Part of background missing on glass dial - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dick Glennon · 24th Feb 2013, 5:55 pm

Hi again, I have part of the background colour (blue) missing on a glass dial. Could anyone please tell me what sort of paint I could use that would not attack the surrounding finish?

Thanks, Dick.

Mike Phelan · 25th Feb 2013, 9:59 am

Anything other than cellulose ought to be OK, Dick. How about Humbrol from a model shop?

Nickthedentist · 25th Feb 2013, 10:05 am

The usual advice applies, Dick... try some potentially suitable paint on a bit which wouldn't show, i.e. on the extreme edge which is masked by the cabinet.

N.

Audio1950 · 25th Feb 2013, 6:47 pm

Artist's acrylic, followed by a coat of acrylic varnish. Water soluble until varnished, so plenty of chances to get it right. Worked for me! A word of caution, though. I used to be a porcelain restorer, and the hardest colour to get right is blue, no matter what type of paint is used. In fact, I doubt you will never get it right! If you manage to get exactly the right shade during daylight, it will look purple under artificial light, and if you get the right shade under artificial light, it will appear black in daylight. You will need to get two or three different tubes of blue and a black and a white, to hopefully get the right shade. Good luck!

Barry

24th Feb 2013, 5:55 pm	#1
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Part of background missing on glass dial Hi again, I have part of the background colour (blue) missing on a glass dial. Could anyone please tell me what sort of paint I could use that would not attack the surrounding finish? Thanks, Dick.

25th Feb 2013, 9:59 am	#2
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Part of background missing on glass dial Anything other than cellulose ought to be OK, Dick. How about Humbrol from a model shop? __________________ Mike.

25th Feb 2013, 10:05 am	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: Part of background missing on glass dial The usual advice applies, Dick... try some potentially suitable paint on a bit which wouldn't show, i.e. on the extreme edge which is masked by the cabinet. N.

25th Feb 2013, 6:47 pm	#4
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,761	Re: Part of background missing on glass dial Artist's acrylic, followed by a coat of acrylic varnish. Water soluble until varnished, so plenty of chances to get it right. Worked for me! A word of caution, though. I used to be a porcelain restorer, and the hardest colour to get right is blue, no matter what type of paint is used. In fact, I doubt you will never get it right! If you manage to get exactly the right shade during daylight, it will look purple under artificial light, and if you get the right shade under artificial light, it will appear black in daylight. You will need to get two or three different tubes of blue and a black and a white, to hopefully get the right shade. Good luck! Barry