Rebuilding Troop seats

My troop seats are in need of some TLC. Currently the seats are old Rottenwood in the headboard is the newer fiberglass. I assume hardwood is ideal for troop seats. What have you guys used? I was looking for some green composite decking material, but unable to find any longer than 8 foot.

OEM is white oak, unless you have access to a planer, has to be milled to thickness and width and edges chamfered. Then painted. Then dozens of holes drilled. Of course disassembling the old racks and painting the staves is a huge pain as well.

NDT is correct. I've rebuilt a set of troop seats once. After all of the work, not to mention cost, I decided it is better to buy them. I used to get mine from Rich Greene in PA and John Winslow in NC. Unfortunately, both have passed away.

Thanks guys, It didn’t seem like a tough job, just long and tedious PITA. Thanks for the info bout planing to spec, I was hoping it would be easy to purchase correct thickness off shelf. I do know somebody who does custom millwork, I may contact them. IdeLly I’m looking for a set of used fiberglass to keep cost down.

Merc1973 said:

Thanks guys, It didn’t seem like a tough job, just long and tedious PITA. Thanks for the info bout planing to spec, I was hoping it would be easy to purchase correct thickness off shelf. I do know somebody who does custom millwork, I may contact them. IdeLly I’m looking for a set of used fiberglass to keep cost down.

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Let me know when you are doing it; I may be able to come over on a Saturday to give you a hand. You are not far from me.

Stephan Wood Products in Michigan makes the fiberglass troop seat slats and they come pre-drilled. They also do special orders for custom lengths. There are threads from several years ago about them.

I have rebuilt 2 troop seat complete assemblies and yep its a bit of time and if you use the white oak its very expensive I used red oak on my first set and pine on my second set. Taking all the steel off and cleaning it up is all straight forward along with the painting of it. Then get all your wood slats cut I did not bevel the edges its just not needed, then drill all your holes and paint, I generally always put at least 2 coats on and then put it all back together its fairly easy but its going to take a few hours not including paint drying time. Its easy but what is your time worth?

Thanks. I just picked up some NOS fiberglass seat bottoms this weekend for a good deal. Tjats saved a ton of time refurbishing. I think i contacted Stephan Wood products back in 2013 and they wanted $43 per board. Im sure its more $ now. I know a guy who has oak boards, $20 each.

Looks like old seat bottoms came from an AirForce Deuce, Blue, then 24087 green and lastly 383 green.

I used 6x1 mahogany and some boiled linseed oil. Looks really nice and holds up very very well. I personally prefer the wood look.

Mark

Looks Amazing!

Thank you. Only issue with mahogany is it darkens over time and after like 5 or 6 years outside they need a freshening. I'm just going to pull them, sand them and relinseed them. But no deterioration at all.

Mark