Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

[Sheldon S.]

I have a 65 coupe with black vinyl interior. The dash pads are in very good condition except for to the right of the ignition switch. It is a bit worn from turning the ignition switch. I used the black vinyl dye on the door panels and was very pleased with the result. I was wondering if I could spray a bit of the vinyl dye onto a rag and rub it over the area that is fade and worn. If not does anyone have any sugestions. I do not want to remove the pads right now.
Thanks in advance.
Sheldon

[Brandon K.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Try cleaning the area first with lacquer thinner, and then try dabbing some of the dye on. If you're not pleased with the result, you could always wipe it back off with thinner. You may have to remove the panel to spray the whole thing.

BK

[Brandon K.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Try cleaning the area first with lacquer thinner, and then try dabbing some of the dye on. If you're not pleased with the result, you could always wipe it back off with thinner. You may have to remove the panel to spray the whole thing.

BK

[Bob R.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Lacquer thinner is pretty strong stuff. It could damage the vinyl. I would use caution with that material. I tried to remove over spray from the dye with some paint thinner. It didn't work. I ended up using lacquer thinner. It removed the dye but it can also damage the vinyl.

[Bob R.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Lacquer thinner is pretty strong stuff. It could damage the vinyl. I would use caution with that material. I tried to remove over spray from the dye with some paint thinner. It didn't work. I ended up using lacquer thinner. It removed the dye but it can also damage the vinyl.

[Joe C.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Sheldon:

Do NOT use lacquer thinner.If those are original pads, they are likely dry with age, and must be treated with much TLC. The lacquer thinner will dry the pads and make them brittle.
I would wipe the pad with a pre paint prep/cleaner, cover the surrounding areas, and spot spray the worn out area. I think wiping on some fresh dye will not provide a clean job.

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Dash Pad Repair? Vinyl Dye

Sheldon:

Do NOT use lacquer thinner.If those are original pads, they are likely dry with age, and must be treated with much TLC. The lacquer thinner will dry the pads and make them brittle.
I would wipe the pad with a pre paint prep/cleaner, cover the surrounding areas, and spot spray the worn out area. I think wiping on some fresh dye will not provide a clean job.

Joe

[Jack H.]

SEM

Call around to local automotive paint/body distributors. You'll pretty quickly find someone who stocks the SEM line of paint products. Their #38343, Vinyl Prep, is intended for surface preparation of vinyl prior to paint/dye. The 'trick' with coloring vinyl is almost ALL in the pre-spray surface prep....

Most suggest you can only 'paint' vinyl items that are NOT in intimate human contact (skin oil, acids, abrasion) to get color to sink-in/stay without chipping/fading. One local chapter member did a set of NOS silver seat covers (changed to black) that he got dirt cheap at a local swap meet 10-years ago. Is was just last summer that a VERY few tiny pin-*****s of silver began to show through! Pretty darn good results for a color change, dye job on material that sees MAXIMUM human contact/wear!

[Jack H.]

SEM

Call around to local automotive paint/body distributors. You'll pretty quickly find someone who stocks the SEM line of paint products. Their #38343, Vinyl Prep, is intended for surface preparation of vinyl prior to paint/dye. The 'trick' with coloring vinyl is almost ALL in the pre-spray surface prep....

Most suggest you can only 'paint' vinyl items that are NOT in intimate human contact (skin oil, acids, abrasion) to get color to sink-in/stay without chipping/fading. One local chapter member did a set of NOS silver seat covers (changed to black) that he got dirt cheap at a local swap meet 10-years ago. Is was just last summer that a VERY few tiny pin-*****s of silver began to show through! Pretty darn good results for a color change, dye job on material that sees MAXIMUM human contact/wear!

[Brandon K.]

Lacquer thinner

Only reason I use laq thinner is because that's what one of the professional repair guys in town told me to use. I've done a couple pairs of seat covers that way and they came out pretty darn good! I guess maybe the dash pads might be a little too delicate because thinner dries things out quite a lot.

[Brandon K.]

Lacquer thinner

Only reason I use laq thinner is because that's what one of the professional repair guys in town told me to use. I've done a couple pairs of seat covers that way and they came out pretty darn good! I guess maybe the dash pads might be a little too delicate because thinner dries things out quite a lot.