Custom/DIY/Homemade Shift Boot

[Workdawg]

I bought a short throw shifter for my MS3 recently and I was getting sick of looking at the stock boot all scrunched up around the shifter. The boot was a little big for the stock shifter IMO, and it was WAY to big for the shorter shifter as well. I made a custom shift boot out of deerskin leather and figured I'd post up some pics to show it off.


The results! (thumbnails, click for pig pics)






If you want more details I typed up a long post about the process and stuff here:

http://www.mnmazda.com/forum/showthread.php?5279-DIY-Custom-Homemade-Leather-Shift-boot

 

[Hank3]

Good job. Wish I had dem skillz.

Your knob looks more scratched up than the average owner. Do you wear a ring or have sand in your hands?

 

[Workdawg]

My winter coat had a button the cuff

New coat doesn't though.

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

Your knob looks more scratched up than the average owner.

mine was scratched up almost as bad as that when I bought the car (I am
the second owner), I was going to replace it with another OEM knob until I found out how much Mazda wants for it. I couldn't find an aftermarket shift knob that I liked so I ended up sanding out all the scratches and polishing it and it looks much, much better now.

not trying to hijack your thread but here is a picture of it for
all the non-believers out there...

 

[Workdawg]

wow, that does look really nice, I'll have to try that!

 

[Hank3]

mine was scratched up almost as bad as that when I bought the car (I am
the second owner), I was going to replace it with another OEM knob until I found out how much Mazda wants for it. I couldn't find an aftermarket shift knob that I liked so I ended up sanding out all the scratches and polishing it and it looks much, much better now.

not trying to hijack your thread but here is a picture of it for
all the non-believers out there...

How-to and what products you used?

 

[prenedo]

+1 for products used and quick how to. Mine is ****** up from a chick owning the car before me.

 

[gudzspeed3]

+1 for products used and quick how to. Mine is ****** up from a chick owning the car before me.

+100000

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

it took me roughly 2 hours to do it. First you need to cover up the plastic on top so it doesn't get scratched and also cover up the leather so it doesn't get damaged by the sandpaper, you can use masking tape, but I used some vinyl decal material that I had laying around. I think I started out with 200 grit sandpaper to remove the scratches, then i went to 800 grit to smooth it out, after the 800 grit I went to 1000 grit (wet) and then finished with 1500 grit (wet) . When I was done with the sanding I used some Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish to shine it up.

The most important thing you need to do is cover up the plastic part on top and the leather so you don't damage them with the sandpaper.

 

[Workdawg]

I decided to tackle this today, and it turned out to be a little more tricky than rs gives off.

The aluminum seems to be coated with some kind of scratch resistance film. And this film is tough as s*** to get off. I spent about 1.5 hours working on it with 180 grit paper before heading back to home depot for some 100 grit. I spent another hour or so with the 100 grit working that film off. Also, masking tape over the inlay and leather is a good idea, but I recommend at least two layers, and to watch it carefully. I ended up going through the tape on a little section and slightly scuffed my leather

I'm not quite done yet, I'm actually thinking about going with a brushed look for my knob.

I polished it a bit with some of https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) I'm going to leave it like that for a few days and see how I like it.

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

turned out nice, you might be able to make that scuff in the leather disappear with some Leather conditioner/cleaner. I like the brushed aluminum look as well as the polished, I left it with the brushed look for about a month which does blend in with many of the interior
accents. Its just personal preference. But either way it is a HUGE improvement.

 

[jri4]

before I go yanking on my knob...

does it just unscrew off the shifter or is there some sort of allen key needed? never took it off, so I don't know-sorry! but i really need to shine it up like this! looks great!

OP i like the boot- i want a short shifter, but was worried about the boot as well!

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

the shift knob twists right off

 

[dmention7]

I've seen the boot in person, and I was certainly impressed.

 

[cosic]

+1 for products used and quick how to. Mine is ****** up from a chick owning the car before me.

Definately need to hear what grit off sandpaper and polish to use..

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

^ 100-150, then 500-600, then 800-1000, then 1500, Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish

 

[Dark]

OP, great work on the shift boot!

rsvinylgraphics, awesome work on the shift knob, I thought the rings were probably just plated buts it good to hear that they are solid enough to polish!

Has anyone tried to replace the leather on the shift knob with suede or alcantara? I had a member of MSF make me a suede shift boot for the TWM SS and to match the '08.5 seat inserts. I'd like to do the knob as well.