21 replies to this topic

[Heath]

Like basically every Torana... the white symbols on my dash knobs for the cigarette lighter, wiper switch, etc. have worn off.

 

Could someone advise me on a good method of touching up the symbols? 

 

Do you just get your hands on a really small paint brush, and a particular type of paint that has good opacity? Looking for something that's going to have decent longevity ideally.

Edited by Heath, 18 August 2020 - 10:59 AM.

[Rockoz]

When I worked at Otis elevators I watched the production of the control panels.

They were engraved, then generally the engraved area was filled with colour.

Most panels were engraved, covered with the appropriate colour, then the excess linished off once dry.

There were panels that were meant to remain polished, and ole mate used to use thinners to gently remove the excess.

They used either a hardened 2 pack colour, or in some cases just enamel.

But he generally left them in a warm place for a week or so to cure up as much as possible before rubbing them down.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[Heath]

Haha well linishing off the spillage works a lot better when it's a not a knob with important grain on the front face.

[hanra]

I just used a fine paint brush and a steady hand.

[hanra]

.

Attached Files

•  1AA1CCFA-D260-42B0-B34A-4E86AB27D488.jpeg   88.98K   4 downloads
•  50960986-B4D4-4277-A1BA-31DB032298F8.jpeg   83.82K   6 downloads

[claysummers]

Steady hand indeed. Think they would have been screen printed or similar originally. The embossed method works well with some items and you can simply wipe off excess paint with a rag and thinners when tack dry. Used this on the lion symbols on seatbelt buckles and hubcaps. Also a negative version on early horn buttons, grille badges and assorted plastic dials and badges.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[snuff1966]

I tried a couple of times to paint mine but they looked like crap, so I bought repo ones. Olden1 does them all bar the choke

[Rockoz]

Haha well linishing off the spillage works a lot better when it's a not a knob with important grain on the front face.

 

Thats where judicious use of a cloth and thinners can work.

Actually should say solvent rather than thinners.

Need to work out which one wont damage the knob.

Hint to working that out.

Classify your solvents as polar or non polar.

Then work out which is the least aggressive.

 

Some things will be affected by a polar solvent, but not a non polar, and vice versa.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[claysummers]

Wax and grease remover?

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[Cook]

I have no idea but could you draw over the black surround with something like crayon before you paint them? Cheers Ron

[Rockoz]

If you have a steady hand and a lot of patience, you could possibly use a syringe.

Chemists generally stock the syringes, but you might need to convince them to give you the needle with it.

A fine needle and let gravity and surface tension work for you.

But I would try the paint and solvent thing. You might need to practice on a spare though.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[308 Sunbird]

G-day Heath I used a fine brush to deliver the bulk paint then "moved" it around and into

the tight corners with a sharp pointer.

[Heath]

Cool. Thanks for the advice, gents.

Any particular paint worth trying? 

[arrimar]

Try Tamiya model paint from a hobby shop.
Small quantity and perfect for plastic I guess.

[Shiney005]

They should have some fine brushes as well.

[Heath]

Well, I neglected to re-visit this thread and just found some time to have a go the other day.

 

Had an old Aussie Export enamel white paint aerosol can lying around, sprayed some into the lid/dust cover, and used the end of a scribe to carefully drop the paint into the subtle recesses the knobs to fill them with white colour.

 

Very basic, low effort solution. Achieved a good looking result... How well it wears, I guess I'll find out. Not difficult to re-do though, fortunately.

[UCgazman]

Good ole Export Enamel - when you need to spray paint but dont want to spend more than $3.50 lol

[claysummers]

I love how it says not for automotive use in bold type on the can.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

[S pack]

 Krylon Introduces the First Brush-On Paint for Plastic, Fusion for Plastic Krylon.png   264.97K   3 downloads

[Heath]

Nice. When it wears off, I'll replace it with that stuff.

 

And yeah, Aussie Export is the absolute shittest stuff. But I'm in Stage 4 lockdown and I found a > decade old can in an old box of crap from the garden shed at the parent's house, lol. That'll do!

Edited by Heath, 23 September 2020 - 12:14 PM.

[rodomo]

I've got some gauges from that Ol' garden shed here for you.

[Heath]

If you're saying what I think you're saying... I have been trying to figure out what the hell happened to those for about a decade.