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Looks very interesting.... I've used silver and gold markers, model paint, etc... nothing really holds up to any kind of handling. You'll have to try it and let us know!
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Quote:
It appears to be heated and uses gold or silver foil that transfers to the surface being written on. They claim it works on plastic. Maybe just the thing for restoring worn silver finishes on calculators.
Has anybody tried it?
I haven't, but a close reading of the advertisement reveals that the "foil" is "gold (colored)" and "satin finish", as is the "silver". It appears to be a heated ball-point stylus, and you'd write with it on the back of the foil with the "metal" surface of the foil facing the work -- like using carbon paper. That would probably make it difficult to use on a surface like the top of the silver bar on the calc -- the pen would keep falling of the edge, I'd think. Also, it's a satin finish, instead of the shiny aluminum finish that metalized plastic usually sports. Of course, a satin finish might be more appropriate to the restoration, depending.
A cheap way to test it would be to simply buy some of the foil, and use a heated flat or slightly rounded utensil, like the head of polished steel rivet or carriage bolt held in a pair of vise-grips over a heat source (but not hot enough to melt plastic, of course)... As long as you were applying it to a raised surface, such as a worn-down HP-15C logo, it might look fine.
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Haven't tried it, and in it's present form (ball point) I warrant it would not the right tool for the job.
Pretty well the only way to get the original look would be to strip the calculator down, and present the bezel to an automotive detailer (one with a vacumm chrome applicator).
Maybe something to look into for the guide this summer.
Cheers, Geoff
