To decal or not to decal, that is merely one of the questions.

[Dino]

So I'm restoring my instrument cluster and I cleaned up my clock.  It looks real nice but I'm wondering if I can get the exact same sheen on it as the performance car graphics decals.  I was hoping to save $20 by not getting the clock decal but I figured I'd check here to see if someone else tried that and can shed some light on the matter.  Will it match up or should I spend the extra $20?

The other issue is the clock stem, it's broken.  I have the new stem but haven't tried to install it.  Any tips on how to proceed with this?

[Finn]

Decal. I tried getting my old gauges shined up but I couldn't get it to the level I was hoping for. Plus once you look at the time you saved, 20 bucks is easily worth it.
I don't know if you've seen this thread yet, but it's got a TON of helpful info.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,37999.0.html

[Dino]

Decal. I tried getting my old gauges shined up but I couldn't get it to the level I was hoping for. Plus once you look at the time you saved, 20 bucks is easily worth it.
I don't know if you've seen this thread yet, but it's got a TON of helpful info.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,37999.0.html

Yeah that thread should be a sticky!  Tons of great info in there. 

At this point the white on the clock looks great but the black is pretty flat and I know the decals have a shine to them that I may or not be able to replicate.  It's not just the money, I find it a shame to put a decal over it since it cleaned up so well but I do want it looking its best. 

I'll get the decal...

Thanks Finn

[bakerhillpins]

I hate to post to this so late but an old trick that I use when restoring pinball machines is to use a wax to restore a shine to decals on cabinets.

I bet if you took some regular paste wax and rubbed it over the cleaned gauge faces it would return the shine..  I do realize that you have already used new decals but someone else might see this.

[Ghoste]

That's clever, I would have thought it would haze over.

[440]

What's the longevity of the wax?

[bakerhillpins]

Don't have any info on longevity... All the cabinets I have tried it on are holding up well. Some of them are painted but others have vinyl with silk screened images on them. So I guess, technically speaking they are painted too.

Also, I was using a Pinball Playfield wax called Mill Wax.  http://millamusement.com/