I've got a great piece of aged and well-figured Black Walnut that I'm carving into a custom shift knob. Ought to eliminate the burned hand in the summer or cold one in the winter. I love the look and feel of well-polished wood anyway. Hard to beat it for beauty.

 

Hmmmmm....Will you carve me a nice wing???
Just a joke. I don't really know how this would look in the S, but true It wouldn't burn your hand.

 

I've been thinking of carving into a nicely shaped nekkid babe. (just kidding).

I had one that I carved for my old TR3 and I was happy w/ it. That one was cherry and was dark enough to blend in well w/ the light blue/dark blue car.

My S is Black/black and the Black Walnut wood I've got ought not to clash. We'll see.

 

Black Walnut is a magnificant wood. The knob should be beautiful. I'd love to see photos both in progress and when it's mounted.

If I had the skill, I'd carve one.

 

I recently got a Momo "short anatomico" knob in leather... Doesn't have the heat/cold problems of the factory one ('02) and also feels a lot nicer to me. Very understated look (moreso than the factory) that I also like a lot. Relatively inexpensive too, ~$50.

How are you going to attach it? Imbed a bolt or two? I wouldn't think the wood would be strong enough to tap and thread... Definitely want to see pictures when you're finished.

 

I like wood knobs as I have one in my sedan. However, you really need to have other like materials around it. A wood knob in the S2000 doesn't sound right and would not fit into the utilitarian look of the vehicle. Perhaps if heat is the issue, you can try for some sort of leather wrapped knob or use Rick's knob sock. At the end of the day of course it is your car and you should put in it whatever you like. You bought it after all. If you do go through with it, I too would like to see pics.

 

I've been toying w/ the idea of laminating the black walnut w/ another lighter wood, or even aluminum sheets. If the sheets were thin enough, that still should overcome the heat/cold matter.

As to skill, I have little, but I do have access to a lathe. Between my Dremel tool and the lathe, I ought to have a shot at it.

Re mounting, yes - I thought I'd glue in two or three appropriate bolts so that it would thread on to the shifter.

 

Please post pics - I'd love to see it.

 

Well, right now I'm all talk. Hope to get really going at it next week or so. It'll be something that will take a while, since I find that taking the wood off is a hell of a lot easier than putting it back on.

As to pics - I'd love to, but someone will have to tell me how or let me email them to them so they can post. Clearly no hurry at the moment.