DIY wooden Shift knob.

Jeffblue · 03-11-2010, 11:27 AM

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)

NA&CH · 03-11-2010, 12:09 PM

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

Modshack · 03-11-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffblue

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)

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.

OMGWTFBBQ · 03-11-2010, 12:25 PM

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.

Modshack · 03-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMGWTFBBQ

e 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.

See above.

Jeffblue · 03-11-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modshack

On fitment, you could buy a M10x 1.25 thread in adapter from these guys: Ordering gearshift knobs - EPCO Manufacturing 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.

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):

kenchan · 03-11-2010, 07:31 PM

ummmm.... no

bluestyle55 · 03-11-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

ummmm.... no

Zerafian · 03-11-2010, 09:24 PM

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

CBRich · 03-12-2010, 09:20 AM

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.

nuTinmuch · 03-12-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

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.

Jeffblue · 03-12-2010, 11:41 AM

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!

View Poll Results: What gear shift knob shape do you prefer and why
OEM style, round	10	55.56%
Cylindrical style, like nismo	7	38.89%
Other (please specify)	1	5.56%
Voters: 18. You may not vote on this poll

03-11-2010, 11:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	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) Last edited by Jeffblue; 03-11-2010 at 11:29 AM. Reason: posted poll twice by accident.

03-11-2010, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
OMGWTFBBQ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: the OC Posts: 1,886 Drives: 08 SGM IS350 Rep Power: 4549	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. __________________ Zele Performance \| Varis \| Powerhouse Amuse \| Craftsquare \| Tommy Kaira \| Top Secret \| HKS \| Defi \| Volk Racing \| Cusco \| SPL \| Never ending build thread.. PM me if you have rare JDM parts for sale!

03-11-2010, 07:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	ummmm.... no Smashley likes this.

03-11-2010, 09:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zerafian A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 1,334 Drives: 13' MB 370z Rep Power: 24238	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 __________________ LC500 exhaust set uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI7DiA43ZYw&t

03-11-2010, 12:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
NA&CH Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Nipples Florida Posts: 298 Drives: Looking for PW 370 Rep Power: 290	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

03-12-2010, 09:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	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.

03-12-2010, 11:41 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	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!

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