Dye for Spridget Knobs - Restoring dash

[Jim_Gruber]

Someone posted a note on one of the forums within the last few days about a dye used for restoring Bakelite Knobs turning them black again. Company out of Northwest, Oregon or Washington. Dye comes in 2 sizes - up to 12 knobs for 12.95 and 25 for $19.95. Directions call for paint on, let soak in, buff the next day.


Unfortunately I forgot to save the link. Anyone familiar with this stuff. Thanks.

 

[Keith_M]

Black shoe polish works well.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

This stuff was better. Comes in little plastic bottle. Dye soaks into the pores same as original colorization process. Thanks Keith

 

[HealeyRick]

Is this it? https://www.pensburymanor.com/pensburymanor/Pensbury_Garage.html Been meaning to try it, let us know how it works out.

 

[smaceng]

I used the pensburymanor stuff on my BE original knobs, followed by white paint on the letter. It worked very well and I would recommend it!
Scott in CA

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Thanks that's what I was referring to. Now to bookmark it do I can find it a year from now when I need some if this stuff. Thanks guys.

 

[Whitephrog]

I have been successful in using a white craft paint on the letters, lightly sanding the knob with a high grit paper until the white was only where I wanted it then spaying the knob with clear coat.

 

[TulsaFred]

Is this good for the steering wheel as well?

 

[Rut]

Fred,
Ive never tried it on the original steering wheel since I believe it's hard rubber and not Bakelite. I cleaned mine, filled the cracks with JB Weld, sanded and primed and repainted. I don't know how well it will hold up since it's not on the car yet.
Rut

 

[Jim_Gruber]

The steering column surround responds to boiled linseed oil I have read. And paint for steering wheel. This stuff is for knobs.

 

[TulsaFred]

I have two steering wheels, one is in great shape, though showing it's age with dull color and some remnant of a previous paint, I think.

The other I got cheap and was cracked pretty bad. I dremeled the cracks and beveled them then filled with bondo, sanded gently and primed. Looks great, almost as good as the "good" wheel. Been sitting for a year without and cracking or other deterioration, though I haven't installed it on a car. I think I'll paint this one with a 2K urethane black paint.

Just not sure how to handle the good one. Maybe some shoe polish, but I'll need to get the little bit of remaining paint off without messing up the surface.

 

[Rut]

Fred,
I used Duplicolor primer and a semi gloss top coat and it's been over a couple of years. The paint still looks good, but I used some plastic primer in a spray can a couple of weeks ago and was very happy with the results. I really don't know the composition of our steering wheels, but I've been told it's a hard rubber...I wonder if the plastic primer would be good for that?
Rut

 

[TulsaFred]

I don't know, I tried some rattle can paint designed for plastic a while back with terrible results. Rattle can in general has been pretty bad for me as far as durability. I think 2K is far better, though obviously not nearly as convenient.