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To Remove Stains From Enamel Dials

Enamel dials sometimes have black or cloudy stains upon their faces, caused usually by the tin boxes in which they are shipped. These can be removed with a piece of soft tissue paper previously dampened with nitric acid. Wipe the stained places, carefully avoiding the painted portions as much as possible, for in some very cheap dials the painting is not well fired, and may be injured by the acid. Wash the dial thoroughly in clean water and dry in sawdust.

To Reduce the Diameter of a Dial. Rest the dial in an inclined position and file the edge with a half smooth file, dipping the file in turpentine occasionally, and finish with a fine emery stick.

To Repair a Chipped Dial. Gently heat the surface of the dial and fill the hole with a compound of white lead and white resin, heated over the flame of a spirit lamp. It is better to heat the blade of a knife rather than the wax, and run no risk of discoloring the wax. Cut off a small piece of the wax and run no risk of discoloring the wax. Cut off a small piece of the wax and press firmly into the hole, allowing it to project a little above the dial. When cold, scrape down even with the dial, and finish, by holding it close to the flame, when the patch will gloss over nicely. Be careful and do not get it too close to the flame, or you may turn the enamel yellow. A mixture of white lead and white wax applied and polished by friction is also used, but it is not as handy and is not as capable of a high polish.