Round Shiter Knob Rehab

[opus10583]

Hi,

Anyone have any recommendations for repainting the numbers on the stock shifter knob?

...Enamel paint pen, every other week?

Thanks,
Mark

[Exit98]

Nope, but when you figure it out let me know.

[opus10583]

Nope, but when you figure it out let me know.

Hi Doug,

My first thought, and what will be my first attempt: White nail polish.

Thanks,
Mark

[4uall]

here's a thought, if it is wood then perhaps a wood burning kit with a metal template

[opus10583]

here's a thought, if it is wood then perhaps a wood burning kit with a metal template

Hi,

The stock knob I'm referring to is black plastic with white-filled embossed numerals in the shift pattern.

Anyone know of one with Roman numerals that would fit the FIAT?

Thanks,
Mark

[4uall]

ohhh sounds like it would look pretty sweet. Sadly mine looks like someone beat it because it owed them money


Shifter Panel removed by itzebtze, on Flickr

[Razooli]

Hi,
Anyone have any recommendations for repainting the numbers on the stock shifter knob?
...Enamel paint pen, every other week?
Thanks,
Mark

From Pete Angel on Mirafiori a few years ago...

27161 Tue 26th Feb 2008 08:28pm good tip (Pete Angel (Colo Sprgs,CO))
Daniel Reinhardt (Hamilton, IL) wrote:
: I don't know what the general process for repainting of the #s is, but I have
: these really cool wite-out "pens" that basically have a ball-point-like
: roller on them, and would make a job like that freaking easy. I use it to
: write my initials on stuff at work all the time.
: check it out:
: http://tinyurl.com/37w97d
Thanks for the tip, Daniel. I have tried the pen and there are two things that
made me search for an alternative. First, though somewhat durable, the white-
out doesn't hold up as long as I would like. And second, the tip of the pen
isn't fine enough for the filling just the lettering on the shifter knob (plus
my hands aren't steady enough).

What I do is soak the knob in full strength Castrol purple cleaner. This
loosens most of the old paint. Then i pick out the remaining paint with
toothpicks or an awl. Next, I sand, then lightly buff the shift knob with
polishing compound on a buffing wheel to eliminate marring and signs of aging.
The buffing also helps on the next step.

Using testor's white enamel model paint with a cotton swap, the numbers get
flooded with paint. After drying for a few hours, I soak a piece of white bond
paper in mineral spirits and lightly burnish the surface of the knob. This
removes all of the white paint on the surround areas above the lettering
impressions. The polishing step above helps prevent the paint from penetrating
and being absorbed into the black surface.

Finally, after a final dry, the knob is polished using silk or nylon with
polishing cream. The fine, tightly woven cloth prevents pulling the paint out
of the impressions while polishing the surrounding areas.

nothing to it, really. It's just one of the those filler tasks to keep from
idling on less useful stuff. Steven Walker used to refurbish the early black
shift knobs and i always wondered how it was done.

It took a lot of trial and error to discover a process that looks right, lasts
long, and won't destroy the part. Flat surfaces like those on some wiper/light
switches is much easier, but basically the same process.

thanks,
Pete

[opus10583]

Hi Lynn,

Thanks!

I'd thought of model paint as well, the paint pen idea.

The prep steps here give me a lot to think about.

Mark

[opus10583]

I'd like to find something like this, in white on black:


Fairfield Concours 9-21-08 sm 112 by opus10583

Ciao,
Mark

[Weelan]

That'd be pretty cool. pretty different for sure.

[narfire]

I re-furbished one a couple of years ago to see what it would look like. I used white-out (still sell the stuff for some reason) and just painted it in there. After drying, I took a cloth that was damp with brake cleaner and keeping the cloth tight, wiped away the excess on the black ball. The white in the recess more or less stayed there and it looked ok I guess.
Chris

[Weelan]

Along the lines of refurbishing shifter knobs, do y'all have experience fixing the knob's attachment to the shaft? the plastic part that the screw attaches to is broken and there's nothing to hold the knob to the shaft. Any ideas? Maybe just flew a nuts in there?

[kustom]

I have nothing useful to say.... other than I'm glad my car doesn't have a SHITER KNOB. - I'll stick to the stock knob that I already have. Sorry to be a smart ass.

[4uall]

I have nothing useful to say.... other than I'm glad my car doesn't have a SHITER KNOB. - I'll stick to the stock knob that I already have. Sorry to be a smart ass.

photo/s?

[kustom]

I don't have any photos of my SHIFTER knob... I certainly would have, if it was a SHITER knob like we have all been commenting on.