Sticky buttons sorted today

[George1964]

Hi Paul,

That's good news. Any pics of your hard work?

Andy.

Hi

Sure. I’ll take a couple at the weekend and upload. Paul

 

[George1964]

Hi

Sure. I’ll take a couple at the weekend and upload. Paul

There we go.

 

[Omar]

Project sticky buttons completed, using the sticker pack from @Andy4200 and following his instructions, very pleased with the end result.
Some before, WIP and finished result pics. They look at lot better to the eye than the finished picture,
You need patience, a steady hand, tweezers are definitely your friend, and I spread the work out over 4 weekends.
Cost all in less than £40, time comes free

 

[James3200GTA]

Reviving this thread again, so I'm pleased with the first try outs I did on the cowls and glove box lock. Now contemplating on doing the aircon control. Few questions:
- When you guys attack the sticky stuff with whipes / alcohol and the like, is the sticky stuff gone before the icons are faded/gone?
- Has anybody ever attempted to take the 3 dials / knobs / rotating switches out of the aircon control unit? Would be easier to spray paint if they can come off and in one piece so it can be put back together in a normal way.

 

[Nibby]

Reviving this thread again, so I'm pleased with the first try outs I did on the cowls and glove box lock. Now contemplating on doing the aircon control. Few questions:
- When you guys attack the sticky stuff with whipes / alcohol and the like, is the sticky stuff gone before the icons are faded/gone?
- Has anybody ever attempted to take the 3 dials / knobs / rotating switches out of the aircon control unit? Would be easier to spray paint if they can come off and in one piece so it can be put back together in a normal way.

Don’t rub on the icons James, they’ll rub off.
Some of the buttons on a 4200 the emblems are etched into the button.

 

[Corranga]

When you guys attack the sticky stuff with whipes / alcohol and the like, is the sticky stuff gone before the icons are faded/gone?

In the interests of clarity, this is covered elsewhere but if you're talking 4200, the buttons are transparent plastic that are then coated white, then coated black, and the icons etched into them.
The sticky is the black breaking down, if you clean it off, you're likely to end up with white buttons.

See photos here:

https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/sticky-buttons-sorted-today.34314/post-991546

and also right above your post, photo 4 has white buttons (with masked stickers stuck on as the repair in this thread suggests)

 

[Alfaholic]

Can't imagine this thread will ever die. I'm hoping to collect a 4200 CC in a couple of weeks. Lovely car that needs a few relatively simple jobs doing, including the sticky buttons which will be having their second attempt at a tidy. I'll definitely be choosing the decal route if they're still available

 

[Andy4200]

Yep, still available. Just let me know when required.
Andy.

 

[James3200GTA]

The sticky is the black breaking down, if you clean it off, you're likely to end up with white button

The idea was to coat them with a transparent 2K after removing the stickiness. Works well on the all black parts, managed to get it off before rubbing down to bare plastic. But if chances are significant I'm ending up with white buttons, may just have to send them out to have them recoated and laser engraved/etched.

 

[Corranga]

The idea was to coat them with a transparent 2K after removing the stickiness. Works well on the all black parts, managed to get it off before rubbing down to bare plastic. But if chances are significant I'm ending up with white buttons, may just have to send them out to have them recoated and laser engraved/etched.

I appreciate that, I guess my point is that the stickiness is the black coating.
Things like the steering column surround and vents are different as they are all black plastics with a black coating on top.

I haven't done the buttons yet, despite getting stickers from Andy a year ago, but some of my buttons are showing white through with normal wear and tear and the stickiness softening the black coating - so simply pressing my sticky window switches is enough to see some white!

 

[Alfaholic]

Yep, still available. Just let me know when required.
Andy.

Excellent news

 

[James3200GTA]

I haven't done the buttons yet, despite getting stickers from Andy a year ago, but some of my buttons are showing white through with normal wear and tear and the stickiness softening the black coating - so simply pressing my sticky window switches is enough to see some white!

Mine are not that far gone, so it basically comes down to how far the softcoating has deteriorated and if there is still some good part left which can be overcoated.


Honestly, an internal part of me cannot justify spending 200+ euros to get 2 window switches painted. I accepted that a car like this is not easy and some parts thus expensive. But spending that amount on 2 switches the size of a thumb nail, which cost probably 2 GBP to manufacture in the first place, is still a bridge to far. Also in light of the other issues which need sorting and funding.

