When customizing your car, creating a handmade wooden shifter knob adds character and beauty to the interior. Since you use the shifter knob every time you drive your car, you'll get to enjoy and appreciate your work every time you drive. Consider using a piece of special hardwood for this project. Some people have used wood from a tree in their yard to add special meaning to the knob. Walnut and ash work well and look classy once they're polished up.
Unscrew the old shifter knob and measure the bolt it was attached to so you know how large to make the threads on your new shifter knob.
Use a table saw to cut the hardwood into a block that is the height and width you desire for the finished shifter knob. Turn the block upside down. Insert the appropriate tap from your tap-and-die set into your drill, and sink it into the wood about 1 inch. If you want the knob to sit lower, drill slightly deeper.
Turn the block over and roughly cut the shape you want with a band saw. Use a table belt sander to finish shaping the knob. The knob should fit well in the driver's hand. As the knob takes shape, use sandpaper of finer and finer grit, which smooths the wood and gives a refined finish.
Stain the wood by rubbing wood stain onto it with a soft cloth. For a richer color, apply several coats of stain, waiting two to three hours between applications.
Apply two coats of varnish to the shifter knob to protect it from the oils on your hand. Apply the varnish with a soft-bristled paintbrush and wait at least six hours between coats.
Screw the new wooden shifter knob onto the bolt in your car, and ensure that it's positioned correctly.
