Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
I think if you replaced everything (Blank switches, window switches, and defrost) then everything would at least look uniform. I'm not sure if the blank switches I got were just a bad batch that they functioned kinda clunky, or if that's how they all are. From what I've heard the window switches have a better feel to them but I haven't had two side by side to compare.
The defrost switch label looks good, so at least you've got that one done. Do the vinyl labels come on a piece of contact paper or are you having to peel and stick? I'd think he best way to get the arrows for the window switches would be to have the place cutting them have them spaced a the correct height when they are cut. Then you'd just have to weed out the center of the arrow, apply to contact paper and then it would be easier to apply to the switch and have the arrows parallel.
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Thanks! Silly as it sounds that's exactly the level of detail I needed
The stickers are peel and stick and quite fragile, which is why it takes some time to position them correctly - lots of tiny little lines to get arranged just so. It would be better if they were on contact paper, you're right - but that's not how these were made, sadly. Ultimately I ordered replacement switches anyway (went with the LED ones) because I forgot that taking the cap off the Defrost switch dooms you to spending hours in rebuild hell. I managed to rebuild it one time, but had no luck this go around and took it as a sign that a new one would be $40 well spent.
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
I could send them out on contact paper, I have successfully used masking tape in place of contact paper, you could give that a try. I sell loads of these and I have to sit weeding the waste material from between each sticker with a craft knife, you need a lot of patience!
At least people are finding them useful, I sell quite a lot to non-DeLorean owners too.
James
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Yeah, they're beautifully made. But it's down to the skill of the person installing them I guess
If they did come on a switch-cap sized sheet of contact paper with the arrows (in the case of a window switch) properly aligned and spaced it would be a much simpler job to apply them and get consistent results, for sure!
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log
Location: Sacramento-ish
Posts: 4,408
My VIN: 02100
Club(s): (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Ok, I got my new switches and they're very nice. The defroster switch is a little too black compared to the window/dummy switches, but such is life. That's minor. Waiting on my Mattaligner to come before I judge for sure, but I'll definitely need to prop up the center console a bit for everything to fit properly. Does anyone else have a few pics of the wood trick they did? I have a bit of hardwood 1x1 laying around the garage I could trim to fit but just interested in the positioning others used.
Jon
1981 DMC-12 #02100. July 1981. 5-speed, black, grooved w/flap.
restoration log, March 2011 to present
full and detailed photo restoration log