DIY wooden Shift knob.
 

i have thought about swapping out the shift knob but i dont think i want to go with something metal b/c of the temperature issues in summer and winter. Then i had the idea of making my own wooden shifter on a lathe, using some exotic woods. (i have access to a lathe at my college ( i have 2 months left) and my friend is a wood design major. My concerns would lie in two areas.

1: shape. Cylindrical like the nismo aftermarket ones, or Round like the oem ones.

2: fitment. I was thinking of using the oem metal base underneath the stock gearshifter, Is this fitment something i could easily fabricate myself, or would i be better off using the actual fitment from the OEM shifter? If so would any of you who swapped out your gear shiftknob and either mangled your shifter, or simple have no use for it anymore be willing to send me yours? (at no cost to you)

I can apprciate this. Working with wood everyday. Some nice exotic hardwood wood be nice. Could also get a little pricey. What kind of wood were you thinking of?

I think a ball of sorts or something eliptical.

Chris
ejhcabinets.com

On fitment, you could buy a M10x 1.25 thread in adapter from these guys: http://www.epcomfg.com/shiftknob-ordering.html#adapter and just thread it into the wood. I bought an extra last time I got a knob from them. Only cost a few bucks. You'll have to call though as the 1.25 thread is not on their order list. That would give you OEM fitment on the shaft side.

Haha yeah. My dad made me a custom shift knob. Two actually, one made out of titanium and one out of stainless steel. He measured the thread himself, but I read somewhere that it was the same specs as a lug nut. :icon14:

:shakes head: See above.

Thanks so much for the link, that thread adapter solves my issue of fitment.

As far as woods are concerned i am thinking of maybe leopardwood, or birdseye maple for my grainy wood, some bubinga for an orangey color (i am going to have persimonn interior, and either black walnut or some wenge, or something ebonized so it is very black for my dark wood. I am most likely going to go with a vertical striped design and i want to inlay a piece on top with the shift pattern.

something like these(but with different woods and shape):
http://customwoodshiftknobs.com/Cata...plestripes.jpg
http://customwoodshiftknobs.com/Cata...ian1001a-5.jpg
http://customwoodshiftknobs.com/Catalog/1203-5.jpg

ummmm.... no

:iagree:

Random thoughts:

Wood trim in a 370...Dont do that please.

Well I suppose if you wrap it in CF it wouldnt be to bad *Shrug*

What am I saying I drive an automatic I dont care what your shift knob looks like 0_0

While I'm not sure how this would look in a 370 I think those knobs are beautiful. I'm personally fan of the Nismo style knob as it seems my hand doesn't slide around on it as much as the stock knob.

Yeah I agree, personally I am a fan of the polished metal or black chrome looking ones.

I wouldn't get one of these on a car I owned but I sure think they look impressive.

yea i dont know. i definitely wouldn't go spend 150 on a wooden knob. But it wouldn't cost me much b/c i'd be making it and that would be fun too. i just wanted to throw it out there to get some opinions. Thanks!