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Spray painting interior plastics

PranK
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PranK Grand Master

PranK

Posted
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The E39 has some pretty poor condition plastics with big scratches and fading colour. The problem is that the trim is grey and I've done some research and found a rustoleum colour that matches, but the paint is enamel and is for wood and metal.

I was hoping I could thoroughly clean the parts and use a plastic primer or adhesion promoter and then spray with the enamel. 

I kinda feel like the rough looking, old and scratched trim would look better than a shitty respray. 

Getting good quality interior parts is hard and expensive. These two pieces that hold the chair controls are about $300 delivered if you can find a good pair.

I have too many nightmare memories of a young PranK spraying interior panels and then buying replacements when they turned out terribly.

Thoughts on interior trim spraying?

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GTSBoy Grand Master

GTSBoy

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24 minutes ago, PranK said:

I have too many nightmare memories of a young PranK spraying interior panels and then buying replacements when they turned out terribly.

Thoughts on interior trim spraying?

Your nightmare memories are where my opinion on interior trim spraying lives.

I have seen quite a number of consoles and dashboards and the like painted with (proper) interior vinyl paints, and the colour is always a little offensive, and often likes to rub off on anything that touches it for a long time after it is supposedly dry.

You'd definitely want to have had a good experience with a solution before trying it on something you care about.

I would think that paints that are not intended for interior vinyl will look wrong or not wear well. Wrong if too glossy, not wear well if too satin/matte.

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Kinkstaah Grand Master

Kinkstaah

Posted
Posted

The way I think about it is, it's doomed to fail.

Anything that marred the colored plastic is absolutely going to obliterate any paint finish. And it got scratched or touched or used in the past to get into that state.

People need to start reproducing plastic parts or 3D print replacements that clip in that are colored all the way through and not just coated in something (anything).

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PranK Grand Master

PranK

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Posted
1 minute ago, Kinkstaah said:

People need to start reproducing plastic parts or 3D print replacements that clip in that are colored all the way through and not just coated in something (anything).

100%. There's gotta be better options.

silviaz Experienced

silviaz

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, PranK said:

100%. There's gotta be better options.

What about hydrodipping? I was looking at it but if the piece is complicated the end result might not be as good, I've seen it recently where if you have a checkered pattern for example and dip it, the area where the plastic bends, those checkered boxes look stretch. Doesn't look terrible but not the best result either. 

Every rattlecan job I've seen has turned out crap (at least on the skylines, they are always peeling and bubbling) but I haven't seen anyone get a proper spray gun and compressor and go at it. In theory they should last a lot longer.

Vinyl wrap is another option (also difficult if there are a lot of complicated sections)

PranK Grand Master

PranK

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Posted

These arn't them, but these are the pieces. 

image.png

I dont think hydrodipping would work. Also, the plastic is very old and brittle, the trims are out of the car atm getting some mounting holes jb welded. 

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MBS206 Grand Master

MBS206

Posted
Posted

If the plastic wore, the paint will wear quicker.

Heck, most car manufacturers cant keep the coatings they put on their buttons/trims alive these days for more than 5 years... A cheap paint won't do it!

 

However, you can get away with high quality vynil wrap, primarily in areas that won't cop much abuse. Skip colour matching, and just try and wrap a specific area with an edge in a new colour.

 

PS vynil wrapping is a prick of a job, and I suck at it, even for a small dead flat surface...

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MBS206 Grand Master

MBS206

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, PranK said:

Yeah its a good idea, I wonder if I can find some vinyl that will match the colour.

No. Go a different colour, and just trim it at an edge line.

Even manufacturers do different panels different colours etc.

PranK Grand Master

PranK

Posted
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Posted
2 hours ago, MBS206 said:

No. Go a different colour, and just trim it at an edge line.

Even manufacturers do different panels different colours etc.

I love where you're going with this! 

image.png

MBS206 Grand Master

MBS206

Posted
Posted

I am so glad I've been stepping away from the internet more and more so I don't know what "Just Rolled In" is. And no, I'm not googling it, or clicking any links you lot provide.

 

Second, Prank, pretty much, that silver stuff, wrap all of one section in a new colour. I recommend NOT using anything glossy, go for matte or flat colours.

Current work car I'm driving has so many shiney chrome bits and gloss black bits that at certain points of the day I feel it would be easier to drive blind... So much glare in the eyes!

PranK Grand Master

PranK

Posted
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Posted
20 minutes ago, MBS206 said:

I am so glad I've been stepping away from the internet more and more so I don't know what "Just Rolled In" is. And no, I'm not googling it, or clicking any links you lot provide.

It's innocent.

But sometimes people cannot start their cars or change gears because they have a billion stick-on things getting in the way.

20 minutes ago, MBS206 said:

Second, Prank, pretty much, that silver stuff, wrap all of one section in a new colour. I recommend NOT using anything glossy, go for matte or flat colours.

Current work car I'm driving has so many shiney chrome bits and gloss black bits that at certain points of the day I feel it would be easier to drive blind... So much glare in the eyes!

Yeah, i'm not a shiny thing kind of guy but I'd definitely give this a go. Food for thought. Thanks

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