absinth Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 If I have a vintage dial which has been yellowed/browned due to poor storage/age. Is there a way to make it white again safely without repainting it? What cleaners can I try use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 What dial? Please post pics to be able to advise further Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 Sometimes, with gloss dials, you can whiten them a bit using a light liquid detergent like Woolite and warm water. But this can also wipe out some of the text on the dial. Other than that, dabbing surface debris with Rodico putty (available from Ofrei.com and most watch parts houses) is about all you can use safely. Repainting is the only method I know of to improve a discolored or stained dial. In most cases, I think vintage dials look better with a bit of discoloration, so I would leave it as is. Anything you do is more than likely going to look 'artificial' (or worse). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 If you are very sure of the dial material, and print medium, you can soak the dial in Steradent. That is the effeveescent product used for cleaning false teeth. ( Steradent here in Oz.) Allow to bubble for 5 minutes and dab dry. Have had some very good success, and also have destroyed a couple, when I didn't realise the dial was either a transfer, or paper face, or the lettering was water soluble!!!! Seems that vintage dials are more "robust" and in the main will work with this method.... newer dials tend to not react as well. And unfortunately it is not like you can test a sample area So user beware. Offshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
absinth Posted November 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 Here are the dial pictures if anyone wants to offer more input... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sssurfer Posted November 10, 2007 Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 Uhm. Steradent and similars are very effective on white ceramic dials. But your dial looks metallic. H2O2, bleach, and similar oxiding agents might give a transient improvement, but then they might make it even worse as stain is an oxidation process. If I were you, I would, in order: 1 - Try some physical means (i.e. Rodico) 2 - Live with it (in the end, that is a vintage dial). 3 - Try some of those anti-stain-spot liquids for tissues/clothes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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