Best Rubber Dressing for Orig 32 Running Boards

[SoCal32]

I have a set of original boards in very good shape on my roadster. What's the best dressing to make them look a little better but not turn them brown?

 

[David.kalas87]

I don’t have orig rubbers but I use Adams VRT (vinyl rubber trim). Heavy coat on stained areas and wiped away with the clean side of microfiber gives it a healthy black coat that lasts.

 

[JayChicago]

My '40 has original running boards. Have had good experience with Mother's Back to Black. Looks too shiny at first, then in couple hours dries to a natural looking deep black.

 

[KiWinUS]

My 36 has original rubbers and have used Kiwi black shoe polish for the last 52 years. Amazing stuff protects. She nes. And fills the little cracks.

 

[glennpm]

My 36 has original rubbers and have used Kiwi black shoe polish for the last 52 years. Amazing stuff protects. She nes. And fills the little cracks.

Awe, the Burt Munro trick he used on his tyres

 

[KiWinUS]

Awe, the Burt Munro trick he used on his tyres

Absolutely correct. I was going to add that fact. I had met Burt and pushed his Indian and Velocette

 

[glennpm]

Absolutely correct. I was going to add that fact. I had met Burt and pushed his Indian and Velocette

Wow, what a treat!

Glenn

 

[TJ]

I use Meguires Rubber and Vinyl Cleaner and Conditioner. It does not look greasy and has the correct shine.

 

[KiWinUS]

I use Meguires Rubber and Vinyl Cleaner and Conditioner. It does not look greasy and has the correct shine.

What is “The Correct Shine”.

 

[Ray in La Mesa]

We just watched "The World's Fastest Indian" again and enjoyed the trials of Burt Monroe in his quest for speed & his challenges with the beaucracy.

 

[TJ]

What is “The Correct Shine”.

The correct shine is a non greasy look and appears to look like a new blackwall tire.
Try it and you'll like it.

 

[KiWinUS]

The correct shine is a non greasy look and appears to look like a new blackwall tire.
Try it and you'll like it.

Negatory. Kiwi shoe polish has the “Correct Shine” for me.
Cheers.

 

[SoCal32]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll try some. Curious on the shoe polish as someone had told me about that but the 32 boards have a "rough" design that I would think would trap a lot of it. 33-40 boards with just long rows would be okay probably.

 

[DavidG]

The pyramid texture of a '32 running board compared to the smooth grooves on a '36 board pretty much rules out shoe polish on the '32 board.

 

[fordor41]

ditto on Kiwi shoe polish

 

[glennpm]

Did some searching on HAMB and found a post about using stove polish paste.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/32-5w-build-the-4k-swapmeet-body-the-old-chrome-coupe.1284710/page-34#post-15486021

 

[DavidG]

As expected with the pyramids, a real mess.

 

[Jack E/NJ]

> >The pyramid texture of a '32 running board >> pretty much rules out shoe polish on the '32 board.>>


For this, you need a military grade shoeshine kit. Prolly take a few grueling 12-hrs days to do each side if you're a good & fast. But in the end you'll have a Kiwi correct shoe shine that should last a few weeks.


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