Restored my faded heater knobs
 

So I was just about to order new heater knobs because mine were faded very very light pink. Just another one of those little things that begin to bug you.

Here is the before.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492562940.jpg



Right have after I order my knobs I did a search about how to remove them and found a way to restore them on here. Just want to post this now for any else in the same boat. This was supper easy and it takes maybe an hour at most to do.

First thing I did was remove them, I used a claw hammer with tape on the claw part and hit them with rubber mallet to take them off. Mine were on tight, but some people can just pull them off.

Next I got 12 dollars worth of supplies, the key one being the dye for synthetic clothes, which worked too well.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563201.jpg

Then I made a rig with a hanger to in stainless steel pot to suspend them while I boiled them.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563276.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563298.jpg


I boiled them for about ten minutes based off of the thread I had seen before well one was a little darker than the other but close enough for me. The dye from the other thread was for cotton and other fabrics, this dye works very quick.

Still 100% better than what I started with.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563461.jpg


Painted on the some of the white water based paint then rubbed off the excess and this what I ended up with. Right after painting and in the car.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563535.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492563548.jpg


Now the only problem I have is my parking brake lever looks like crap! :rolleyes:

Still very happy with whole thing easy and fun, they look better in person the flash shows more of a color difference than I actually have, oh put them back on with the rubber mallet.

Nice job! Thanks for sharing. And yes, we'll be looking for you e brake refinish.

That looks great! Added to the list...

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Mine were restored by the PO the same way about 14 years ago and they still look great !

well done!

Thanks everyone.

I'm glad I did it, it was a fun little project and the replacement knobs have a different design than the originals. And unless the knobs are broken this is the way to go.

The synthetic dye works quick.

Just to save us from potential spousal misery, did the dye trash the pan?

Mark

great idea!

No not at all, but I would use a stainless pan for sure. But I would clean the pan as soon as you are done.

Also be very careful adding water to the dye and clean up, the dye could get out of control easy.