Repainting gauge faces ??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 7
From: issum Germany
Repainting gauge faces ??
Hello,
has anyone tried to repaint gauge faces (small gauges for example) ?
Repainting the background of the faces is not the problem,
but the numbers and lines !
I tried to paint the numbers using a very small brush. You may know what happend.
I don´t want to use any overlays offered at the auction site. The faces should look like original after repainting, with white or light green numbers.
Are there any templates available to spray the gauge faces ?
Thanks Uli
has anyone tried to repaint gauge faces (small gauges for example) ?
Repainting the background of the faces is not the problem,
but the numbers and lines !
I tried to paint the numbers using a very small brush. You may know what happend.
I don´t want to use any overlays offered at the auction site. The faces should look like original after repainting, with white or light green numbers.
Are there any templates available to spray the gauge faces ?
Thanks Uli
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Bad idea. No way to keep the lines straight enough to look right with a brush.
Best idea is to just replace the dial faces...but you have to remove rivets and put new ones back in. For the amount of trouble it is, you may just want to buy new replacement gauges.
Curious: Why did you need to repaint the numbers/faces?
Best idea is to just replace the dial faces...but you have to remove rivets and put new ones back in. For the amount of trouble it is, you may just want to buy new replacement gauges.
Curious: Why did you need to repaint the numbers/faces?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I've made some speedometer faces, using rub on dry transfer lettering. I started clean, by sanding and painting the face satin black. Then the numbers, followed by satin clear. Dug up the number sheets, and have some made by Woodland Scenics, Mecanorma, and Datak Corp. Some Datak's I have, are even full face gauge patterns, minus the numbers. I used to find these at graphic supply stores and hobby shops, but not many of these around any more. Surely, you can locate some on the internet.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 7
From: issum Germany
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 7
From: issum Germany
I've made some speedometer faces, using rub on dry transfer lettering. I started clean, by sanding and painting the face satin black. Then the numbers, followed by satin clear. Dug up the number sheets, and have some made by Woodland Scenics, Mecanorma, and Datak Corp. Some Datak's I have, are even full face gauge patterns, minus the numbers. I used to find these at graphic supply stores and hobby shops, but not many of these around any more. Surely, you can locate some on the internet.
Uli
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi uli,
I'm sorry, but I don't think there's anyone who can reface the gauge faces to look like the originals unless they have silkscreens set up to do all the different faces. If they have that ability, they're going to want to sell you new faces, not fool with yours.
Regards,
Alan
I'm sorry, but I don't think there's anyone who can reface the gauge faces to look like the originals unless they have silkscreens set up to do all the different faces. If they have that ability, they're going to want to sell you new faces, not fool with yours.
Regards,
Alan
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 7
From: Wake Forest NC
Whitegauges sells overlays. I used the stock color. They can do minor custom work (ie: Different redline on tach)
http://www.whitegauges.net/products/...ce-Gauges.html
http://www.whitegauges.net/products/...ce-Gauges.html
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: NW sub of chicago IL
OK the only way to get it to look decent is to take a square toothpick and use that instead of a brush with a lot of practice it will look good enough that some one sitting in the seats will never notice. cut the tooth pick any way you want that will make this easier. This is commonly used on model cars to paint the tiny gauges, radios, and other small details. as a side note, so much as touching the original white paint on our gauges will smear it.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
I`m not saying this will work for you, or for smaller gages.... I just want to offer it as an alternative that worked for me a few years ago.
Sorry I do not have any pictures to show how this was done.
I was working on an old Pontiac, on which there were no re-pop gage faces available. The faces were a dull gun metal gray with white lettering, in very bad shape.
I took them to a shop that does laser engraving. He took high res pics of them, and put the dial patterns in his computer.
I then sanded them down, re-painted them, (but had to wet sand them to remove the gloss, so they looked more like the original).
I returned them to the shop, and he applied a sticky back film. Then, he lasered the design into the film.
I took them back home again, sprayed them white, and removed the film when the white paint dried.
They turned out great!
Sorry I do not have any pictures to show how this was done.
I was working on an old Pontiac, on which there were no re-pop gage faces available. The faces were a dull gun metal gray with white lettering, in very bad shape.
I took them to a shop that does laser engraving. He took high res pics of them, and put the dial patterns in his computer.
I then sanded them down, re-painted them, (but had to wet sand them to remove the gloss, so they looked more like the original).
I returned them to the shop, and he applied a sticky back film. Then, he lasered the design into the film.
I took them back home again, sprayed them white, and removed the film when the white paint dried.
They turned out great!
Supporting Lifetime Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 454
Likes: 4
From: Lovettsville Virginia
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 7
From: issum Germany
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 7
From: issum Germany
I`m not saying this will work for you, or for smaller gages.... I just want to offer it as an alternative that worked for me a few years ago.
Sorry I do not have any pictures to show how this was done.
I was working on an old Pontiac, on which there were no re-pop gage faces available. The faces were a dull gun metal gray with white lettering, in very bad shape.
I took them to a shop that does laser engraving. He took high res pics of them, and put the dial patterns in his computer.
I then sanded them down, re-painted them, (but had to wet sand them to remove the gloss, so they looked more like the original).
I returned them to the shop, and he applied a sticky back film. Then, he lasered the design into the film.
I took them back home again, sprayed them white, and removed the film when the white paint dried.
They turned out great!
Sorry I do not have any pictures to show how this was done.
I was working on an old Pontiac, on which there were no re-pop gage faces available. The faces were a dull gun metal gray with white lettering, in very bad shape.
I took them to a shop that does laser engraving. He took high res pics of them, and put the dial patterns in his computer.
I then sanded them down, re-painted them, (but had to wet sand them to remove the gloss, so they looked more like the original).
I returned them to the shop, and he applied a sticky back film. Then, he lasered the design into the film.
I took them back home again, sprayed them white, and removed the film when the white paint dried.
They turned out great!
But I think those patterns made by the shop will be expensive !?
[/IMG]
I think it might liven up my all black interior a little bit. Any complaints with how it turned out and would you do it again?