Making custom gauge faces? Options

[falcor75]

I've got an old Saab VDO fuel gauge that I'd like to change the gauge face to a more Porsche looking face. Any ideas on how to make your own gauge face that doesnt look like crap after being exposed to sunlight etc?

[mepstein]

I'm hoping there is someone on World with the skill to do gauge faces. I would like a set of green face gauges and even though there are gauge companies that can do it for me, I'm hoping someone here can keep it "in house".

[Mblizzard]

I'm hoping there is someone on World with the skill to do gauge faces. I would like a set of green face gauges and even though there are gauge companies that can do it for me, I'm hoping someone here can keep it "in house".

I know Tim Kinney did some work on white ones. I am having him update mine to what over the winter. He might be the source you need.

[mepstein]

I'm hoping there is someone on World with the skill to do gauge faces. I would like a set of green face gauges and even though there are gauge companies that can do it for me, I'm hoping someone here can keep it "in house".

I know Tim Kinney did some work on white ones. I am having him update mine to what over the winter. He might be the source you need.

Tim supplied gauges to a company called whitegauges.net and they made them. I'm sure I could have them custom make what I want but there's a good chance someone on world can do it. The guys here always amaze me with their skill and knowledge.
I actually think it would be a great addition for 914rubber.

[jd74914]

They have a ton of color options and $20 seems hard to beat.

http://www.whitegauges.net/categories/Porsche/914/

[Chris914n6]

They have a ton of color options and $20 seems hard to beat.

http://www.whitegauges.net/categories/Porsche/914/

Colors are +$30

What they sell is digital print vinyl. They might be willing to do a "custom" for the fuel gauge.

Or if you can do graphics you can print your own onto an inkjet/laser vinyl at home, top with clear UV spray paint. I'm actually going to do that to my Nissan 914N6 cluster someday, but with the added complication of being thru lit.

[SirAndy]

Or if you can do graphics you can print your own onto an inkjet/laser vinyl at home, top with clear UV spray paint

I did that with my tach and it works well enough but the real problem is to find an adhesive that doesn't eventually separate from the underlying face.
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[mepstein]

They have a ton of color options and $20 seems hard to beat.

http://www.whitegauges.net/categories/Porsche/914/

As soon as you do anything but white, there's a $30 up charge. $150 is more than I want to pay for 3 stickers. That's why I think someone like 914 rubber could have this done professionally for a lot less.

[Mueller]

I can laser engrave anodized aluminum with my laser, could be used to make a new face.

[porschetub]

They have a ton of color options and $20 seems hard to beat.

http://www.whitegauges.net/categories/Porsche/914/

As soon as you do anything but white, there's a $30 up charge. $150 is more than I want to pay for 3 stickers. That's why I think someone like 914 rubber could have this done professionally for a lot less.

Was keen till I saw the "colour tax" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) don't like white gauge faces to start with.

[falcor75]

What I want to do is to turn this....



into this. So I'll need some way of making/printing a black gauge face.

While I'm waiting for my gearbox to be rebuilt I'm replacing the stock fuel/e-brake gauge with a 911 oil temp and pressure gauge and moving the fuel gauge to the radio location together with the volt gauge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[defianty]

Mats, take a look at my thread here about how I approached this

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...10626&st=40

Any questions just drop me a pm.

[falcor75]

Thanks Stephen, I knew I'd read about the conversion somewhere but I could not find your thread when searching.

[Mark Henry]

Contact carbone, it will cost you a little more than his stock items, but he will custom make anything you want.

http://car-bone.pl/

[gereed75]

Mats. I did a combo gauge that is holding up fine. See This thread for details
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=258558&hl=

With your skills - piece of cake !!

[jd74914]

They have a ton of color options and $20 seems hard to beat.

http://www.whitegauges.net/categories/Porsche/914/

As soon as you do anything but white, there's a $30 up charge. $150 is more than I want to pay for 3 stickers. That's why I think someone like 914 rubber could have this done professionally for a lot less.

Was keen till I saw the "colour tax" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) don't like white gauge faces to start with.

Wow, didn't realize that-Never actually selected any other colors. That's insane. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[914forme]

I am working on this as we speak. And Muller is on the correct path if your doing a custom gauge, and replacing the face. You use, metal or a plastic, and then you can also back fill the etching with OneShot or similar paints.

For assembled gauges that you don't want to replace the backing. You use a white vinyl with a 3M adhesive promoter, and then a laminated surface that has been printed. The printing is not cheap, thus the reason for the $30 up charge on the gauges. The dye costs are high. And the equipment to do the dye printing can also make you head spin.

So Mark, doing a set in green, not a problem, doing a set in any color you wish, really not an issue. Making them so they last for 70+ years, and bit harder.

You can also do these on a laser and paint them or use a transfer system, lots of ways to do this.

I have also done them silkscreened, and vinyl masked with an airbrush. Vinyl masking is actually pretty nice yet time consuming.

If your doing new gauges and all of the, are to be new, you can do things like backlighting the gauge, and then having the ticks transparent to allow the ticks to be seen. Can be done, but looks a bit modern for a 70s car.

Lots of ways to do this, some much cheaper than others.

[mepstein]

I am working on this as we speak. And Muller is on the correct path if your doing a custom gauge, and replacing the face. You use, metal or a plastic, and then you can also back fill the etching with OneShot or similar paints.

For assembled gauges that you don't want to replace the backing. You use a white vinyl with a 3M adhesive promoter, and then a laminated surface that has been printed. The printing is not cheap, thus the reason for the $30 up charge on the gauges. The dye costs are high. And the equipment to do the dye printing can also make you head spin.

So Mark, doing a set in green, not a problem, doing a set in any color you wish, really not an issue. Making them so they last for 70+ years, and bit harder.

You can also do these on a laser and paint them or use a transfer system, lots of ways to do this.

I have also done them silkscreened, and vinyl masked with an airbrush. Vinyl masking is actually pretty nice yet time consuming.

If your doing new gauges and all of the, are to be new, you can do things like backlighting the gauge, and then having the ticks transparent to allow the ticks to be seen. Can be done, but looks a bit modern for a 70s car.

Lots of ways to do this, some much cheaper than others.

I agree with everything you are saying. I wonder if white gauges would do a group buy and waive the $30/gauge.

[burton73]

This will work for someone.

I have been in the plastics Biz for 43 years. In that time we have embedded artwork in Lucite and Polyester materials. We have used different techniques over the years to achieve the look of inserts from Silk Screen printing to inkjet printing on different substrates. One of the best looks is a high-end ink jet printing on white gloss film made by Epson. One of the problems is Epson does not make this material any more so when I need it I buy it on the secondary market. It is all over the world. Easy to set up the artwork and then print out on this film and then cut it out. I have a high temperature double stick film that I put on my inserts that I make for my Patented Color Changing Thermometers.
I want nothing to do with making these films for gauges but it is very easy too do.

Today a low cost inkjet printer will do the job. I hate inkjets as they clog if not used all the time and you have to dick with them to get a clean print but when they are working well they are super clear. Sorry That I do not have a sample of how it looks because by printer is banding right now and I have spent to much time today trying to get it to print clear, I am getting married this weekend and I have lots to do.

This can look really good for this use. The inkjet ink bonds to the plastic sheet and will not flake off. It is hard to scratch as well


Bob B


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[914forme]

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