Painting side rods, etc.

If you are going to remove them bead blast them and they will be a silver color....but if after blasting not silver enough....you can prime and paint with Dupli-color auto paint.

Thanks for the suggestion AMCDave, although bead blasting sounds expensive.

Does anyone have other ideas?

I recommend this product as a much better treatment for valve gear, and side rods. It self lubricates and it gives the appearance of what real steam locomotive valve gear looked like much more so than the mess of a paint job. Some of the best custom paint jobs are using this as a final touch.

http://www.micromark.com/neolube-2-fl-oz,8383.html

That makes the rods far too dark, in my opinion, which is just what Jon is trying to avoid.

I'd try naval jelly to remove the blackening.

Of course, I like to paint the shiny rods black or near-black to tone down the flash,

but, I use good-quality acrylic paints (like Model-Master). Sicks pretty well, and, being

acrylic, resists lubrication damage.

Getting "the oil off" simply involves washing the parts in dishwashing liquid.

Also:

You might remove the blackening with a Moto-Tool and a wire brush (use the brass wire

brush, not the steel); if the dark finish can be removed chemically, even better.

Try this on the back of the rods first. If it works acceptably and the finish is to your liking,

do the outsides.

"Sanding Film", which is available at Hobby Lobby and other places, is very, very fine

sand "paper" on plastic film and may be used to help give the rods the final texture

that you like.

Removing the blackening rather than painting the rods will eliminate any future paint

touch-up.