Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Doing some cosmetic projects while I wait for parts. Ash tray lid is pretty nasty so I disassembled the center console and have been cleaning everything up. Im using metal polish paste in an attemp to clean up the lid without much success. Any tips or tricks, From what ive been reading from searching posts , alot of members have simply painted the lid. Id prefer to clean it up and shine it up if possible.

I had mine powder coated, along with the rest of the trim on the dash & console. If you decide to go with powder coat on the piece that this lid slides into, be sure to remove the plastic runners that the lid slides on, they can be put back on afterwards.

Peace, Pat

Thanks Pat. That makes more sense to me than painting it. I'd have to ship it up to the U.S. since i'm down in Baja Mexico but that's doable. I live in a tiny fishing village of about 20.000 people so not any powder coating businesses or chroming business for that matter. Everything has to be shipped to or from the states when it comes to the roadster, so everything takes a bit longer but it's all part of living in paradise. A small price to pay.

Don't sell your town short. I live in a town of about 15,000 & we have 2 powder coaters. take a look around before you send parts to the states.

Peace, Pat

Baja -
Get some EvapOrust, and soak this part for about 24-48 hours. No need to disassemble or remove any plastic bits. EVOR is non-toxic and won't harm the plastic.
Remove, rinse, buff and if it looks as good as mine did after that, clear coat it and be done.
Mine truly looked awful when I started and looked great when done. No painting, re-chroming or powder coating.
I mean it couldn't hurt to just try that first. Around here a gallon of EvapOrust is about$20. If it doesn't give you desirable results then you can always try something different.
And no, I have no affiliation with the product, just love it that much!

Pat, it sounds like possibly you've never been to rural Mexico. The nearest powder coating business to me is likely Tiajuana, about 800 miles north of Loreto where I live. Notoptoy, it sounds like the EvaOrust might be worth a try. Thanks for the suggestion.

Baja, I agree about using Evaporust. It's a great product that I've used often for various projects with great success.

There is also a gel version of Evapo-Rust if you have a part that just needs a couple touch up areas that you need some cling effect, as opposed to a full soak for the entire part.

bajaroadster wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:27 pm ashtray lid.jpgDoing some cosmetic projects while I wait for parts. Ash tray lid is pretty nasty so I disassembled the center console and have been cleaning everything up. Im using metal polish paste in an attemp to clean up the lid without much success. Any tips or tricks, From what ive been reading from searching posts , alot of members have simply painted the lid. Id prefer to clean it up and shine it up if possible.

Hi Baja, Sorry I didn't see this until now. Hopefully, you've made some progress with Evaporust.

I've actually done a few of these, ever since I destroyed mine by giving it to a plater who assured me that they could replicate the original satin finish.

But, if Evaporust (or equivalent) didn't do the trick, try Mother's chrome polish - it's not really a "polish" in the fact that it's non-abrasive. But... whatever the heck Mother puts in that stuff, on some parts it reeeeally works.

Read and follow the instructions closely - especially the part about using a CLEAN dry rag to wipe it off after it initially dries. You may need to do it a couple of times.

I've had good luck with that, and I hope you do too!
Peter

Thanks for the reply Peter.I was able to get the lid very clean with the evaporust and some sanding and polishing but the pitting was just to deep to get a decent surface. I finally had to settle for filling and painting it. Its not factory correct but looks very nice. Perhaps i'll run across a original one someday.

Ken

Hey Ken,
I don't know if you care to try a technique I did... it's tedious as heck, but it did yield some acceptable results...

Here is the post about my center console project... and a lot more than you'd ever want to know... with an unnecessary amount of sarcasm.

So read at your own discretion, you've been warned.

viewtopic.php?p=319255#p319255

Thanks Peter, I actually did read that thread when searching the site for tips. How about I just send you mine and let you go to work? All kidding aside, my car is a pretty well sorted driver, but not a true restoration by any means.The lid turned out looking pretty good if not exactly factory. For now, I can live with it.

bajaroadster wrote: Tue Apr 18, 2023 11:03 am Thanks Peter, I actually did read that thread when searching the site for tips. How about I just send you mine and let you go to work? All kidding aside, my car is a pretty well sorted driver, but not a true restoration by any means.The lid turned out looking pretty good if not exactly factory. For now, I can live with it.

Ha! Never again.

And so glad to hear it turned out well.

Hasta luego,
Pedro

I can live with it for now.