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Rau Automotive Woodwork‎ in California

William Rau of Rau Automotive Woodwork‎ • Los Angeles, CA

There is little doubt that this is the age of specialization. In every aspect of human endeavor: from the entertainment arts to medical science to legal defense, leaders are assembling "Dream Teams", bringing together the best and the brightest to achieve maximum success. At this level there is little room for secon Read more There is little doubt that this is the age of specialization.

In every aspect of human endeavor: from the entertainment arts to medical science to legal defense, leaders are assembling "Dream Teams", bringing together the best and the brightest to achieve maximum success. At this level there is little room for second best. While wood restoration may have more humble goals than saving lives or influencing national opinion, we approach it with a similar level of commitment.

In a short period of time we have established ourselves as one of the premier automotive wood services in the country. Concours quality restoration requires a knowledgeable and sympathetic hand, and our experience over the past few years puts us in a unique position to perform complex jobs with superb results. As you peruse the site you will see examples of our work from elegant drivers to concours champions.

We currently refinish wood for a number of Rolls-Royce dealers, restoration shops and private enthusiasts nationwide. This work covers all makes of automobiles (historic and contemporary) and ranges from complete interiors to small repairs.

Services: Finishing,Repairs, Steam bending Bent lamination, Vacuum press veneering, Structural wood, Consultation

Videos

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  • Aston Martin DB9 Interiors

    For those who long for the bygone era of bespoke interiors, William Rau presents these extraordinary Aston Martin interiors, expertly crafted in the tradition of the great coach builders of Europe.

    One interior showcased, makore crotch, a spectacular exotic from the west coast of Africa with an intense plume, that exhibits the finest qualities of mahogany, amplified.

    The Tungsten Fiber weave is UNIQUE in the fiber world and matches the Tungsten exterior color for Aston Martin.

    This dramatic Appalachian burl features an unpredictable burl and swirl grain in a nearly unique light tawny color. This look really makes the exterior of the DB9 pop!


    The steering wheel and other additions were truly natural extensions of the factory wood,
    harmoniously rendered.
    Read more

  • Tungsten Fiber

    Tungsten Fiber interior for the Aston Martin DB9

  • Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche wood evaluation (Part One)

    Automotive wood restoration by Willaim Rau. Piece by piece evaluation of the interior wood, explaining apparent wood damage and finish problems.

    View Part Two of this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_7NLyZ6rc&context=C4dae98fADvjVQa1PpcFODr-LWeYYXDDMuTYLbjkLbtASal6eIUaA=

    Visit our site for more information. http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche wood evaluation (part two)

    The long awaited part two, of the three part series. In this part we see was was under the finish of these parts from a 1991 Rolls-Royce Corniche. Read more

  • Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche wood evaluation (A New Discovery)

    After the last evaluation of this door cap, a discovery was made. If not for this discovery there would have been problems with the restoration. William Rau explains what the discovery was and why it was a problem and what will be done to fix it.

    View Part One of this video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwMjr4kVwQ

    View Part Two of this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_7NLyZ6rc&context=C4dae98fADvjVQa1PpcFODr-LWeYYXDDMuTYLbjkLbtASal6eIUaA=


    For more information about William Rau Autowood visit our homepage: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm

    For interesting stories visit our blog: http://www.rau-autowood.com/blogs/
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche wood evaluation (The Final Chapter)

    Here in the final chapter in the saga of the Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche wood, we see the final results.

    View Part One of this video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwMjr4kVwQ

    View Part Two of this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_7NLyZ6rc&context=C4dae98fADvjVQa1PpcFODr-LWeYYXDDMuTYLbjkLbtASal6eIUaA=

    View Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ULX4R9Yfb0
    Visit our site for more information. http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce 1991 Corniche Steering Wheel

    As our loyal viewers already know, this Custom Steering wheel belongs to a 1991 Rolls-Royce Corniche. We've repaired and refinished the wood interior from this Corniche, and documented the process with a series of videos. The links to these videos are listed below.

    This steering wheel was originally a boring black plastic. The owner decided that he wanted the wheel to match the door caps, so we covered the wheel with book-matched walnut burl, and added an inlay of paldeo outlined with boxwood. With this matching steering wheel and the properly repaired wood, this car will look better than it did when it rolled out of the factory over 20 years ago.

    View Part One of this video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwMjr4kVwQ

    View Part Two of this video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy_7NLyZ6rc&context=C4dae98fADvjVQa1PpcFODr-LWeYYXDDMuTYLbjkLbtASal6eIUaA=

    View Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ULX4R9Yfb0

    View Part Four: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEreO1SIcxY

    Visit our site for more information. http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Steam Bending Wood (silent film)

    Wood has been steam bent for ages, and while the tools have changed the process has remained mostly the same. While this video won't show you how to steam bend wood, it simply shows part of the process in an interesting way.

