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Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing For help with cabinet or chassis restoration (non-electrical), please leave a message here. |
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20th Aug 2015, 9:50 am | #1 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 48
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Switch / knob lettering
Hi all
I need to repair the cream coloured lettering on some bakelite switches etc. I tried carefully using paint with the idea of wiping off the excess with solvent, but because the Bakelite is absorbent to some degree (and the surface is quite rough) it has also coloured the switch. Any body had success with other ways? The original lettering seems to be soft and easily damaged, in fact it washed out with soapy water, might this be wax? I remember there was a post a good while ago about using special crayons made just for this purpose, anyone know where to get them from? Thanks Trevor |
20th Aug 2015, 12:16 pm | #2 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK.
Posts: 2,801
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
Was this the one
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=775468 |
20th Aug 2015, 2:14 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,554
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
I slightly under fill the lettering with Tip-Ex and then carefully add a fine coat of spirit based wood varnish after the Tip-Ex has dried.
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20th Aug 2015, 3:16 pm | #4 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cottesmore, East Midlands, UK.
Posts: 858
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
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20th Aug 2015, 8:04 pm | #5 |
Triode
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 48
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
Thanks for the replies. Great results with the tipex there. I've used this before on Murphy knobs and it worked well, but decided not to chance it on these ones because they seem so porous and it would be difficult to clean back off.
Many thanks for the links. The soft wax sticks seem to be the way to go for these knobs, reasonably priced too. Cheers Trevor |
20th Aug 2015, 9:48 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,326
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
Perhaps you could varnish the knobs first so the wax, or whatever you use, will not soak into the porous surface.
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21st Aug 2015, 1:22 pm | #7 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Cottesmore, East Midlands, UK.
Posts: 858
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
Sure. There are all sorts of other things you can use the soft wax sticks for as well. If you shave bits off different coloured sticks into a teaspoon you can gently warm it with a lighter or hot air gun to mix a wax of any colour you need for filling small holes in areas that don't get much wear and tear.
You can also use it for filling the grub-screw holes in your radio knobs - useful if you have an ac/dc (ie live) chassis radio. Cheers, Frank |
4th Sep 2015, 10:48 am | #8 |
Diode
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 7
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Re: Switch / knob lettering
I've had success using antique white acrylic paint on some old Bakelite knobs. I cleaned out the engraving with a small tool, then dabbed on some of the acrylic into the engraving. Let it dry. Once dry I rub off the excess with a damp microfibre cloth. Since the acrylic is water soluble it's easy to remove without any thinners. It perfectly fine for indoor use. What's then left it the filled in acrylic paint in the engraving.
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