painted interior

[ceven47]

hello folks,

I have some interior panels i want to paint, any advice on what to use/how to do it?

cheers

[grahambell]

What sort of panels are you talking about - hard moulded plastic, soft vinyl trimmed, leather?

Type of material dictates type of paint to use.

[ceven47]

talking about hard plastic, dash facia and centre console. by the way, can you colour leather? my steering wheel is looking a bit tired.

cheers.

[wildoliver]

Please don't do it, every car I have ever seen this done too looked like a max power reject.

[Anatol]

1) Thoroughly degrease everything you intend to paint. If loads of silicones, trim gels, back-to-black or other products have been used in the interior, consider abandoning the project.

2) Clean and scuff hard plastics to provide a decent key. Clean and dry leathers and vinyls.

3) Mask everything you don't want painted. Mask far further than you think overspray can possibly go.

4) Apply a coat of a leather/plastic prep spray. This will act as an adhesion promoter. Let it flash off.

5) Apply multiple light coats of your colour, allowing plenty of flash time (which can be reduced with judicious use of a hot air gun). Ensure that the product selected is compatible with the surface (hard plastic, leather, etc) that you're painting. Test on an unobtrusive area before a full coat. The products will recommend a particular spray distance - it's important to follow it - otherwise your product may land wet and run or not cure, or arrive friable and with very poor adhesion.

6) If one is required by the products you're using, apply the protective topcoat, and let it thoroughly dry.

If the vehicle is high-value, and you have to ask advice on to conduct it (as you have), doing the repair is not a good idea. Get a pro in. The potential for making a significant mess of your P&J is high.

If you do go ahead, take your time and have fun.

HTH

Tol

[combemarshal]

I would, and I did, remove the parts you want to paint, it is far easier and you have no chance of spraying your windscreen!
I founnd a scotch pad ideal for roughing up the plastic, and put on as many coats as you can, as it's inside you tend to notice it more.

[plasticpig]

wildoliver said:

Please don't do it, every car I have ever seen this done too looked like a max power reject.

This is a mixture of sprayed and original panels. Dosent look max power to me.

[grahambell]

Anatol and combemarshall have pretty well covered it, but I'll add this.

As alternative to Scotch pad you can also use fine (1200) wet or dry paper used with wet, soapy water to key panels, then chemically clean either with the 'proper' cleaning stuff or, if you're like me, cellulose thinners. Removing all traces of silicone based 'cockpit shine' type products essential if you want a successful job.

Did the Fiesta dash and centre console in my Quantum using Folia-Tec interior spray from Halfords which seems to do a decent job.

As for the leather steering wheel, check what's available from Woolies ( www.woolies-trim.co.uk )

[wildoliver]

No it looks nice from a distance that Mr PPig, I had a feeling however it wasn't being applied to a classic car from the post? don't know why?

[grahambell]

Bit late but thought I'd add a pic of my Quantum's interior. Main dash panel, centre console, door pulls/armrests and seat side panels were all originally grey plastic which I sprayed satin black.

[wildoliver]

looks nice!