I want to paint the surrounds around my gauges. I've seen some people paint the whole entire piece around the gauges, but I think it looks kinda cheap. I just want to do the rim of plastic around the gauges a bright silver color. (I hope this is making sense. ) It's hard to describe, but it's just the immediate little "rim" of plastic right on the gauge faces. (Attached to the piece that goes around the indicator lights, etc.)

What would be the best way to go about this? I'm concerned about masking off an area that's in a circular shape. Is there some special technique to this? As far as I know, just masking really well and spraying a few coats of SEM should have me covered.

Any ideas? This is how Hihoslva did his. He did the entire surround. (Both the piece in front and behind the glass.) I just want to do the rim of the gauges on the piece behind the glass, not the entire piece as is shown here.

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Hope that's clear enough of an explanation

 

my idea for you im thinking tape and like plastic bags or suttin. try to mask off as much as possible n spray.

 

hey man,

a bunch of us in winnipeg did it together...this is the website that you'll need....also, make sure you use SEM paint

www.protegenetwork.org/tech.htm

Happy painting

 

Maxx - my original plan was to try to do just the "rings" - I know exactly what you mean.

I tried to tape everything else off, but found it to be very difficult. Because they are circular, and also kinda beveled, I had quite a hard time making any tape conform well to the shape and create a good mask. Plus, there are lots of little crevices and points and and such - I just felt like it was going to come out really sloppy, so I didn't do it.

I even tried "both" ways - first, covering the flat part of the bezel, so as to only paint the rings. No go. Then after I did all the silver, I tried to cover just the rings, figuring I could spray the flat part black again for the same effect, and that was difficult also. I finally decided to leave it as it is.

You might want to consider hand-painting the rings, and see how that comes out. With a small brush and a steady hand, this might be your best bet.

Good luck!

~HH

 

I did it.

Just like you said mask everything off but the bezzels. took about an hour to mask it off real good.

 

NICE JOB, BUMBLE!!!

Wow - I didn't have the patience to do it like that. Hmmm...now that I know it can be done, I might have to go back and give it a shot......

Well, there ya' go Maxx - now get to work!!

~HH

 

I second that,
Great Job, Bumble_G!

Looks just like what I want!

But like hihoslva said, looks like alot of work and to top things off I'm not good at painting anything.

So I'm going to make (machine) some alum. rings to fit just over the faces of the gages. Just the parts that Bumble_G painted. So Max Mazda if you can wait a couple days I sould have some made and I'll post some pics. I will make a couple sets if they turn out OK.

But right now I'm trying to finish my Custom Alum. Gas & Brake Pedals. Have the first milling operation done on both. The brake pedal will replace the rubber cover and the gas pedal will be a complete replacement. Here are a couple of pics. What do you think?





Finished and Installed

 

My gauges are the same as the ones you guys have but they're all black, do you think this mod would still look good? the lights are green.

 

Dave,

Looks tight! Send me some pics of the rims when you get them done, and I'll take a set for sure! PM me to discuss pricing.

Bumble_G, that's EXACTLY what I wanted to do! Thanks!

 

JAC - I think the painting might look even BETTER with black-face gauges. Especially just the rings. Go for it!

and DaveB - those pedals are gonna be SCHWEET!! Very nice work! You should seriously consider selling them - having the Protege5 emblem on them is awesome!

Any idea how much you'd be willing to sell a gas/brake pedal set for? I'm very interested!

Expect LOTS of replies like mine...but please let me know if you can sell some - and the approximate price. Thanks!

~HH

 

Ya man, like I said, those are phat pedals. See if you can make some for a manual tranny car. I'll be down on those for sure!

 

thought you had pedals already!

 

Ya, but these are WAY cooler!

Btw, I saw you in Chinatown (Just turning onto Centre Street, heading north) last Friday around like 4:00pm or so. Wanted to catch up to you, but damn you've got a heavy foot!

 

Those are some sweet looking pedals, I bet a lot of people would like some.

 

here is a good idea for painting just the bezel rings...
-get a compass( little pointy thing you never learned to use right in school so you poked your friends with it)
-measure the diameter across the opening(from outside edge to edge)
-take some sicker paper(or sheet of cheapo contact paper)
-draw circle on paper, and cut out circle
-throw away circle
-stick remaining paper around the bezel
now everthing is cover around the ring.......
get it? did my crazt mind make sense?