Polished Alloy Dash Housing

[Anglo Traction 761]

On my current project, I've reached the point of cleaning/prepping this item, it's looking pretty good under the old paint. I reckon with a bit of Fettling and Elbow Grease it will polish up pretty good. Just wondered if anyone has done this and how it would look ?.

[dgjks6 6]

Do you mean polishing the housing and leaving it natural?

[sorekiwi 761]

I havent seen it on a later tractor, butI think both Jon (Bell) and Gene (Haasman) have had polished the gas tanks on roundhoods.

I'm not a huge fan of it, I think it looks pretty cool but once it's polished you have to keep polishing it to keep it looking nice.

[Kelly 1,030]

I've seen it on the round hood tanks and a late 60's square hood, lots of work to make it nice, and keep it nice, I also wouldn't do it, but that is what makes us all human, the ability to be different.

[neil 2,410]

I can see why some people choose to polish this part as you can spent hours

preparing & painting and as soon as the hood goes on the dash holder gets easy scratched & chipped , Whilst maybe not looking original it could be easier to just polish the dash again when is tarnishes than to repaint.

So i can understand why you Ask this question Richard and i will scoure through my picture archive to see if i can find a picture of someone elses.

i actually think it look really cool

[Anglo Traction 761]

Thanks for your input guys.

Do you mean polishing the housing and leaving it natural?

Hi Greg, Yes , polish (or brush) the Alloy body and probably laquer it to protect it a bit. It all depends if I can ensure there are no Flaws or marks in the Alloy Casting that may show.

What I'll do is 'Mock' it up when I've painted the 1st Top coat on the adjoining panels to see how it looks and post a piccy.

I'm also thinking using Stainless for the Ammeter/Regulator Plate and for the Shifter Gate Plate (engrave the gear #s in it) to give a kind of 'Flow' to the shiney bits.

Regards.

[Electro12WH 50]

I sure want to see it when it;s done. Would aluminum be easier than Stainless? How about machine turning?

[Anglo Traction 761]

I sure want to see it when it;s done. Would aluminum be easier than Stainless? How about machine turning?

Hi Electro12wh, Well I've found a few Flaws in the Dash body that I can't hide, mainly a small crack on an edge . I have another Dash Body, but for the time being I'll spray this one silver and continue with the idea.

Yes, A/c Grade Aluminium for the other panels is an option, but am leaning to stainless for rigidity.

If the term 'Machine Turning' is the same as 'Engine Turning', Yep!, I've scribbled that on my 'Note Board' as a possibility. Thanks.

Regards.

[chris11 184]

Are you talking about this part?

[Anglo Traction 761]

Hi Chris, That's a Fine Machine you've built there, and a tasty 'V' twin in it .

I've Painted the Dash Housing silver as mentioned in my previous, to see how it looks.......mmmm! , I think if I can't polish it, it will stay Red and use stainless on the other 2 panels mentioned.

[dgjks6 6]

thats awesome

love the look

[AMC RULES 37,141]

WOW! That silver painted dash sure looks real nice. Great job.

[chris11 184]

That looks great, I think that would look great buffed up.

[VinsRJ 723]

That looks great!

Anotehr option is to use fine glass bead, gives a not as polished look.