Removing green film off cluster background

[sxc_sound]

Hey guys, im 95% complete my blue led changeover. All LEDs are in and looking sweet.


All i have left to do is remove the green film on the back of the aircon controls and the cluster as they are coming up of more an aqua then a deep blue..

SO HOW DO I DO IT, i tried sanding, it just scratched through and its ruined, so il practice any methods on this screwd background before i get another one

[hwy747]

Sanding is the way to do it, but you need to use the finest grade sandpaper you can get your hands on. Spray it with window cleaner or metho first so it is quite wet, then very lightly sand until it is gone. It will take a while, but as long as you don't use too much pressure and keep it wet while sanding you should get there no problems.

[ch1mp]

u serious??? i've been trying to figure out a way to do this for so long! i'll be giving it a try on the weekend! i've got a whole roll of wet/dry sandpaper. you think that's fine enough or too fine?cheers!

[2DIE]

u serious??? i've been trying to figure out a way to do this for so long! i'll be giving it a try on the weekend! i've got a whole roll of wet/dry sandpaper. you think that's fine enough or too fine?cheers!

Wet and dry sandpaper comes in different grits. I haven't done this but it will need to be very very fine.

[david dubbo]

Gday guys I tried this method and it does work although it is very easy to bugger it up (I did) so I ended up getting Sam from speed graphics (EBAY) to make me a new set of cluster and haav panels with the colours that i wanted which is all normal except where it was green to be blue this way you can use normal white globes or white leds and you dont get dark and light sections and can still see the needles and the red bits. the whole lot costs less than a 100 bucks and when the lights arent on it looks totally original

[ch1mp]

Wet and dry sandpaper comes in different grits. I haven't done this but it will need to be very very fine.

ye the wet/dry sandpaper that i have is the finest possible...i think 1200 or something like that

[sxc_sound]

Went down to supercheap auto and got some 2000 grit sandpaper and worked away on it for a few hours and it came up perfect. Thanks for the help guys!

My led transformation is now complete. The only thing not perfect is hot spots all over the cluster, it looks terrible lol. Think il get a pro to do it

[ch1mp]

maybe i'll have to go n get some 2000 grit lol. well see what i thought was that since the cluster face dial stuff is now white, why not get some blue cover slips to put over the original light bulbs? coz then you'll have blue light that's evenly spread. you can get blue covers from autobarn for like $3 for a pack of 10

[wrx884]

thats still doesnt work ch1mp n the colour actually turns out duller and not a true blue colour. best using leds theres so many benifits of using them over globes.

The cluster dial it dont really matter wat grit u use as u cant scratch through 2 the other side (aslong as its not somthing ridiculous lol) its the heater control dials that u gotta use 1600 grit wet n dry. 2000 is fine better safe than sorry if its ur 1st time doin it.

[::Team420::]

I used very fine steel wool to do mine and little bit of water, just rub very lightly and it slowly takes it off.

[ch1mp]

thats still doesnt work ch1mp n the colour actually turns out duller and not a true blue colour. best using leds theres so many benifits of using them over globes.

The cluster dial it dont really matter wat grit u use as u cant scratch through 2 the other side (aslong as its not somthing ridiculous lol) its the heater control dials that u gotta use 1600 grit wet n dry. 2000 is fine better safe than sorry if its ur 1st time doin it.

ok...well i thought it may have been worth a try.obviously you've tried lol. another thing i was considering but i don't know how safe it would be, was putting multiple LEDs, or a strip inside the cluster to make it look more even. By multiple LEDs i mean, have more than one connected to one socket, but angle them out so the light is spread.

[wrx884]

ok...well i thought it may have been worth a try.obviously you've tried lol. another thing i was considering but i don't know how safe it would be, was putting multiple LEDs, or a strip inside the cluster to make it look more even. By multiple LEDs i mean, have more than one connected to one socket, but angle them out so the light is spread.

Now ur thinkin this is 1 place u cant really get away with using a cheap option, n yes ive tried everything lol thats y now Greg n myself r now able 2 sell these as kits as we've found the best possible way 2 make these look exactly as if they just came out of factory

[sxc_sound]

you sell kits? like DIY kits?

