Restoring stadium seats

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by RTK

I have them both ways, personally I prefer them unrestored. It makes me think of them still in the stadium, who was first person to sit in it and who was the last. One aspect to consider is the paint on older seats tends to flake off easily, it could be lead based paint, a potential hazard for little kids and pets. Either way, they're a great addition to a collection, they always draw attention.

I’m leaning towards the unrestored for the same reasons. Just kind of cool to see and tell the story about them in the future.
I was also concerned about lead, so I bought a respirator to take them apart. I started restoring the plastic seats parts because they’re just gross.

I really appreciate all the helpful info everyone has provided.
Here’s what I have so far. Using a straight edge to scrape off the oxidation layer, followed by incremental grit sandpaper and eventually will buff with a wheel.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by DamagedCase

I’m leaning towards the unrestored for the same reasons. Just kind of cool to see and tell the story about them in the future.
I was also concerned about lead, so I bought a respirator to take them apart. I started restoring the plastic seats parts because they’re just gross.

I really appreciate all the helpful info everyone has provided.
Here’s what I have so far. Using a straight edge to scrape off the oxidation layer, followed by incremental grit sandpaper and eventually will buff with a wheel.

I normally lean strongly toward not restoring but whatever you decide to do with the metal framework, the improvement to the plastic seat material was well worth the effort.

[ooo-ribay]

I never could have imagined the yellow plastic would clean up so well!

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I never could have imagined the yellow plastic would clean up so well!

Thanks buddy. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out either but I read the seats were blown molded plastic which meant they yellow color was all throughout. So scraping a couple millimeters of it wouldn’t affect it much.
It was a few hours of wet sanding but well worth it.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by DamagedCase

I’m leaning towards the unrestored for the same reasons. Just kind of cool to see and tell the story about them in the future.
I was also concerned about lead, so I bought a respirator to take them apart. I started restoring the plastic seats parts because they’re just gross.

I really appreciate all the helpful info everyone has provided.
Here’s what I have so far. Using a straight edge to scrape off the oxidation layer, followed by incremental grit sandpaper and eventually will buff with a wheel.

WOW, those came out GREAT! I recall the frames being all gray. Then they were painted over the years. First partially, then fully. Here's a sample of the way yours looked in 1999 I think partially painted. The name of the gray I used escapes me. I think it was a standard gun metal gray oil based enamel semi gloss. I remember using an old photo.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

WOW, those came out GREAT! I recall the frames being all gray. Then they were painted over the years. First partially, then fully. Here's a sample of the way yours looked in 1999 I think partially painted. The name of the gray I used escapes me. I think it was a standard gun metal gray oil based enamel semi gloss. I remember using an old photo.

For whatever it's worth, I was trying to match these from 1963.

[DamagedCase]

Originally Posted by Fuddjcal

WOW, those came out GREAT! I recall the frames being all gray. Then they were painted over the years. First partially, then fully. Here's a sample of the way yours looked in 1999 I think partially painted. The name of the gray I used escapes me. I think it was a standard gun metal gray oil based enamel semi gloss. I remember using an old photo.

That’s amazing....I’m now really leaning towards repainting mine. They are super rough and beaten up. I guess from the extra years sitting outside.