I'll just attack it and see how far I can get. Worst case I'll end up with white buttons, then they need to be painted anyway. Swallow the pain then.

 

[Corranga]

Honestly, an internal part of me cannot justify spending 200+ euros to get 2 window switches painted. I accepted that a car like this is not easy and some parts thus expensive. But spending that amount on 2 switches the size of a thumb nail, which cost probably 2 GBP to manufacture in the first place, is still a bridge to far. Also in light of the other issues which need sorting and funding

I feel exactly the same, that’s why I bought the stickers from Andy and will strip the buttons back and do it manually.

Right now a 4200 that needs wishbone bushes, a clutch and has sticky buttons needs more money spent on it than it’s worth, which seems crazy to me.

 

[James3200GTA]

You're preaching to the choir, brother. Just managed to get some almost new front discs brakes, still need the pads, new tyres, + 2 wheel refurb, shocks rebuilt and probably Davy's pedal pot. And that's beside the cosmetics. The buttons are not prio, but they are right in your face and easy to do if it works out as planned.

We'll see, it keeps me occupied anyway and avoids having time to get into mischief. But any sane person would not start on this road .

 

[Alfaholic]

Picking my new (to me) 4200 Coupe in Sebring Blue next saturday, so a week of being stupidly excited ahead of me. Andy4200, I'll be needing some decals from you. I'll send a PM.

 

[James3200GTA]

Phase2: I've tackled the first parts with emblems on. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. Tweaked the 2K coating a bit and I feel confident enough (sorta) to tackle the in your face bits such as the aircon control, centre console buttons, shift indicator and window buttons.

We'll see where this goes. Pretty pleased so far.

 

[James3200GTA]

So the saga continues. Some tips from faffing about no particular order:
- The orange square on the door lock and the dots on the top vent are painted on and will wipe off with IPA.
- I use 90+ something IPA which is fairly aggressive. Thinning it if you want go slow would be advisable or get 70%
- The shifter boot is a PITA to get off. Suggest getting the centre panel out first and prying a flat screwdriver in between the dash supports and the boot support from the underside. The centre console and the boot have the same locking pin / spring assy. You can try to push the boot out, but my centre console pin thingy broke out of the plastic the other was already missing. Made one out of an M5 bolt and glued the other back in place.
- Also the window buttons are easier to push out from behind when the centre console is out. Easier than trying to do it with the interior removal tools.
- The aircon rotating switch in the middle has a longer connecting pin on the back. Mind that when placing back. It is also good to put the switches in the top position before disassembling and leave the blue pot meters alone. Incorrect installation of the switch on the pot meter may do strange things to the aircon.
- The rotating switch has a spring loaded bit on the underside. Mind that when taking off the switch.
- I used RAL 9017 for respraying the doorhandle panel, the window button and the vent dots integration. Comes really close to OEM.
- I used revell SM371 for touching up the letters on the shifter select panel. Also tried painting on the dots, but that was no success. If an airbrush was available migth have better luck.
- the recirculation and econ button on the aircon controls are backlit via a light guide tube. The outside of this transparent tube needs to be clear and mirror like. it works like a glass fibre. Opaque or painted outside will not reflect but scatter the light loosing intensity.

Below some pics for reference for anybody brave or foolish enough to also want to go down this road.

 

[James3200GTA]

Final result after abt 5 days work. Aft part of the centre console is out as the gas spring is DOA. Forgot to order one in time. Will be a weekend job.
After that cleaning and another job done.

 

[Alfaholic]

Pretty much perfect weather for working outside so I've been busy sorting the buttons. Delighted with the decals kindly supplied by Andy4200 but not so delighted with this supposedly "matt" lacquer. Definitely more satin.

I've found that a very gentle wipe over the decals with 1500 grit paper between coats of lacquer helps to smooth off the edges. They'll still be visible but I can definitely live with them.

The next challenge will be new markers for the heater control position. I had planned to use a small drill bit rotated by hand to remove the black paint but that's proving challenging with the rubber coating on the knobs. I suspect a white paint pen or small white dot decals will be needed.

 

[Alfaholic]

Not perfect but a massive improvement.