Factory Switch Darkening

[SatiricalHen]

I've noticed every factory switch from this era Comanche/Cherokee seems to be light grey and chalky looking. I was wondering if any of you had found a way other than painting to bring back the darker color of the switch. Thanks in advance!

[eaglescout526]

Well I know there is new switches available but I’ve had some luck using some plastic restore that is used for auto detail on sunfaded plastics, but I never tried such on one of the switches. I think I have a couple and I can see how well they come out this afternoon when I return home. 

[schardein]

I have a stiff plastic bristle brush for cleaning hands & fingernails.  I take the old switch and give it 30 seconds of brushing, dry, as hard as I can press it.  I go at it from a couple different angles.  Some clean up better than others, but the ones that clean up good, look really good.

 

Left two are the cleanest used switches I've found in about 10 years of searching.  The far right is a cleaned up switch.  Sorry, no before/after.

[Dzimm]

You can use a heat gun to restore the darker color on some plastics, works especially well for fender flares.  Haven't tried it on those switches but its worth a shot.

[SatiricalHen]

Maybe next time I go to the junkyard I’ll grab a few random switches out of a Cherokee or two and see if I can try different things and darken them up.


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[eaglescout526]

Well, I ought to follow up and the results are not terrible but not great

 

 

The defrost switch came out as the worst, the rear wipers came out acceptable

 

 

From left to right: Defrost, both rear wipers and NOS fog light. Used plastic restore.

Not great but decent. I wouldn't pick up a bottle unless the other options don't do well.

[SatiricalHen]

Well, I ought to follow up and the results are not terrible but not great
 

 
The defrost switch came out as the worst, the rear wipers came out acceptable
 

 
From left to right: Defrost, both rear wipers and NOS fog light. Used plastic restore.
Not great but decent. I wouldn't pick up a bottle unless the other options don't do well.

Man that NOS switch looks really good. I looked up the price of a new switch and for an autozone one it’s like $45. Not sure if it’s that worth it to me.


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[eaglescout526]

6 minutes ago, SatiricalHen said:

Man that NOS switch looks really good. I looked up the price of a new switch and for an autozone one it’s like $45. Not sure if it’s that worth it to me.


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Meh, I would not buy a new switch unless you really really needed to.

[SatiricalHen]

Meh, I would not buy a new switch unless you really really needed to.

I don’t plan on it unless I win the lottery or somehow find it for dirt cheap.


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[Limeyjeeper]

I have been using Griots plastic polish. It works pretty well in cleaning up switches and backing plates. Takes some rubbing but it seems to do the trick. Left switch untouched, right one polished.