Painted Needles?

Topic: Painted Needles? (Read 2089 times) previous topic - next topic

Painted Needles?

October 22, 2007, 11:57:52 AM

Is there a type of paint that I can paint the needles on my buttstuffog cluster with so that they will still light up? I thing they'd look awesome in orange.

Painted Needles?

Reply #1 – October 22, 2007, 01:09:52 PM

I read over at TCCOA that you can se the paint off of yours and use regular paint in the old paints spot. If they are white you could just get some colored bulbs or some of those bulb cover that come with after market gauges.

Painted Needles?

Reply #2 – October 22, 2007, 01:14:42 PM

Dogcharmer's needles are painted orange, so he could probably give you an idea on how well they light up at night.

You can get a paint sold at the hobby shops that is a "clear orange" that is made to "tint" clear plastic an orange color so that the light still will come though for turn signals and such on models.
I'm not 100% positive if this is the stuff but it may be it just based on the name.
I would definitely use a piece of s clear plastic to test it out before using in on your needles though.

Brent
:cougarsmily:

Painted Needles?

Reply #3 – October 22, 2007, 02:16:59 PM

Ok, thanks. I've seen someone use flourescent paint so I might try that as well.

Painted Needles?

Reply #4 – October 23, 2007, 09:59:46 AM

Just use any kind of paint. I wouldn't use something translucent though.

If you pull the needles off you'll see that only the underside is painted (on the speedo, tach and boost gauge). You can just se off the white paint with a razor and paint it orange. The accessory gauge needles are metal and can just be painted orange. I found some fluorescent orange enamel on clearance at wal-mart so I used that.

I can't believe Ford didn't make these orange from the factory, they're so much more visible!

Painted Needles?

Reply #5 – October 23, 2007, 11:30:47 PM

Awesome info. Thanks! Do the needles just pull off?

Painted Needles?

Reply #6 – October 24, 2007, 12:07:08 AM

I wonder what they would look like painted blue? with the white face gauges.

Painted Needles?

Reply #7 – October 24, 2007, 12:12:36 AM

Quote from: Carpimp1987;184261

I wonder what they would look like painted blue? with the white face gauges.

and red numbers...

Painted Needles?

Reply #8 – October 24, 2007, 12:23:40 AM

would be really nice for my car and would match.

Painted Needles?

Reply #9 – October 24, 2007, 09:48:30 AM

Quote from: Carpimp1987;184261

I wonder what they would look like painted blue? with the white face gauges.

They would look blue

And yes, the speedo and tach needles just pull off. The boost gauge needle is a little trickier. The accessory gauge needles do not come off and you have to be careful with them.

Painted Needles?

Reply #10 – October 24, 2007, 11:43:53 AM

Awesome, thanks!

Painted Needles?

Reply #11 – October 24, 2007, 04:26:50 PM

Oh, one other thing I forgot- the plastic caps on the centers of the speedo and tach needles come off also. Makes painting a lot easier.

They may be stubborn though, make sure you pull them straight off so you don't break them.

Painted Needles?

Reply #12 – October 24, 2007, 11:25:42 PM

I got them painted today... But now the speedo seems really slow. It's accurate if you're going a constant speed, but it seems to lag if you accelerate too fast. Any ideas?

Painted Needles?

Reply #13 – October 25, 2007, 02:23:15 AM

Quote from: tc²;184481

I got them painted today... But now the speedo seems really slow. It's accurate if you're going a constant speed, but it seems to lag if you accelerate too fast. Any ideas?

That's what i was concerned about...
Especially on the fuel gauges and lighter needles, It even kept me from painting my faded and ugly needles. :punchballs:

Painted Needles?

Reply #14 – October 25, 2007, 11:43:50 AM

I haven't had any problems so I dunno.

My speedo seems to "hang up" in some spots but I'm pretty sure it was doing that before as well.