Clear coating melamine dials? Prevenative?

February 24, 2013, 19:15

Joseph Boone

I have a few melamine dials that have begun to surface crack but aren't yet a total loss. Has anyone ever "coated" or painted over the melamine with a clear coat or shellac? -Spray on of course.

It could possibly seal and prevent further cracking and also add back a high luster shine. There are many multi part paints that are used for various hobbies that could be utilized. Maybe even some single stage spray cans. Has anyone attempted? I was thinking about performing some experiments on some old dials...

February 25, 2013, 06:55

Phillip Sanchez

Joe, that sounds like a plan. Sure would not hurt to try. Just shipping these things in the mail can cause them to crack.

February 25, 2013, 11:15

Joseph Boone

agree 100% Phil. I'll spray an old dial this week and do a before after to evaluate the shine, clarity etc and post back the results. I was hoping someone could recommend product they've used in the past. I only have experience with automotive paints.

I bet we can figure out something.

February 25, 2013, 16:22

Tim Poovey

Got my attention Joe,but not to shiney...WAITING!

February 25, 2013, 16:29

Gary E. Foster

Would poly euro thane work?

February 25, 2013, 16:52

Lindell V. Riddle

From a collector standpoint I would not coat them in any way.

That being said, if you do choose to try clear-coating them, perhaps the best product may be the very fine mist clear spray made to finish models. The brand "Testors" comes to mind, their products are excellent. But keep in mind, the markings on melamine dials are painted and adding a coating might attack the original numbers and other markings. Be very careful keeping "do no harm" in mind.

Please try your experiment only on a bad condition dial that is expendable.

We do have to realize the real problem is, these dials are aging and like many of us, those lines we see are just part of the process. As melamine dials crack in regular use, the pristine examples will continue increasing in value.

My thoughts on condition... "Buy the best, step away from the rest" ...period.

Lindell

February 25, 2013, 17:21

Joseph Boone

Lindell, I totally agree with what you're saying. But from a preservation standpoint should we do something?

I'm not advocating to take any pristine 23j dials and coat them. For the dials that are still half way presentable and will decay quickly now that the process has started, it seems like we should try to save them.

February 25, 2013, 17:33

Buster Beck

I tried "baking" one that had a few checks and cracks in it, hoping the "turned up" areas just might lie back down and meld back......

That don't work

All it did was blister up like "moon craters", zits or volcanoes all over the surface

regards,
bb

February 25, 2013, 17:36

Lindell V. Riddle

YIKES!!!

Sounds like Buster had quite an experience!

But responding to Joseph,

Altering the dial by clear-coating it will greatly decrease value to future collectors. I cannot too strongly urge you to NOT do any clear-coating of good condition melamine dials.

Here is my preservation method...

I use this method on new paperback books and various collectable items in order to help preserve them, far more things than I would bore you with the very long list even to help seal the signature on the back of my credit cards. This is simple and it does no harm.

Are you ready?

Tear off a piece of waxed paper from the roll you likely have in your kitchen and rub the item you wish to preserve. Do not use any kind of car polish on melamine as it could soak-in and change the tone of the background and it could also smear or even rub off the markings.

Rubbing with clean waxed paper will provide a non-invasive protection.

It will fill-in the fine cracks and help to slow the aging.

Try it and see what you think.

Lindell

February 25, 2013, 17:50

Michael Briggs

There are grades of acrylic with UV absorber. If one could buy or make a "crystal" out of such a plastic, perhaps it would help presever a melamine dial. This would be reversible, since one could always replace the crystal.

February 25, 2013, 18:44

Richard Andelfinger

I would like to recommend that you get in touch with Target Coatings at www.targetcoatings.com. They manufacturer some very high-quality water-based finishes and if you ask them about your specific application of topcoating melamine, they will be able to tell you which coatings would be best as they have excellent technical support. I have used their EM9000 interior polyurethane before on prefinished furniture that almost nothing else would "stick" to with excellent results. They also have an EM9300 exterior polycarbonate urethane that is very tough. The best feature is, these are all water-based finishes and you would not have to worry about a solvent-based finish potentially etching or dissolving the melamine dial. Unfortunately, they do not make ready-to-use spray cans, but you could get a small amount and use a hobby airbrush setup. And it all cleans up with water!

February 25, 2013, 19:35

Robert J. McKeever

AS YOU SAID automotive paints--25 yrs ago I did a chelsea #3 clock dial that was flaking with automotive laquar and wa-la no more flaking and no extra kuster try it

February 25, 2013, 19:53

Tim Poovey

Has anyone ever seen a melamine dial that has cracked thru the numbers? If so, since the numbers are actually a coating on the dial would it be possible to say that this is a clue that the problem is starting deeper and maybe even a coating would not even help the ageing process.I would like to hear some thoughts.

March 01, 2013, 15:14

Claude Griffith

Sealing it would do a few things, since melamine is plastic if the coating has UV inhibitors it would protect it from further UV damage. It would also seal it and protect it from oxidation/ozone damage. I would try something like what was mentioned (Testors for model cars) spay a sample first on something to check the gloss level, most times clears are available in gloss and semi-gloss.