Restoring switch housings

[ironchop]

So I've got myself a junk handlebar switch for an 86R I got for ten bux. The housing was decent with a little fading but the engraving had lost some of it's white and red paint.

I have brand new switches to go inside the housing out of an NOS Honda TRX200 switch which I can easily adapt for the R.

How many different ways can I darken the faded housing a bit. Black paint? Clear coat maybe? Rit Dye?

I don't want to rub oil all over it or armor all because those are relatively short term remedies and I also have be careful not to affect the red and white paint after I repaint those areas.

Whose restored or rehabbed black handlebar switches and what did you do?

Pics too if you got them.

This is what I'm working with....it looks more faded in person.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171229/b7598fc2a613c0f27f154b0ffb976838.jpg

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[ironchop]

I'm putting the guts from this in there.

I got the idea from someone here.... smvorndran or similar spellinghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171229/1e2f3cff5d80d397fa04f9a4021605ac.jpg

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[mgusciora]

I do this somewhat often and for most of my customers they like it. I strip the housing and sand it with 80 grit but barley. Then I have this almost plasti dip type paint that’s either satin or matte depending on the switch and I paint with that. It isn’t the exact same texture at the original plastic but it’s very black and looks new. The good part is it’s a thick paint kinda like bed liner. I forgot the name but when I go to my shop tomorrow I will tell you


~Matt Gusciora

[BOB MARLIN]

Clear spray paint the whole thing.

[ironchop]

Clear spray paint the whole thing.Will the clear darken it a little?

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[BOB MARLIN]

It will a bit. Kinda looks like its been armor all'ed. Make sure its clean or it will get "fish eye" all over it.

[Jd110]

Plastic renew is what I used. Sanded it with 600 & 1500, scrubbed with 4/0 steel wool, applied plastic renew and buffed it with a soft cloth. I decided to paint the lettering one color. It has held up good imo.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180101/99dc7fbd59f3efa0bcfbd1d0f1b6c2c1.jpg
As a side note, I bought it for the fenders, but found it to work awesome on all the plastic and rubber cable/wiring boots.
Best of luck chop and Happy New Year!!
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