Hot Rods Gauge Face Cleaning Help

Does anyone have experience cleaning GM or similar gauge faces? It seems the lettering is silk screened on? Using light chemicals the letters/numbers smear off.
I have some rare gauges that need just cleaned, some need repaint.
I have a 55 Studebaker 160 mph speedo that has some corrosion on the numbers is like to restore for my car. Any suggestions?

 

GOOGLE automobile gauge restoration shops. You will probably find one near you.

 

Start cleaning with just warm water on a soft white towel, then go to warm water with a little bit of
dawn dish washing detergent on the towel. Use a clean white soft rag and keep an eye on the cleaning area of the towel. That'll let ya know if you are removing anything but the dirt.Slow and easy wins the race.

 

my experience has been that the silkscreen on the odometer wheels may fall off if you just touch it! any chips or flaking and i'd stay away from them

 

Use Q tips and water at the very edge to begin with. If that works, keep at it with lots of fresh Q tips. Definitely no chemicals, and probably no soap. If you are feeling really lucky, try some soap.

 

Hi. I know some of my Chevy parts sources have both Chevy car & truck replacement decals for this and they are not expensive. Google Studebaker parts or guage parts & see what you can find. Also Google & find the Studebaker club (national) and go to their site and scroll thru their ads or classified & or contact their tech help.
In my 46 Chevy Coupe my wind up clock did not work so I sent it to the clock guy with instructions to get it working and adjusted but do not change dial decal or hands as I wanted the patina look on the original to remain.
Good luck, Jimmie

 

If it’s rare, Consider having a decal made for it.
Can’t be that expensive.