aluminum dash project (help removing chrome from plastic)

[htchevyii]

Heather's Spider has a beautiful Denise built mahogany dash, but I wanted someting a little racey for this one. I'm making one out of a roadsign, (gotta make up for Cali's new taxes & I'm still waiting for my refund check). If I didn't pay $56.00 for hole saws I'd be in good shape. I need to dissassemble the gauges, (how did they get so dirty inside) and paint the center plastic before I can go further. Has anyone found a chemical that removes the "chrome" from the plastic? I spent about an hour with a razor blade and got all the loose stuff off, what a p.i.t.a. I Spent about 5 hours over a two week period getting all the crap off the tail lamp bezels, before painting them with Mike's famous wrinkle paint, but there's got to be a better way!

[Tappy]

you may use a chemical paint stripper , dont let it be on to long do , but the plastic will last longer than the paint ...

[htchevyii]

Well, I finally got all the gauges cleaned and reassembled, which one goes in the center? Yes, I deleted the clock.

[So Cal Mark]

such a clean hand!

[TulsaSpider]

Wow I'd be concerned about being blinded when the sun hits that!

[htchevyii]

Wow I'd be concerned about being blinded when the sun hits that!

I live in N. Cal., there isn't any sun!

[pope]

The way you have them is correct. Gas on the left, water in the center and oil on the right.

[htchevyii]

such a clean hand!

Today was a easy day, I spent it taking apart the gauges and cleaning them. I did stab my hand with a screwdriver a few times while prying off the bezels.

[fiasco]

Trey - as far as the center bezel is concerned, I had no luck with mine. Couldn't get the old chrome and black off enough to satisfy. I made a replacement with wood for the frame, mahogany insert panels (deleted all the warning lights, but you wouldn't have to if you didn't want to), and a strip of adhesive "chrome" trim for the center section. I painted the frame with black crinkle paint. It looks pretty good with the darker mahogany I veneered the dash inserts with.

If you end up unhappy with your stock bezel, let me know and I can whip you up a frame, and you can put whatever inserts in that you want. I think your aluminum top and bottom would look great with wood in the middle, just as a little nod to tradition.



-- se

[So Cal Mark]

a few puncture wounds are good for letting out the excess blood

[mbouse]

as previously stated, watch what chemicals you use on plastic. i'd prefer hearing you used some 000 steel wool rather than chemicals.

don't forget to check your specific crackle paint to see if it will adhere to the plastic. you may have to precede the finish coat with some etching primer.

is it safe to presume that the ash tray is getting it's own coat of crackle? or, maybe a conversion to another use?
http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/T ... shtray.pdf

[htchevyii]

Trey - as far as the center bezel is concerned, I had no luck with mine. Couldn't get the old chrome and black off enough to satisfy. I made a replacement with wood for the frame, mahogany insert panels (deleted all the warning lights, but you wouldn't have to if you didn't want to), and a strip of adhesive "chrome" trim for the center section. I painted the frame with black crinkle paint. It looks pretty good with the darker mahogany I veneered the dash inserts with.

If you end up unhappy with your stock bezel, let me know and I can whip you up a frame, and you can put whatever inserts in that you want. I think your aluminum top and bottom would look great with wood in the middle, just as a little nod to tradition.



-- se

Wow, tht came out really good! I know I can salvage the bezel, I just didn't want to spend hours on it like on the tail lamp bezels. I think another hour with a razor blade might do it, but if not, I'll be in touch.

[htchevyii]

as previously stated, watch what chemicals you use on plastic. i'd prefer hearing you used some 000 steel wool rather than chemicals.

don't forget to check your specific crackle paint to see if it will adhere to the plastic. you may have to precede the finish coat with some etching primer.

is it safe to presume that the ash tray is getting it's own coat of crackle? or, maybe a conversion to another use?
http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/T ... shtray.pdf

Ya, I've got lot's to do! On the '82 I cut out the ashtray grille, but left the lid, so It's now a storage tray.

[mdrburchette]

Trey, do you have a dremel? Maybe one of those little scotch brite discs on the dremel will take the rest of the chrome off your bezel. Are you painting the bezel when you're done?

[htchevyii]

Trey, do you have a dremel? Maybe one of those little scotch brite discs on the dremel will take the rest of the chrome off your bezel. Are you painting the bezel when you're done?

Ya, I figured I'd paint it with Mike's crinkle paint.