Took yesterday morning off, but started at the switches in the afternoon. Taped up the metal faces, and took pictures of the indicator symbols. Trialed a few combinations of prep and paint products that I have on hand.
Cleaned and scuffed the pieces with grey/red scrubbies.
First test was adhesion promoter and SEM trim black. The black did not sit as I would like, bit mottled. The seconds coat of black did not cover as expected either. Getting to the bottom of the spray can - this could be a contributing factor.
Second test was adhesion promoter and Dupli-Color acrylic black matte finish. A bit better than the SEM product but not as good as I thought.
Third test was 1K epoxy primer, no adhesion promoter. First coat so-so. Second much better, sand after second coat, third coat good smooth coverage. Painted with SEM Trim black, two coats, not the finish I was looking for.
Forth test was 1K epoxy primer, no adhesion promoter. First coat so-so. Second much better, sand after second coat, third coat good smooth coverage. Painted with Dupli-Color, two coats, good finish.
Last test was the water based CREATEX UVLS gloss clear. Have to learn how to spray this product as I made a mess of the piece I did - used an airbrush 0.2 mm nozzle. Had to use a reducer with the clear. Think I'll stick to my original plan with this product - sprucing up the chrome bits.
Have one more test to do and that's to use the 1K epoxy primer as first coat, the a non-epoxy primer for the second coat and third if required, then the Dupli-color enamel black. Changing to the non-epoxy primer as second and third coat because the 1k epoxy primer is a high build primer and I don't want to loose any of the markings on the switches. If this works will be going with this as the way ahead for the switches.
Will use a matte clear coat over the final product, but will try to get the small letters painted and some of the indicator symbols on first. Thinking a matte clear coat because I was at my parts place yesterday and looked at the new bikes and the finish on the switches. Looks like a black matte finish.
The clutch and brake MCs will be primed then a gloss automotive black, and clear coated.