Dashboards and decals

[NYK]

I am speaking with Kelveden about the supply of a dash for my Plus 2 (As an aside has anyone bought one of their dashboards, if so what is the quality like?). They would normally supply a sheet of decals to be applied by the owner above the lacquer. I asked if they could be put on before the final coat of lacquer so as to protect them. Here is what they said .....

The decals were originally on top of the lacquer. They can be put under ? but this is not advised as they go brown quite quickly.

Do people have any experience of applying under the lacquer and if applied on top of final coat is there any tendency for them to lift/ scratch?

Nic

[Bigbaldybloke]

My ?new? dashboard that I am currently in the process of fitting has the decals under the lacquer. It?s about 20 years old but has spent the last 19 1/2 behind the wardrobe waiting to be fitted. Can?t remember who supplied it but it?s not faded at all as far as I can tell, photo below.

[greg40green]

Might be wrong but in my opinion putting the decals behind the lacquerer would protect the decals certainly from marking , going browns a new one on me but anything left in the sun to long would be affected.

[alan.barker]

I would suggest you try a different supplier
Alan

[Bigbaldybloke]

I?ve just checked my old dash and the decals were on top of the lacquer. I say we?re, as they are almost worn off and very faint after 50 years!

[661]

I had my Elan decals put on under the lacquer some 30 years ago and they don't look any different to the marginal tint the lacquer gave them back then.
I recall the reticence being that the pressure of the air in the gun could dislodge the decals when the lacquer is applied , it didn't thankfully as that would of been quite a mess.

[NYK]

I?ve got to admit I?m getting rather fed up trying to resolve my dashboard supply problem. So I have found just the one supplier who is saying he does not recommend putting the decals under the lacquer because they will go brown. I?ve today spoken to 4 other companies who would re-veneer my dash but none of them can provide the decals.

Any bright ideas gratefully received.

[Chancer]

Its probably more likely that the supplier does not want to place the lettering himself, its probably not his fort?, he may have done so before only to recieve complaints and he probably cannot charge anywhere near what his lost time is worth and it stll brings him bad reviews.

A lot of gate fabricators icluding myself in the past would happily splosh on a coat of red oxide but will refuse to do finish paintwork. Here in France trades have made refusing to do something because it isnt their job into an art form, its why you cannot find a general builder to do everything, even bricklayers wont point the bricks they have laid, someone else has to come along later and put up another load of scaffolding to do it for them.

My only suggestion is seeing if he is open to you returning the dash to him for final finishing after you have applied the lettering yourself, doing so you will probably understand why he wont do the lettering.

[USA64]

As someone kindly pointed out to me; I won't have to worry about it in fifty years. Maybe on top bare will last just fine.

[tvr78]

Put the decals on 18 years ago under the lacquer, still as bright as day one , ren?

[webrest7]

Put the decals on 18 years ago under the lacquer, still as bright as day one , ren?

Me too. No problem so far after fifteen years.
My original dash was l lightly sanded and sprayed with two pack clear.
looks fantastic.

[snowyelan]

Have you seen these?

lotus-parts-f33/elan-plus-fascia-labels-now-taking-orders-t40557.html#p290553

[The Veg]

Have you seen these?

lotus-parts-f33/elan-plus-fascia-labels-now-taking-orders-t40557.html#p290553

If I remember correctly, those are made by the same supplier I used. Mine are under polyurethane and look great, although the dash still isn't back in the car and hasn't seen any exposure to the elements.