    The wood being bent in this video will be used to make a solid wood steering wheel.


    For more information about William Rau Autowood visit our homepage: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm

    For interesting stories visit our blog: http://www.rau-autowood.com/blogs/
    Read more

  • Some Interior Options for Range Rovers

    William Rau has been making custom steering wheels and accessories for Range Rovers for over ten years now. Here are just a few of the many options that are available for Range Rovers.

    For more information please visit our homepage at http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm

    If you want to read about some interesting projects we've done in the past visit our blog at http://www.rau-autowood.com/blogs/
    Read more

  • BMW 650i 2012 interior wood makeover

    From Lined Oak to gorgeous Walnut Burl. Wood transformation in a 2012 BMW 650i. Part #1

  • Rolls-Royce / Bentley Walnut Burl and Leather Steering Wheel

    (1993 - 1997) Rolls-Royce / Bentley Steering Wheel. Two piece wood steering wheel with new leather.

  • Range Rover Sport Interior Set Refinished

    William Rau shows the results of the transformation of the Range Rover Sport Interior. It went from boring factory Cherry interior to an exciting Walnut Burl interior set.

    For more information please visit out homepage: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Range Rover Carbon Fiber Interior Option

    William Rau shows a set of carbon fiber interior for a Range Rover Sport.

    Visit our home page for more information: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm Read more

  • Rolls-Royce Door Cap Repair

    This is one of the two door caps for the 1991 Rolls-Royce.

    For more information please visit our homepage
    http://www.rau-autowood.com/
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce and Bentley - Bookmatching Veneer for Wood Trim

    William Rau explains what a bookmatch is, and demonstrates how a designer lays out a bookmach using wood veneer.

    For more information please visit our homepage
    http://www.rau-autowood.com/
    Read more

  • Bentley and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars - the Veneers used by them

    William Rau displays a variety of veneers used in Bentley and Rolls-Royce automobiles.

    For more information please visit our website at http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm Read more

  • Rolls-Royce / Bentley Walnut Burl and Leather Steering Wheel (updated video)

    (1993 - 1997) Rolls-Royce / Bentley Steering Wheel. Two piece wood steering wheel with new green leather.

    For more information please visit our website at http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • 1959 Mercedes Benz 220s Walnut Burl Steering Wheel

    William Rau shows a wheel to a 1959 Mercedes Benz 220s.

    For more information please visit our website at http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm Read more

  • Rolls-Royce Steering Wheel Before and After

    William Rau shows two Rolls-Royce Steering Wheels, one just as it looked from the factory with black plastic and one after it was transformed into a steering wheel fit for a king.

    For more information please visit our website http://rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes - Bespoke Wood Pre-Airbag Steering Wheels

    A trio of handmade wood and leather steering wheels from 1959-2009 displaying a few design possibilities for airbag, and pre-airbag steering wheels.

    Shown: a Bentley GT steering wheel in Piano Black with Mother of Pearl Inlays, a Rolls-Royce Shadow steering wheel from the mid 1960s-70s with Walnut Burl and leather, as well as a Mercedes 1959 220s steering wheel also with Walnut Burl and leather.

    Mercedes 220s video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iGIzTpo7SQ

    Rolls-Royce Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nq1I4iY9OQ

    For more information please visit our website at http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL wood evaluated

    Wood from a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL is evaluated.


    For more information about William Rau Autowood visit our homepage: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm

    For interesting stories visit our blog: http://www.rau-autowood.com/blogs/
    Read more

  • Bentley - The Story of the Titanic Steering Wheel

    William Rau explains the process that was taken in order to transform the small boring factory steering wheel into a wheel of titanic proportions. This steering wheel may one day be featured on the show Mega Structures it's so large. What makes this wheel just so titanic is the massive grip, a grip fit for a Titan, or at least a Pizza Baron from the Midwest.

    If you want a titanic steering wheel of your own visit our website for more information. http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm
    Read more

  • Rolls-Royce Corniche - Beautifully Restored Wood Trim

    This unique set of wood interior from a Rolls-Royce Corniche was recently restored by William Rau Autowood. This set of wood trim is unique because it has Picnic Tables, which is odd for a vehicle for such a narrow wheelbase.

    For more information about William Rau Autowood visit our homepage: http://www.rau-autowood.com/home.htm

    For interesting stories visit our blog: http://www.rau-autowood.com/blogs/
    Read more

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