Julian Bradley Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 I'm probably being thick, but (a) is there a remedy for badly faded switchgear on the dashboard, save new switches? (b) am considering permanent removal of spare wheel - unfortunately, as it has been there 12 years, everyone can see my unsightly ring (as it were) when it has been removed. Tried T cut. Is there a received wisdom about this (save respraying the back panel)? 🙆🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 Dont try & clean them with turpentine as it makes them fade & go grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted February 2, 2003 Leadership Team Share Posted February 2, 2003 I tried everything to clean them up and then seal the surface again. However, nothing lasted more than a couple of weeks. A new set is not that expensive - I asked the wife and she bought me a set for Christmas - since then, no problems. Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 Excellent. The solution is simple we all ask Michael's wife for a new set of switches Chris Alston 1800 Supersprint - Loud and Proud 😬 ...well it only sounds fast officer 😳 Brooklands aeroscreens for those........flies in the teeth moments Drive it like you stole it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 Try to polish them with a Dremel and a cotton polishing disk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asklepios Posted February 2, 2003 Share Posted February 2, 2003 A light application of Vaseline. Decency precludes my making any attempt to link this to earlier postings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Bradley Posted February 2, 2003 Author Share Posted February 2, 2003 Vaseline! Might have a little bit lying around somewhere...thanks everyone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DohNut Posted February 3, 2003 Share Posted February 3, 2003 Halfords exterior trim cleaner works for me It won some awards from Auto Express - It does need re-application but if you persevere it does last sucseessivly longer and take less to bring the switched back to black, I believe it is silicon based so weather there is a huge difference beteween the products I dont know, I use it on the interior pannels / dash also, A tooth brush gets into all the nooks and crannies and texture of the dash, it is easier if you heat and bend the toothbrush so it bends the other way, unless your dashboard is in the same position as your mouth in which case the oral biased inclination of the Ennamel enhancement device is prefferable. Just thought - i have a spare electric tooth brush that may be pressed into service. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted February 3, 2003 Share Posted February 3, 2003 The older squarer ones go grey much faster. A good scratching from a nail sorts them out. The grey will return though. My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here Photo's of the year here Hants (North) and Berkshire Area club site here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Bradley Posted February 3, 2003 Author Share Posted February 3, 2003 I think I'll do it with a toothbrush (& Halfrauds sil.), then the vaseline, just because it sounds so whacky. & I expect some funny looks at Boots this Saturday.... This is only because I'm getting nearly new black S type seats installed, & want the rest of the car to look OK. Thin end of the wedge on a slippery slope towards being sad git.... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Kirk Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Does anyone know why turps makes the plastic go grey? Is it because a deposit forms on the plastic because of the turps, or is it that the turps has somehow "damaged" the plastic? The reason for asking is that I have accidentally got cellulose thinners on the plastic case of my computer - it's turned an area of the plastic from black to whitish - which reminded me of the same whitish greyness of the switches on my own dashboard.... PS does anyone know whether how the fixes suggested in the thread above work - e.g. do they clean the deposits off the plastic, coat it, or somehow reverse the damage done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan7 Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 Turps, white spirit, nail varnish remover thinners, etc actually react with the plastic & create a "new" covering to the plastic that can't be removed. Kinda like "plastic oxide". Ultraviolet light from the sun does the same thing but takes a bit longer. All the remedies mentioned above only hide the problem & would neeed constant applications to keep the switches black. Exterior trim cleaners usually contain very fine abrasives to help remove the "plastic oxide" as well as being silicon based to protect the black surface being attacked but again this will only work for so long as it gradually wears off. How do you get the dead flys off your teeth....... 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrino Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 [thread hijack] And if anyone's got a nifty way of tarting up the gauge bezels, please let me know! [/thread hijack] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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