Painting Gauge Needles - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Skorov · 03-16-2014, 10:03 PM

I have managed to get my hands on a spare gauge cluster and decided to play around with it. I've taken apart the needles and want to repaint them. From factory, there is a thin layer of paint on top.

I've tried a few different paints. Tried brushing and spraying. I just can't seem to get the colour as even as the factory coat was. The trick is that is has to be thick enough to look solid when it's not backlit and thin enough to allow the light from the PCB to shine through.

I know next to nothing about paints and techniques so I was hoping someone with a bit of experience can chime in here. Any recommendations on what paint to use and how to go about making the paint even would be a great help.

Many thanks!

Acree · 03-17-2014, 01:53 AM

I would try film instead of paint. Just my $0.02.

sshole · 03-17-2014, 11:30 AM

E46 people used to "paint" their white needles red using a red Sharpie marker.

soundman98 · 03-17-2014, 09:50 PM

are you sure the paint is on the front? a lot of brands will paint the rear of the needles, so the light is just bouncing along the surface of the paint, not trying to pass through it.

Skorov · 03-18-2014, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soundman98

are you sure the paint is on the front? a lot of brands will paint the rear of the needles, so the light is just bouncing along the surface of the paint, not trying to pass through it.

Definately on the front. I've already scratched the old paint off.

Cheers guys. I'll give that a go.

OVR_RUN · 03-18-2014, 03:36 AM

try using some translucent paint or watering the paint down some.

03-16-2014, 10:03 PM	#1
Skorov Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 86 GTS White Location: Sydney, AU Posts: 603 Thanks: 103 Thanked 169 Times in 105 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Painting Gauge Needles I have managed to get my hands on a spare gauge cluster and decided to play around with it. I've taken apart the needles and want to repaint them. From factory, there is a thin layer of paint on top. I've tried a few different paints. Tried brushing and spraying. I just can't seem to get the colour as even as the factory coat was. The trick is that is has to be thick enough to look solid when it's not backlit and thin enough to allow the light from the PCB to shine through. I know next to nothing about paints and techniques so I was hoping someone with a bit of experience can chime in here. Any recommendations on what paint to use and how to go about making the paint even would be a great help. Many thanks!

03-17-2014, 01:53 AM	#2
Acree Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 CSB BRZ Ltd Location: United States Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 147 Thanked 530 Times in 286 Posts Mentioned: 39 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I would try film instead of paint. Just my $0.02. __________________ 2011 BMW M3 (No torque dip) 2013 Subaru BRZ - SOLD - Build Thread

03-17-2014, 09:50 PM	#4
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,675 Times in 6,782 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	are you sure the paint is on the front? a lot of brands will paint the rear of the needles, so the light is just bouncing along the surface of the paint, not trying to pass through it. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

03-18-2014, 03:36 AM	#6
OVR_RUN Decepticon Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT Location: SA, TX Posts: 168 Thanks: 70 Thanked 67 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	try using some translucent paint or watering the paint down some. __________________

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03-17-2014, 11:30 AM	#3
sshole Banned Join Date: Jan 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: VA Posts: 594 Thanks: 201 Thanked 389 Times in 195 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	E46 people used to "paint" their white needles red using a red Sharpie marker.

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