Belt buckle finish?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I pulled these today and ready to polish the left one and pack it away. Real happy with it. As you can see the right one has a a few scratches. One scratch somewhat deep, the others light. So I'm wondering is the surfaces have a coated finish of some kind? In other words, if I sand the plastic to say 1500 grit, am I going to ruin this or can the surface sand to like new? I've read the steering wheels can be sanded to perfect. Perhaps the buckles are the same.

Thank you.

[tommys72]

Id get one or of a junkyard first to test...dont ruin your nice one if it doesn't work

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by tommys72

Id get one or of a junkyard first to test...dont ruin your nice one if it doesn't work

Ha, I wish local wrecking yards had these. I may have found a parts truck however. Will know more next weekend.

I suspect my OP is wishful thinking, because that deep scratch looks a little light. Maybe these were painted gloss with a clear coat.

[FirstOwner69]

Sand away! They are not painted or clear coated. Mine didn't have any significant scratches, but I polished them with my stainless polishing setup using light pressure, a flannel buff and white rouge (the final stainless polishing buff and compound).

Jim

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Sand away! They are not painted or clear coated. Mine didn't have any significant scratches, but I polished them with my stainless polishing setup using light pressure, a flannel buff and white rouge (the final stainless polishing buff and compound).

Jim

Long time no hear Jim. Thanks for the information.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Long time no hear Jim. Thanks for the information.

Incidentally, the labels on your belts are in incredibly good condition. They look like new. Very unusual.

[In The Ten Ring]

What is a good way to wash old seat belts?

Can faded seat belts be re-dyed?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Incidentally, the labels on your belts are in incredibly good condition. They look like new. Very unusual.

I assume you mean the white label. Thank you. They made the interior on these trucks right. All but the seat covers anyway.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

What is a good way to wash old seat belts?

Can faded seat belts be re-dyed?

I put mine in the washing machine after removing the latches. Unfortunately, the label was slightly faded after they came out. No dryer, just air dried.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

What is a good way to wash old seat belts?

Can faded seat belts be re-dyed?

I wash mine in a sink with hot water and Tide detergent and scrub them with a stiff bristle brush.

[davepl]

On a higher end restoration I had done a few years back they carefully remove the labels, whiten them somehow, reweb the belts and sew the labels back onto the belts. Everything winds up looking like new.

Unfortunately I don't know what it cost, it was just part of the "big bill" at the end, but I don't have an item cost for it. But it can be done, suffice to say.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by davepl

On a higher end restoration I had done a few years back they carefully remove the labels, whiten them somehow, reweb the belts and sew the labels back onto the belts. Everything winds up looking like new.

Unfortunately I don't know what it cost, it was just part of the "big bill" at the end, but I don't have an item cost for it. But it can be done, suffice to say.

That does sound "high end!" My compliments.

[special-K]

I use Purple Power mixed pretty strong, forget about them a day or so, then blast off with water. Pressure washer is best, but I used the spray of my garden hose. It's not kind to the labels, so carefully remove if that matters. I think those can be reproduced, but don't have the source available. There are plastic polishes to give buckles the royal treatment.

Hung out to dry:
*

* All these are long gone. Sold to Jerry Brown years ago

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

What is a good way to wash old seat belts?

Can faded seat belts be re-dyed?

I cleaned mine with a light solution of Woolite, light brush strokes with a soft bristle brush and then rinsed the heck out of them. Blew a lot of them dry and hung em up straight into the breezeway, no sun, as you know. Not here anyway. Nv. sun would bleach them out I'm guessing.

I'd think any black dye for nylon works.

[BLAZERMAN]

I've had pretty good luck cleaning belts it there just dirty. Some colors fade worse than others, I probably bought 5 or six different sets of saddle and brown trying to come up with a nice complete set.
I'm gathering parts for a red interior now and wasn't looking forward to finding nice used belts, got nothing from a WTB post on the parts board. Just bit the bullet and called up the Cheyenne Super Man and he did me up a set in bright red and had them to me in a matter of a few days. I probably would have spent more gathering various sets just to make one.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Those are SUPER DUPER BLAZERMAN

Curious what you paid. A recent NOS black sold for $400ish Ebay. Yours look nicer and the red on these trucks is fantastic.

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Those are SUPER DUPER BLAZERMAN

Curious what you paid. A recent NOS black sold for $400ish Ebay. Yours look nicer and the red on these trucks is fantastic.

They were 200.00 shipped, he does ask that you send him a pair of belts back that he can use for parts, can be any color and condition. He does great work!
Posted via Mobile Device

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

They were 200.00 shipped, he does ask that you send him a pair of belts back that he can use for parts, can be any color and condition. He does great work!
Posted via Mobile Device

Wow thanks. All original I'm assuming. I'll say he does nice work. Turns out I bought three sets tonight. Came with a truck I scored T-he. If you think about it, PM or otherwise, can you hook me up? I'll give him a two for one "deal".