TOPIC: Tomahawk Dashboard

I want to install a similar dash on my Tomahawk Spirit as is shown in the picture below. The border is aluminum 1/2 round, but what is the material in the center. It appears to be some sort of textured aluminum, but I'm not sure. What is it and where can you get it?

I'm not sure it this is EXACTLY what you're looking for, but it is similar. It's what I plan to use on my dash-

www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?step=2&id=852

On my Tomahawk and Lake N Sea I was planning to try a vinyl product. The vinyl is not an exact match but is as close as I have found so far. I have not given up yet. I am going to stop a local hot rod reupholster.

www.metrorestyling.com/Metro-Small-Silver-Engine-Turn-Vinyl-p/enginesmslvr.htm

I have sent for a sample just tonight.

Unless I am reading things wrong the other product referenced dose not seem to come in large enough lengths to cover the entire dash with out a joint.
I have used this dash treatment because I could not find the original dash product.

Greg Anderson
Wisconsin

The piece I would need is about 6" x 48" and could be cut down from there. Online Metals has a piece 24" x 48". I'm going to talk to a friend of mine in the steel business to see if he has any ideas locally. If not, would anyone want to go in on buying a full sheet and then cutting it up? The sheet (.032") is 42.95, plus probably $12 in shipping here. That works out to a little under $14 per piece (assuming 4) and shipping for the small pieces would probably be about $5.

Thought about fabric, but I would prefer to do the AL instead.

Online metals will do a custom cut, too- They work with you pretty well... I've dealt with them in the past, and had good luck. That material is made by these people-

www.rimexmetals.com/products-patterned.htm

They have other patterns, too- Might have a distributor near you.... Online metals is a convenient place, though, since they do small qtys and custom cuts.

I can't tell from the pic if it is a brushed aluminum look you're going for. We had some very good luck achieving that by mounting a wire brush in a radial arm saw. Then mounting the aluminum panel that was about 6" wide to a board. Set the brush so touches the panel by about an 1/8" Then just run it through as ripping operation, the trick is to keep it moving. And safety glasses.