Author Topic: Changing translucent plastic colour (Read 5633 times)

Rake · « **on:** Nov 2, 2005, 06:15PM »

Oh boy this is a tricky one. I figured this would be the best place for it, but i'm not sure, shrug. Ahwell. I always believe vinyl dyes are the way to go for colouring plastics - but I don't think it's the right stuff for this application.

I acquired a Bluebird tachometer, which goes to 9 instead of 8 (as such, it is concequently denser), and has different redline markings.

Now many people here would be aware of my red dash mod, where on the plastic guage faces I sandpapered the rear of them to get rid of the green stuff and expose a white translucent plastic. Using thin modelling paint, I painted under the numbers (red) on the white plastic to achieve the final colour which is seen at night. The bluebird tachometer face however, I use sandpaper to sand some of the stuff off, and sand some more, and some more, and the plastic is still green! Arrhh! I fear that all of the plastic is a translucent green, instead of white. In this state, I cannot change it's colour using my normal easy method.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I could get the green colouring out of the plastic to make it white?

Cheers!

Complexity · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 2, 2005, 06:18PM »

How about using an overlay, you could use a colour chart or something, to place something on top of the green to change the colour. This may be difficult and the overlay would have to be a heavy colour I think, but it's just an idea to get things rolling.

Trx · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 2, 2005, 06:29PM »

if u arent afraid of sanding it back .. why cant you replace the whole piece of flastic with a white piece? .. other wise .. there are some chemicals that will remove colours our of plastics .. fuel might work.. im not saying do it .. fuel might eat away ate ur plastic.. but theres a few idea's to hellp u start gettin thing together also

Rake · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 2, 2005, 07:00PM »

The 'chemical' idea is about the most logical that I can think of. I wondered earlier if there was some way i could, for example, 'bleach' the plastic to take the colour out.

You must realise though that the one piece of plastic has the tacho markings on it (Lines, numbers etc). It's the thing you look at as you drive! if I replaced it with a white piece of plsatic, my tacho would look like a blank sheet of paper. I can't just replace it with something else. If I could, I would.

Heres some pics so you can understand. Note this is a aussie speedo, but the same idea applies.

http://rgrant.communis.com.au/Stuff/CarDashMod/DashMod01.jpg
http://rgrant.communis.com.au/Stuff/CarDashMod/DashMod02.jpg
http://rgrant.communis.com.au/Stuff/CarDashMod/DashMod03.jpg

Trx · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 2, 2005, 08:56PM »

geeze mate now lookin at them picks i have no idea .. i wouldnt risk stuffing a gauge... hmmmmmmm maybe get a custom made one?

Rake · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 2, 2005, 09:02PM »

I don't know if there is anyone around who could do it though.

Jono · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 3, 2005, 02:41AM »

Is the plastic coloured? if it is, you've got no hope of chemically bleaching it out, you might get some of the dye off the surface, but there's still the stuff trapped within the plastic.

Is there green paint on the front side of the dials?

Rake · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 3, 2005, 09:25AM »

I think the plastic is coloured yes and it's precisely why I'm having a problem!

What do you mean about the 'green paint on the front side'..? The front is black with white numbers etc.

Jono · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 3, 2005, 03:04PM »

I meant there could be a layer of green paint under the white and black on the front of the plastic, but if the plastic is coloured then probably not.

You might be able to take a colour photocopy of the new tacho and put it against a piece of clear/white plastic and use that as your dial.

Rake · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 3, 2005, 07:59PM »

Quote from: Jono on Nov 3, 2005, 03:04PM

I meant there could be a layer of green paint under the white and black on the front of the plastic, but if the plastic is coloured then probably not.

You might be able to take a colour photocopy of the new tacho and put it against a piece of clear/white plastic and use that as your dial.

Hmm, maybe.

I think a non-plastic (Eg, paper) guage surface would look crap though. Having a different material would look poor and be obvious under numerous lighting conditions.

Jono · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 12:44AM »

Yeah, but what else can you do?

I just had a brainwave, say you use the photocopy idea, then put a layer of tint film over the dials so it isn't as obvious whether they're made of paper or plastic, then wire your dash lights up to your ignition so they're ghost-type gauges i.e. you can't see the numbers when they're off, but you can when they're on.

mike1988 · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 04:07AM »

hey just a suggestion but go to the wreckers and get a spair tach for your car that way if you screw up one you have a back up one to us

Complexity · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 08:28AM »

Speaking of which how much do gauges go for at wreckers usually?

bondy · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 04:42PM »

bear in mind that this is a bluey one that Rake's talking about so i guess it might be harder to get than a regular pintara one

Rake · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 08:01PM »

Yes. A 'spare' pintara tacho from a wrecker is of very little use to me. The bluebird tacho is different, and my chances of finding one at a regular wrecker are virtually 0.

Jono, no offence mate but I don't think any of your ideas are feasible. I can almost be certain paper is not going to work.

Budgie · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 4, 2005, 09:46PM »

I have two spare bluebird tachos

No idea on the plastic problem though Rob!

Jono · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 5, 2005, 11:56AM »

Fair enough, if all else fails give em a go.

Scradley · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 15, 2006, 06:43PM »

I too am attempting to customise my own speedo dials, i unknowingly replaced the lights behind the dash to change the colour to no avail as i then realised that the plastic is coloured, i don't really feel like sanding anything off. I scanned the speedo dial and photoshopped it today and added some pretty colours to it etc etc and i plan on printing it out on either some paper and spraying that with an arcylic gloss, similiar to that that artists use when they finish a painting, this would then be stuck on a thin sheet of plastic, ie oht sheets from school or two. Or i could print straight onto these oht slides. either or. whatever works out best otherwise i dunno what i will do.

Dimenx · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 18, 2006, 06:24AM »

Why not scan it and print it as many of you said, but instead of printing it in paper, just go to some place (dont know the name of those places in english, those that you give them the "art" and they will just print it in the media and quantity that you want) that prints in translucent PVC sheet?

Rintaro · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 15, 2006, 03:44PM »

Just get a transparency for colour and print the tacho onto it in whatever colour you want. Or get some polyfilm draughting paper and it will give you a nice semi opaque look. Make sure you set the right options in your printer especially if it's laser, melted transparencies throughout the machine don't make us xerox techs happy =/