I need advice on removing silver paint on face of this clock without damaging the original under. See picture where some paint is gone. Got it Friday

[Ms G]

 

[tracerjack]

It looks like someone painted the dial because the original underneath has lost its silvering. If it were my dial, I would take off the numbers, strip off the paint, sand down to the brass, refill the minute ring with shellac, then resilver. Put numbers back, and dial is done.

 

[Ms G]

Yes I see that I need how to remove the paint with what thinner chemicals etc.

 

[tracerjack]

After removing the numbers, the heat from a hair dryer might lift the paint. Any paint stripper will get the paint to lift. Most likely will ruin the shellac in the minute ring, but it looks like the shellac is already gone. Redoing a dial takes a lot of work, particularly sanding the dial down to the brass. The silvering compound is pricey, and refilling the engraving with shellac is super messy. You may want to consider sending the dial to be professionally restored.

 

[Ms G]

Ahh sound like it's beyond my skills; thought it may be easier done. Thanks so much!

 

[tracerjack]

There is always the option of removing the paint, removing or masking off the numbers and spraying a coat of silver paint just like what has already been done to it. The original dial will still be there under the paint if someday, someone wanted to fully restore it.

 

[Steve Neul]

Before you give up you might see what it costs to have someone restore the face.