• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

chrome around gauges

midnightrider1818

Well-Known Member
Local time
3:01 AM
Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
368
Reaction score
12
Location
Mid West
i see alot of the instrument clusters i am looking at have a chrome strip around the gauges. what do you guys use. i was thinking of silver fingernail paint or something but that wouldnt be chrome. what do you guys use ??
 
Most guys around here use chrome as in they have someone rechrome the plastic
 
Yes, someone painted mine silver and it looks like crap! Saving up to get my dash properly chromed.
 
I'm one of the broke one's that can't afford the rechrome yet. I masked everything off after stripping and cleaning the bezels, sprayed the satin black plastic paint and then removed the tape and used Testors Model Masters Chrome Silver and a high quality brush to lay down the "chrome".
Admittedly it doesn't look as good as the real deal but 100x better than the mess I started with.
If you try it that way, make sure you have a very steady hand or it's not worth trying.
PM me if you want a pic or two.
 
As per my experience Recently I have used the silver felt pen at walmart, it worked awesome and did not have to tape anything up.It makes a silver marker two coats works perfect.you can also get sheets of chrome leaf from a hobby store. i've used it on car models..stuff is great, goes on super easy and cuts very easy
 
i see alot of the instrument clusters i am looking at have a chrome strip around the gauges. what do you guys use. i was thinking of silver fingernail paint or something but that wouldnt be chrome. what do you guys use ??

Aside from having the part chromed , then taped and detailed , there is no "correct " solution. What I have done in the past for people on a serious budget is use alclad http://www.alclad2.com/ paint. It is relatively inexpensive when compared to re-chroming , and is fairly convincing, it won't fool judges at a concours show, but it'll get most everyone else ... hope this helps
`
 
tell me what kind of marker pen this is, im about to do the same thing to mine, thanks!!
Kid
 
sharpie makes a "silver" type pen.. works pretty well ...
 
I used a silver paint pen from Office Max in my 72 beater
 

Attachments

  • DCP_8033.jpg
    DCP_8033.jpg
    169.4 KB · Views: 692
  • DCP_8099.jpg
    DCP_8099.jpg
    154.4 KB · Views: 672
I'm liking that ACLAD stuff and for $7 not a bad deal. Good thread nice info guys. And Mr G's price's look REAL reasonable with exchange I will do that for my arm rest base's etc.
 
I hope to complete my reassembly tomorrow. I have tried the liquoid paint. the paint pen and even the fingernail polish. Last year when I was starting to work on it I really liked the paint, but after a while it did not grow on me rather it was kind of ganwing on me. every time I looked down I could see that it was close but not right.
Finally this time I went to mr G and got the parts. yep they were a bit of cash but they were worth it. I di think that the west coast folks might do a little better only because they coat thier product and you will not need to be so careful. But you can save some bucks if you want to do your own brown and black paint G has lost his painter, so all chrome will soon be all there is.
He does have every dadgum fastener in the world there. I'll tell ya the man has some nuts... and screws too. I got some key blanks for a buck or two no ebay crap pricing. He ain't but one old man who has done cars all his life way back near the wrecker yards and his two hombres, they are great guys in the back. They are out in the back building sanding polishing chroming keeping warm with the old gas stove the old way, no huge conglomerate there just a few old timers busting it to eek out a living and helping the rebuilder.
My new chroms is miles ahead of any of the other things I have tried.
I have learned that "good enough" is not and " that will do" won't
bite the bullet, take the time and spend the money, You'll be happy in the long run and do it only once
 
yeah. that looks damn good. i might try that out. :headbang:


I asked my wife to pick one of these up today, The one she got is a Sharpie, metallic silver, I haven't tried it on my dash yet, but i did put some on a model car window trim, i think its going to work great.. Thanks again to moparmarks...
 
That does look good.

Next question, what is the color code of the blue on the light and wiper swtich knobs?
 
What a great idea, who knew a paint pen would solve redoing the edging on the dash, emblems, and tail light bezels!!!

I got a Krylon Silver Leafing pen with wide beveled edge, here is what my Roadrunner dash emblem looks like.



Now if i could only figure out the correct colors to return the brightness to his faded face!
 

Attachments

  • roadrunner dash emblem.jpg
    roadrunner dash emblem.jpg
    86.1 KB · Views: 476
Last edited:
when i used it, i found that
you want to try do it with one swipe around the gauge
then it won't leave any lap marks
if you go back over it then it won't look as good
001-12.jpg
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top