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Old 03-22-2020, 01:02 AM   #1
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Restore Faded Engine Control Knobs

My 20 year old sun bleached shift and engine speeed control knobs were ridiculously expensive on Ebay and Amazon so I decided to restore them by myself.
I was amazed at how quick and simple it was to do.
1- Cut the head off of a 3/8 fine bolt with a hacksaw or angle grinder etc. thread the stub into the knob and place in the chuck of your drill.
2- Use 400 and 800 grit sandpaper cupped in your hand and spin the knob against it untill faded material is all removed. (Approx 5 minutes each for mine)
3- Polish knob with Novex 2 to restore the shine. You can buy small quantities from motorcycle shops. It is used to polish scratches from plastic windshields.
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Old 03-22-2020, 01:20 AM   #2
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Looks very nice. Good idea.
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Old 03-22-2020, 06:42 AM   #3
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Nice job. I’m guessing it will fade quickly, but not to anything like you started with. A couple minutes with the polish a few times a year should keep you in good shape.
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Old 03-22-2020, 06:58 AM   #4
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You can buy those knobs very cheaply at McMaster-Carr.
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:09 AM   #5
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You can buy those knobs very cheaply at McMaster-Carr.
Where's the fun in that?
How do you get to use a drill doing that!?
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:58 AM   #6
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I paid $8 for two on Ebay. Brand new. Got all 8 that I needed for $32.
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Old 03-22-2020, 02:17 PM   #7
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Quarantine for 10 more days. Whoohoo. Boredom is very motivating so I logged in.

This thread separates the “boaters” from the “mariners.” Boaters just buy stuff and have others install and do repairs, probably have someone else wash the boat and clean the windows; many need help to check their oil. Mariners know every inch of their boats and fix things themselves, frequently at sea. Neither understand each other. That’s why there are posters on this thread that can’t understand Stanfromhell’s great solution and are touting their cleverness with EBay.

I love the “knob solution.” Very creative.
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Old 03-22-2020, 02:31 PM   #8
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Good to see you back Xsbank
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Old 03-22-2020, 02:52 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Xsbank View Post
Quarantine for 10 more days. Whoohoo. Boredom is very motivating so I logged in.

This thread separates the “boaters” from the “mariners.” Boaters just buy stuff and have others install and do repairs, probably have someone else wash the boat and clean the windows; many need help to check their oil. Mariners know every inch of their boats and fix things themselves, frequently at sea. Neither understand each other. That’s why there are posters on this thread that can’t understand Stanfromhell’s great solution and are touting their cleverness with EBay.

I love the “knob solution.” Very creative.

Yes, and I have done that myself as well. But for you to start comparing mariners and boaters, and making further uniformed comments, I feel I must reply. Because I found a good deal on Ebay means I am a junior "boater" in your eyes? So be it. I'll accept that because you dont know me. But my 30 years of boat ownership, multiple licenses and 25+ years in Navy with 5 deployments say different. At this point I would start getting childish like yourself and make assumptions based on your comments, but I think I made my point. Have another drink and enjoy your quarantine.
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Old 03-22-2020, 03:51 PM   #10
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My point was that a fellow member on here posted an innovative, imaginative fix for some problem that patently works.

Isn’t that the purpose of this site?

I am not childish, I’m a curmudgeon. Your assumptions are wrong.
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Old 03-22-2020, 03:54 PM   #11
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My point was that a fellow member on here posted an innovative, imaginative fix for some problem that patently works.

Isn’t that the purpose of this site?

I am not childish, I’m a curmudgeon. Your assumptions are wrong.


Touche'
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Old 03-22-2020, 04:03 PM   #12
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I did it . Lasted 2 weeks and back to looking like crap. I bought SS knobs
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Old 03-22-2020, 05:11 PM   #13
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Greetings,
Mr. X. Allow me to publicly welcome you back. I fear the forum just wasn't itself without a certain level of curmudgeonly edge.






Yup. Dandy resto-fix and a good idea.
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Old 03-22-2020, 06:23 PM   #14
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Where did you get SS knobs?
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Old 03-22-2020, 06:46 PM   #15
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Where did you get SS knobs?
McMaster-Carr has 'em up to 5/8" in diameter. 303 alloy.
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:00 PM   #16
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What a great idea during quarantine. Knob polishing.
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:17 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xsbank View Post
Quarantine for 10 more days. Whoohoo. Boredom is very motivating so I logged in.

This thread separates the “boaters” from the “mariners.” Boaters just buy stuff and have others install and do repairs, probably have someone else wash the boat and clean the windows; many need help to check their oil. Mariners know every inch of their boats and fix things themselves, frequently at sea. Neither understand each other. That’s why there are posters on this thread that can’t understand Stanfromhell’s great solution and are touting their cleverness with EBay.

I love the “knob solution.” Very creative.
Hi Ken. Good to see you again.
I am 11 days left after a rush trip home up the I-5. The only indignity was the border guys having nothing better to do than be super thorough, so that wine we had planned to consume before coming home but was still with us, cost roughly twice its initial purchase price in taxes and duty.
Oh well, the view out our front window is still superb and hasn't been observed for the last 5 months.
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Old 03-22-2020, 07:44 PM   #18
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Glad to see you back Xsbank . I’ve missed your style of humor.
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Old 03-22-2020, 08:29 PM   #19
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Quote:
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You can buy those knobs very cheaply at McMaster-Carr.
Great tip - and some glow in the dark!! SS and Brass (for those who really enjoy polishing one's knobs!)


Now I just need a tip on how to clean that corroded chrome plated pot metal housing??

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Old 03-22-2020, 08:37 PM   #20
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Greetings,
Mr. O. I think you may be out of luck with the pot metal housing. I have two small ventilation cowls that are pitted badly. I sanded and filed all of the lifted chrome plating off the surface, fared the pits with this:





Sanded, re-filled, sanded and painted.
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