|
Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
|
Thread Tools |
24th Nov 2003, 7:49 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: County Down, Northern Ireland, UK.
Posts: 275
|
Flaking paint on dial glass.
I am presently restoring a small Pilot Little Maestro model T105 (the last in the Little Maestro series, I believe). Even though this is a relatively late set (1956), I noticed that the paint on the dial glass was bubbling quite badly and starting to lift in places. In an effort to stop it getting any worse, I have tried spraying the printed surface with two coats of a clear matt lacquer (Electrolube Acrylic Protective Lacquer, RS part no. 409-0956). This is a flexible acrylic, solvent based lacquer meant as a protectant for printed circuit boards. My reasoning was that it would soak into any breaks in raised areas of paint and cement it to the glass and also form a protective transparent film over it.
My main worry was that it would dissolve the existing paint and make matters worse, so I tried a small corner first. While it did soften the paint, it did not make it smudge or appear to damage it and the lacquer also filled any small gaps between the glass and printing, which is what I wanted. It also dried quickly. As a safeguard, I also scanned the dial glass so that at least I could try and make a replacement if all else failed. I know how fragile the printing is on some dial glasses, so maybe I was just lucky to get away with it on this occasion!! Has anyone else tried a similar approach and were they successful or unsucessful? |
3rd Feb 2004, 4:37 pm | #2 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
Re: Flaking paint on dial glass.
if it is flaking it usually means the solvent in the paint is drying out and the paint is reverting to its original powder form. Your treatment should work well in this situation.
However if its is bubbling it could mean the paint is absorbing something from the air such as moisture.. or reacting with a contaminant that has been on the glass since day one, such as natural oil from the hand of the assembler. This might not work so well with your treatment unless you have thouroughly cleaned it first with something like isopropanol alcohol. |
3rd Feb 2004, 5:06 pm | #3 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: UK - Midlands
Posts: 102
|
Re: Flaking paint on dial glass.
You could reverse print this scan onto water slide transfer paper....
http://www.g8biw.freeserve.co.uk/dials/Pilot105.jpg Rich |