Spiffing up gauges

[BWR1953]

If I cleaned, polished and painted up these gauges, would they look a lot nicer? I was thinking of painting the bezels bright white.

Or would they just look like cheap gauges that have been painted?

This whole set is for sale on CL for just $50 and they'd work well for my twins project. But they're pretty cheap looking and I'd prefer nicer stuff. Can they be improved much? Some don't match, but I could probably find other units to replace the mismatched items.

They're also 75 miles away (one way) and I'm not sure if I want to bother. But it sure would save a lot of money if I could make them look more acceptable!

What say ye?

 

[Scott Danforth]

They are cheap gauges, then again most gauges are cheap. Only you can answer the question if it's with spending labor and supplies on your gauges

 

[BWR1953]

I'm retired so my labor is free. And it is a hobby after all, right? Maybe? :lol: Supply costs would be negligible.

It would be nice if I could get some gauges like these, but the costs are pretty darned high. Something like $500 for the Rinker set.

Hacker gauge set:



Rinker gauge set:

 

[JaCrispy]

I used some vinyl 3D carbon fiber to dress up my gauge panel.

 

[spoilsofwar]

The gauges in the OP are pretty ugly, and in the case of volts and fuel, mismatched from port to starboard. My OCD would not allow the variance, but you may be different.

 

[BWR1953]

Ah, I should have mentioned the dash panel. It doesn't exist yet. I'll be custom fabricating one for my Chieftain project and the gauges will be installed there.

 

[BWR1953]

The gauges in the OP are pretty ugly, and in the case of volts and fuel, mismatched from port to starboard. My OCD would not allow the variance, but you may be different.

Yeah, I mentioned the mismatch in the original post.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Yeah, I mentioned the mismatch in the original post.

Indeed you did; I have a tendency to skim posts while also drinking Busch Light to excess

 

[BWR1953]

Indeed you did; I have a tendency to skim posts while also drinking Busch Light to excess

Heh heh.

 

[BWR1953]

The Admiral got home from work and said NO to this gauge package! She doesn't want it sullying up our beautiful Chieftain!

So that settles that! :lol:

 

[Bayou Dave]

In that case have HER spring for the Rinker set.

 

[gm280]

Some times you would be amazing at how nice you can rework such things. Repainting them does make a huge difference. And even, with some unique effort, you can even change the internal plates to change the gauge look. It all depends how far you are willing to rework them. JMHO!

 

[mickyryan]

Let her pick hide prices