Repairing HP moving coil meter "peeling"

[MrBungle]

Does anyone know a good approach for repairing the peeling meter faces on HP moving coil meters? I bought an HP 3400A today which needs some work doing on it. It hasn't lost much if any of the legend so I'd like to try and prevent it from getting worse.

[Electronpusher0]

I had the same problem with an HP distortion meter. I took the scale off the meter and scanned it. I then imported it into Libre office draw and drew a replacement on another layer above, deleted the imported pdf layer, printed it and stuck the print onto the scale after rubbing off as much of the peeling layer as I could.

A tip when using Libre office Draw, it imports pdf drawings as editable segments which is very powerful if you want to move or delete sections but when using the pdf as a template select the whole drawing and group it, then protect the group against editing.

Peter

[ajgriff]

Trouble is if you try to flatten the curly bits before fixing with clear lacquer you'll probably end up with more of a mess than you started with, at least that's what would happen if I tried it! I agree with Peter in that the best solution is to make a reproduction using the software tools now available to us.

Alan

[The Philpott]

I managed to stabilise some flaking paint on an old scale plate (however it had not curled up as such) using a clear acrylic lacquer automotive touch-up pen. Some of these lacquers dry very quickly though.

(crossed with Alan's response)
Dave

[MrBungle]

Thanks all. I’ll look into these approaches

[FIXITNOW]

I tend to mist them with an aerosol can of lacquer, a few thin mist coats to set it in place.

[factory]

Another possible method here;
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...0&postcount=48