Old, tired dial graduation refresh

[Gennady]

Hello folks.

How do you restore/refresh old dial graduation on worn dials? Or just rubbing some contrast paint into it?

 

[Susquatch]

I'm interested in this question too. Some of mine are so shallow I'm not sure anything would work except maybe rescratching the original graduation lines.

 

[Mcgyver]

Here is a couple I did. As best I could tell the furniture repair wax stuff is about the same stuff as engravers black (which is often suggested). Lots of details here: https://www.metallum.shop/2022/02/23/blackening-graduated-dials/.

This was is well suited to plated dials, like the ones shown (i.e. the satin finish) or otherwise finish you don't want to wreck as no abrasives are used to clean off the excess

 

[DavidR8]

Here is a couple I did. As best I could tell the furniture repair wax stuff is about the same stuff as engravers black (which is often suggested). Lots of details here: https://www.metallum.shop/2022/02/23/blackening-graduated-dials/.

This was is well suited to plated dials, like the ones shown (i.e. the satin finish) or otherwise finish you don't want to wreck as no abrasives are used to clean off the excess

View attachment 47801

Is that your shop @Mcgyver?

 

[Mcgyver]

It is, 35 years of collecting, reconditioning and making.

 

[DavidR8]

It is, 35 years of collecting, reconditioning and making.

Fantastic stuff there. Going to be spending time reading. Thanks!

 

[Canadium]

Here's a view of my much less sophisticated half-assed effort on cast iron scales. I just slopped on some black Tremclad over the thoroughly cleaned scales and wiped off the excess.

 

[Ironman]

It is, 35 years of collecting, reconditioning and making.

We are not worthy (kneeling and bowing)

 

[PeterT]

As best I could tell the furniture repair wax stuff is about the same stuff as engravers black (which is often suggested).

I've often wondered about this. Why not the most tenacious, toughest (maybe even catalyzed) paint you can lay your hands on? Its basically filling a thin scribe line groove, curing & revealed when the dial surface is re-finished anyways?

 

[Martin w]

Wow, what a beautiful shop and machines!

It is, 35 years of collecting, reconditioning and making.

 

[thestelster]

@Mcgyver I'm going to call you out here. How can one man accumulate, repair and restore all those beautiful machines in only 35 years! Either you've found the Fountain of Youth, you're an immortal, or maybe a vampire! Which is it?

 

[Mcgyver]

@Mcgyver I'm going to call you out here. How can one man accumulate, repair and restore all those beautiful machines in only 35 years! Either you've found the Fountain of Youth, you're an immortal, or maybe a vampire! Which is it?

Mike is not in. Please leave a message at the tone and he will return your call when the sun goes down.

I'm still at it...... on the weekend just tore apart a spindle for uber expensive SKF Super-precision double row cylindrical roller bearing replacement (that's a process, fit is governed by how far up a taper on the spindle you drive the bearing), have my jointer/planer in pieces replacing bearings and converting to a helical cutter, have a new spindle I made for the BCA done, just need to pull out my DIY dynamic balancer and get it balanced, two lathes need to finished (scraping, 75% done) ..... seemingly never ends. I'm trying to get everything working so I can just make stuff like model engines instead of being a millwright/machine tool reconditioner (almost got the Stuart triple done, but resist the urge to start another until more things get shifted into the done column)

 

[Gennady]

like the ones shown (i.e. the satin finish)

Really nice. Thanks Mcgyver. BTW -is there method to have satin finish in home shop? is that some sort of special media blasting?

 

[Mcgyver]

Thanks, not that I know of. I believe it is some sort of plating (nickel?), that's about the extent of my knowledge on it