-2007, 04:58 PM	#1
kxnomore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 331	Milling your own bed wood Has anyone here milled their own wood for the wood planks? How did you do it, and what were the dimensions? I really can't afford the $450 right now for pre-milled wood. I do have a router and a table saw, though. the wood at Home Depot would only be about $250. Is it worth the trouble? Thanks!!

03-18-2007, 05:31 PM	#2
wibilly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: northwestern wi Posts: 2,111	Re: Milling your own bed wood i did one for a friend a few years ago with red oak wood was just under $50 at a local saw mill and that was with oneextra 8' board your old boards are all you need for patterns.one of the venders i think it's gmc paul has the demensions on thier web site if you have already disposed of your old ones. it's pretty easy __________________ common sense isn't so common anymore

03-18-2007, 05:33 PM	#3
DangerBoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Springville, Ca Posts: 270	Re: Milling your own bed wood If you have access to a planer to make a nice smooth surface on the face of the boards that would be better. Although if you sand it down nice and smooth it would probably look real nice. __________________ 2002 S10 ZR2 for the dirt. 1968 C10 shorty for the street. She said the truck would be the end of us. I still have the truck!

03-18-2007, 05:34 PM	#4
RustyParts Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wyman, Kentucky Posts: 403	Re: Milling your own bed wood Go here for your info http://www.gmcpauls.com/47-72_BedWood_Info.htm __________________ 1972 GMC Jimmy, 4WD, 454 CI, 350 Turbo, 4" lift, 35" tires The math teacher said my son "Bubba" could be a mathmatical genius. cause he's got 13 fingers!

03-18-2007, 05:39 PM	#5
blukangoo Neighborhood Pickle Slinger Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cadolzburg, Bavaria, Germany Posts: 2,224	Re: Milling your own bed wood One of these days I am going to do mine but I am not going to use solid wood. I am going to use a waterproof plywood and cover it with a Paint they use on Boats. The nice thing is that I work in a carpenter shop and get to use the machines. I don´t know the dimensions but if you wait a couple of days I can measure them. I am going to have to measure them one of these days anyways. I am going to order the thickness I need in one big piece and cut and sand it myself. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- My C10 Diary Our cars: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle 396 - TH350 1968 Chevrolet C10/CST 327 TH400/375 1969 Corvette Stingray 350 - Muncie Manual Trans 1969 Chevrolet ElCamino 350 - TH400 1970 Cutlass Supreme Convertible - 350 Rocket - TH350 1973 Camaro LT - New Engine Done - TH350 1973 Corvette Convertible 454 - TH400

03-18-2007, 05:42 PM	#6
blukangoo Neighborhood Pickle Slinger Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cadolzburg, Bavaria, Germany Posts: 2,224	Re: Milling your own bed wood Damn you guys are fast. Thanks for the link RustyParts, now I don´t have to measure them myself. I will check them though, I work with the metric system over here. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- My C10 Diary Our cars: 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle 396 - TH350 1968 Chevrolet C10/CST 327 TH400/375 1969 Corvette Stingray 350 - Muncie Manual Trans 1969 Chevrolet ElCamino 350 - TH400 1970 Cutlass Supreme Convertible - 350 Rocket - TH350 1973 Camaro LT - New Engine Done - TH350 1973 Corvette Convertible 454 - TH400

03-18-2007, 05:43 PM	#7
cabinetguy 67 shorty Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Graham,Wa. Posts: 190	Re: Milling your own bed wood If you have a dado set it is real easy.Then seek out a local Cabinet shop to run those through the overhead sander.Smaller shops are more likely to help you out. __________________ 67 SWB with enough parts to build two

03-18-2007, 07:05 PM	#9
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: Milling your own bed wood Shipping to Germany would probably double that. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

03-19-2007, 02:38 PM	#11
dave3156 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 336	Re: Milling your own bed wood I made my own bed wood. I used poplar and it turned out nice. Make sure that the boards turn out VERY square with no bow in them. The strips won't fit right if you don't. The hardest part was cutting the grooves in the edges for the bed strips to sit down into. I did it with a table saw and some of the grooves did not turn out wide enough. Make the grooves about twice as wide as you think they need to be. Also be sure to sand the boards down real smooth. If you leave the side thats up just a little rough it will show up in your finish. Also seal both sides of the boards. I used 3 coats of spar polyurethane on top and two on bottom. Measure your truck. I found mine not exactly the same length as what the spec said. It was close but not exact. Good luck with the project.

03-19-2007, 03:27 PM	#12
Mt Man Chad Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Oakridge Oregon Posts: 1,865	Re: Milling your own bed wood I milled a set for a friend out of some 80 years old mill wood we picked up for free. It turned out great, for being twice as old as the truck. A good wide planner and a nice dado blade for a table saw is about all is required. __________________ 68 CST SWB - Gold/White 50th anniversary /TH350/Buddy Buckets/3.73 Posi/dogdish caps. 68 K10 Burb - Gold/White 327/SM465/NP205/3.73 "Daa Burb" build thread Last edited by Mt Man Chad; 03-19-2007 at 03:29 PM.

03-19-2007, 05:28 PM	#14
kxnomore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA Posts: 331	Re: Milling your own bed wood So did you guys purchase new strips? During the removal I had no choice but to grind and chisel out some very stubborn bolts, and in doing so kind of elongated a couple of the holes. Plus all my bed strip holes were round, not square like I thought they'd be. Do I have to order special shanked bolts, or would you just order the new strips? And if so, who likes the polished strips vs. painted better?

03-20-2007, 07:12 AM	#15
AKChevyman Chevy Forever Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Dalzell SC Posts: 314	Re: Milling your own bed wood I like both the polished and painted just depends on the truck if it is going to be a work truck go with the painted that way you can fix them at any time. __________________ My first love 1971 C20 Hugger orange Getting face lift and heart transplant .30 402 BB /TH400 and GV Wifes car 1969 Chevelle SS 396 325hp/TH400 Factroy A/C Automatic w/ Floor shift console. restored.



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