How to straighten out this wood trim for vehicle interior?

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Mar 10, 2013
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Im cleaning up the interior of my 84 mercedes 300d. The wood trim that goes around the climate control buttons is slightly warped. The wood and the finish is in good shape and to get another piece is like $130. This is zebrano wood and it appears like its 3 laminates to built up the thickness of the wood. The wood laminate is glued to an aluminum back plate. How can i go about straightening out this piece of wood? Its got maybe a 1/8 to 1/4 bend in it.

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Is that first picture a cross section of the wood? It looks like moisture go t to the laminate portion. That would be hard to fix.
 
Is that first picture a cross section of the wood? It looks like moisture go t to the laminate portion. That would be hard to fix.
Yes that’s looking down the edge of the piece showing the curvature that should be straight.
 
Moisture will cause the thick urethane to come off. It’s really hard to replicate it well… and in a form that will last.

It is a risk but I’d try to warm it up a bit and then apply a reverse curvature to it. Warm so the urethane has maximum flexibility because it can crack.

Lots of those pieces out there, no need to spend $130.
 
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