Zinc plating back of speedo

[rolesyboy]

Having some zinc plating done and want to cheer up the back of my speedo. This will destroy the powder blue paint on the inside of it. I am guessing it is this colour for reflective reasons. Can anyone confirm if this is the case. If it is what paint can I use to get the right finish on the inside once the case has been plated. Thanks. Mark

[dklawson]

I cannot suggest specific paints for your use but I can make general suggestions.

Before sending the gauge housing out for plating, take it to the DIY center and find a baby-blue spray paint that is close and a white paint from the same maker. The gauges I have taken apart have had the entire inside painted blue with some white highlights near the entrance to the case.

Generally platers will have a "lot charge" for small quantities of parts. Therefore, it might be to your advantage to gather a collection of parts you want plated and get them all done at the same time.

[Andrew1967]

Generally platers will have a "lot charge" for small quantities of parts. Therefore, it might be to your advantage to gather a collection of parts you want plated and get them all done at the same time.

We get a lot of plating done for the machinery we make at work.

I chuck all the Mini bits in with them as the plater charges pretty much by the bucket.

[rolesyboy]

I always get a batch done the same as you boys. My question is about the blue paint on the inside face of the speedo backing. Is it a special type of paint? Cheers

[dklawson]

I don't think there is anything special about the blue paint except that it is commonly a matte to satin finish without high gloss. That being said, many of my acquaintances in the Triumph world choose to respray the inside of their gauges with high-gloss white enamel to produce a brighter looking gauge. If all the gauges are done this way they have the same appearance at night and they are indeed "brighter" when you compare the before and after pictures.