Author Topic: good material for making gauge faces?  (Read 4086 times)

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Offline grumpy

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good material for making gauge faces?
« on: September 07, 2010, 07:56:33 PM »
I need to replace my bent & shrunken gauge faces.
Plenty of threads on decals & such but I have decal overlays coming - now I need something to replace the face itself.
I assume the best bet would be sheet metal cut with a laser or water jet but my laser pointer prolly won't do the job.

I tried cutting some sheet metal with snips but that turned out like crap.
I thought of getting some thin plastic but cutting that stuff with any precision is a PITA with simple hand tools.

So, any suggestions?
« Last Edit: September 07, 2010, 07:58:15 PM by grumpy »

Offline 77cafe750

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2010, 08:39:23 PM »
i make them for lexan templates and acryilic molds if its a 750 i have them done already 550 i just sent a set of templates to another members so i can finish his
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blacked out gauges rock
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67710.0

Offline Old75_ratafe

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2010, 09:02:47 PM »
they aren't metal from the factory they are plastic, if you want to just have the mounts and then use decals I would suggest get a piece of acrylic plastic cut to the right size (places that do glass should be able to cut it round for u).  then use a dremel to cut the slots (odometer etc) and a sharp drill bit with very light pressure for the holes.
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Offline mycb750k6

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2010, 05:38:02 AM »
what bike? I may have some that you could have.

Offline grumpy

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2010, 07:00:41 AM »
what bike? I may have some that you could have.

SUPER cool!
750K3
square odo cutouts (no "L" for the 1/10ths)

Crash -
Got pics of what you're talking about?
I've seen your cool black outs - I need some with the odo cutouts.

Offline mycb750k6

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2010, 08:02:47 AM »
OK so before I go rummaging in the garage, you just need a set of stock gauge plates so you can apply your custom gauge faces - is that correct?

Offline grumpy

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2010, 08:10:00 AM »
OK so before I go rummaging in the garage, you just need a set of stock gauge plates so you can apply your custom gauge faces - is that correct?
yessir

Offline nokrome

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2010, 08:41:19 AM »
i have some that are laser cut out of aluminum, black anodized and have the numbers and tick marks engraved in.

 you can use them as is or add paint to the numbers or use them as a base for decals

Funny thing about regret is...... its better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done.

Offline 77cafe750

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #8 on: September 08, 2010, 11:19:47 AM »
i will try to post some pics tonight
live like an outlaw and love like an angel
crash
blacked out gauges rock
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67710.0

Offline apex_seeking

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #9 on: October 06, 2010, 05:46:32 PM »
i have some that are laser cut out of aluminum, black anodized and have the numbers and tick marks engraved in.

 you can use them as is or add paint to the numbers or use them as a base for decals


I'm sorry, What do those fit? They are awesome. I've actually thought about doing that. If you still have them I might be interested, depending on fitment.

Offline nokrome

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2010, 07:47:45 PM »
thanks, they fit 69-76 cb750 (trip meter on top, odo on bottom)
 
Funny thing about regret is...... its better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done.

Offline grumpy

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2010, 07:03:10 AM »
I can vouch for nokrome's faces: very nice, good quality.


Offline nokrome

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2010, 07:34:12 AM »
thanks grumpy,
  have you installed them yet?
Funny thing about regret is...... its better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done.

Offline grumpy

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Re: good material for making gauge faces?
« Reply #13 on: October 07, 2010, 08:34:48 AM »
Yeah - just got them completely buttoned up and running last night.
The rubber light holders were totally hardened & pulled apart when I removed them so I had to repair/reconstruct those. Took a while...

I used the faces as a base for some white decal overlays. I put the decals on the back so now one side is white & the other is black & can be flipped if desired.