Small Guage Surround

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject: Small Guage Surround

All my gauges at the helm but one have black surrounds. That one is white. Is there such a thing as a snap-on surround I could use so they will all be uniform?

ferret30 · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:02 pm Post subject:

I have a broken Faria/Suzuki 2" hours meter that you could try to get the bezel off of, but I think it's one piece. If it already has a bezel on it but the color's wrong, I'd just take it out, mask the glass and spray paint it matte back.

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:07 pm Post subject:

localboy · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:28 pm Post subject:

Hey Marty is it plastic? If so, you'll have a problem making the paint adhere. I've used the Krylon brand paint made for plasticw/ decent success. Rough it up if possible w/ a 3M green pad or similar, clean then paint.

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:16 pm Post subject:

OK Mark, will do. Thanks

TyBoo · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:22 pm Post subject:

Marty, if you had teenage girls in the house you would know that fingernail polish (yeah, no kidding - they make black!) is the way to go. It even comes with it's own brush.

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:11 am Post subject:

Mike- I checked with the grandaughter. She gave me a funny look. Do they sell fingernail polish at ACE hardware?

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:21 am Post subject:

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:10 am Post subject:

Grumpy · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:05 pm Post subject:

If you are "shy" Embarassed

about buying gothic nailpolish you can always try any arts & crafts store. They usually have a good supply of small pots of acrylic or other paints that work OK with plastic

M

rogerbum · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:21 pm Post subject:

Personally, I'd go with the advice of the Volkswagen restoration expert (Mark). From the pictures of his vehicles, he knows of what he speaks when it comes to painting. (But if you want to get that black nail polish just for yourself, I'm cool with that and we'll keep it secret). Laughing

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:35 pm Post subject:

I love these technical discussions.

ferret30 · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

Both my old and new gauge have metal bezels. If not, the plastic-specific spray mentioned sounds good.

I would imagine it could be difficult to get an even coat of paint using nail polish. I've tried using it for bicycle frame touch-ups and it works ok, but it's not smooth. It's a lot easier to get an even coat with spray than with a brush IMO.

Another possibility is a paint pen used for plastic models. Testors?

dotnmarty · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject:

The bezels are plastic. I went with L'oreal Ravens breath. It took two coats but did work OK. Thanks for the thoughtful responses everybody.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:41 pm Post subject:

Marty-

Next time, put the gauge in a lathe, drill press, or whatever to turn it automatically at low rpm, then apply the paint with the brush while the bezel spins.

Should help eliminate brush strokes and other problems from fast drying paint.

Joe. Teeth