Removing Paint But Leave Patina?

What is the best method for removing PO attempt at painting on these dash bolts without removing the natural gray/dull silver patina? His approach was obviously just squirt some on and move on, as he got it on bolts, wires, guages, steering wheel, you name it. I was thinking brake fluid, but I thought I pick the brains here first for their experience. See the red dash bolts.....


How did the latches come from the factory? Galvanized? And what is the best thing to do as far restoration? Mine have some rust and do not operate smoothly.

 

I think a wire wheel would remove or damage the cadmium plating.

Another option would be to send them out for re-plating, or look into some of the Eastwood Company restoration products.

Electroplating Equipment - Electro Plating - Electroplating Kits - Eastwood

 

I've done the wire wheel on stuff and it definately gets the patina. I think the old 'donkey dick' gas can sprouts I have were also cadmium plated. Ones is pretty rusted and doesn't flex very well. I may experiment with it.

 

Yep. Try to find the liquid kind rather than the gel, and immerse them. If it's spray can paint, it may even come off with a soak in lacquer thinner, or even xylene. Goof-off (or any graffiti remover) is also effective.

The latches are bright plated, but I don't know whether it's cad or zinc. Cadmium is not common today mostly due to environmental and health issues, but on an old car it's hard to predict.

 

What I call "Patina" is the well-worn look that antique objects aquire with age and use.

Are you trying to preserve that, or return things to their 'as new' look?

 

Looking for somewhere I between. But if I can't get factory look with some reasonable aging, the I prefer factory new over the crappy red overspray, rust, etc.

 

I would stay away from the wire wheel for cleaning the bolt heads. That will leave paint in the crevices, and buff off the original plating. Aerosol paint stripper would work quite well, and is quick and easy, provided you remove the bolts from the dash. I usually poke a series of holes in a piece of cardboard to hold the bolts in place for spraying with stripper. A few minutes usually does it, and a stiff scrub brush (with lots of rinse water) will get the nooks and crannies clean.
Please keep those original recessed head bolts as too many old Jeeps have lost these to "upgrades" to stainless.
I think the original latches were lightly zinc plated, as were the bolts. This also may be an early cad plating that is not found today, as modern cad has a gold color.
The Tuxedo Park Jeeps had both the bolts and latches chrome plated, and the chrome latches were optional from the dealer back in the day. Unfortunately, "factory new" today means inferior made in China junk, so keep your originals by all means.
-Donny

 

I use oven cleaner a lot - but it will eat zinc or aluminum alloys, etc. Maybe cadmium too?

 

I suspect the plating on those bolts will have failed to the same degree that the plating on the windshield catch bolts has failed.

That's a hex head bolt (screw) with a captured washer. I looked at some online resources, and I don't see many options for replacement. Likely the part that would look most like the originals would be a flanged hex head screw (bolt).

 

Try the "Works" toilet bowl cleaner or this: 1 Gallon Evapo-Rust™ Rust Remover