SqwirlyCivic

Okay so I got my new glow gauges in this week for my Civic. I want to paint the needles orange so that I don't have white needles against a white background. I also am trying to take off the needles' white paint so that the factory glow will still shine through the orange. Problem is, I can't get the white off. I have only tried a paint thinner that is used for model paints. Do I need something heavy duty? Some kind of paint thinner or hard-core reducer? What kind of orange paint should I use, are model enamels okay?

jpcrx

airplane paint remover will definitely do the trick. find at any parts store

tranceminister

Yeah, the shyt is called Aircraft Remover (or stripper). I've used that stuff at work afew times. Heres a few tips: Don't get it on your skin... It burns like a motha!!!
After the paint starts to bubble up just scrape it off or wash it off with water. It's pretty easy to use. Have fun!!!

SqwirlyCivic

is there any risk of eating away the plastic on the needles? will they be clear underneath when I am all done? Also, is it better to use model spray paint or brush-on? I will of course, mask over everything else if I spray (smoother coat of paint?).

tranceminister

Yeah man I was going to say something about that but I figured you might already know. Don't get that paint stripper on ANYTHING else but what you want to remove paint from. That's some powerful shyt!!! And as far as it removing the paint from the needle, it should remove it if the needle was painted, but if it's colored plastic it won't do anything. And when you go to re-paint the needle, if you use a brush paint you might get brush marks. If you spray, just make sure you mask everything off. Good luck.

SqwirlyCivic

Hey I talked to the guy at the hobby shop and explained my situation. He hooked me up with some spray orange-luminescent paint. He also recommended that I leave the white paint on there, so I just masked the heck outta my gauge cluster and painted them last night. They look great, I'll post some pics soon!

shortyz

uhm.... dont take you gas needle off...

SqwirlyCivic

I finished the job and put them in my car.... looks gooooood. And based on some advice I got a month ago or so from you guys, I didn't remove any needles.