[CV6Z]

you sell kits? Like diy kits?

very keen and interested!!!

[wrx884]

you sell kits? like DIY kits?

yes if ur handy with the soldering iron. but theres a few parts ect... in the VT-VX models that a kit cant b made 4 which will require either u do them urself or send them over like we discussed earlier man.

Guys if u want more info look in the ASR section of the sponsers threads.

[sxc_sound]

if when i bought a kit it came with a material list as to what extra i need it would be fine, otherize i half made kit is kinda useless to me lol. I am also very handy with a soldering iron

[ch1mp]

yes as am i lol. i've already done my window buttons...now i just have to repair all the other crap.i'll have a look through the forum...but all i need now are the leds...so...possibly a strip or two...but what about resistors? and can a strip be connected to any 1 of the sockets?...ahh i'll check out the ASR forum and see what i can find out. if not i'll be chatting to you wrx884 about sending what i need. cheers

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Did you use resistors? I recently replaced some globes with LED's but they were really low voltage ones and lasted about half a millisecond. I was going to solder in some resistors to make it work but in the end I couldn't be bothered. It is something that I want to do though, the green looks too common. Want to go red....red is cool...

[W84N01]

Gday guys I tried this method and it does work although it is very easy to bugger it up (I did) so I ended up getting Sam from speed graphics (EBAY) to make me a new set of cluster and haav panels with the colours that i wanted which is all normal except where it was green to be blue this way you can use normal white globes or white leds and you dont get dark and light sections and can still see the needles and the red bits. the whole lot costs less than a 100 bucks and when the lights arent on it looks totally original

Sam? I love Sam, he is brilliant!! Found him on Ebay years ago and asked him to make me my own designed dash cluster, which he did for my VN. I have a red dash cluster with HRT cut out of it, and it looks fantastic. i get compliments from everyone that has seen it, Very different and very professional...........can you please post up the link, as i have been trying to find him and haven't been able to do so anymore, and i'm keen as to get back in contact with him.....Cheers dude : )

[wrx884]

yes as am i lol. i've already done my window buttons...now i just have to repair all the other crap.i'll have a look through the forum...but all i need now are the leds...so...possibly a strip or two...but what about resistors? and can a strip be connected to any 1 of the sockets?...ahh i'll check out the ASR forum and see what i can find out. if not i'll be chatting to you wrx884 about sending what i need. cheers

Depends wat sort of strips u get whether thay r bare strips or pre made? bare strips yes u'll need resistors they r a must with LEDs otherwise as not an abba fan found out u'll fry them instanly coz they rnt designed 2 handle the full 12V. The resistors only allow a certain amount of Volts in depending on wat ur value of LEDs r (approx 2-4V) and resistors measured in ohms.

[wrx884]

Sam? I love Sam, he is brilliant!! Found him on Ebay years ago and asked him to make me my own designed dash cluster, which he did for my VN. I have a red dash cluster with HRT cut out of it, and it looks fantastic. i get compliments from everyone that has seen it, Very different and very professional...........can you please post up the link, as i have been trying to find him and haven't been able to do so anymore, and i'm keen as to get back in contact with him.....Cheers dude : )

Sam was great i did the same with my VP calais a few years ago so we could start producing kits in the VN-VS models, i even got my switch blocks done so i could use the same method and use LEDs in those. but even tho he made the dial facias really well and much better than other ppl on ebay ect... they still need the same method the vts do 2 get the best results n not just a single LED replacement looks good as u can still see hot spots ect.... but the last year or more i havent been able 2 get in contact with him to get some other model cars done 2 expand more with ASR which makes me wonder if hes stopped doin them.

[ch1mp]

Depends wat sort of strips u get whether thay r bare strips or pre made? bare strips yes u'll need resistors they r a must with LEDs otherwise as not an abba fan found out u'll fry them instanly coz they rnt designed 2 handle the full 12V. The resistors only allow a certain amount of Volts in depending on wat ur value of LEDs r (approx 2-4V) and resistors measured in ohms.

ah k cool. well just to be safe i might just buy what i need from you. i assume you sell that stuff?