Dyeing Vinyl Question

[Don Z.]

I would like to re-dye my passenger dash pad (black). I dyed it many many years ago but have never been happy with it. I typicaly used PPG UK403 Vinyl Cleaner 1st and clean it several times, then followed with 1 time wipe with PPG UK405 Vinyl Conditioner. Then I used a dye.
My question is..must I use a dye or can I use SEM Trim Black ???

[Gene M.]

Re: Dyeing Vinyl Question

Don,
My experience makes my opinion on using dye to cover over like color as favorable. But dye applied over a different color yields less than desirable results. I've had good results with Corvette America spray bomb dye. Very light coats with a few minutes of flash off time between coats. About 4 coats gets it uniform color.

[Ed D.]

Re: Dyeing Vinyl Question

I have sprayed same color on same color with good results. I have also sprayed the full interior with red over black and also had good results, however it took 3 light coats to cover the black. I washed with detergent, then grease and silicone remover, just before spraying I wiped with laquer thinner. I used the spray dye that almost all corvette suppliers offer. The weather condition is very important. Hight humidity will cause the dye to turn white. I used a heat gun or high power hair dryer to make sure all moisture was gone. hope this helps
Ed

[Arland D.]

Re: Dyeing Vinyl Question

Don,

I have had good success with other cars by using specially color matched vinyl spray paint on dash pads. It was important to clean the pad and then use an adhesion promoter like Bull Dog to help bond the paint to the dash pad. As previously mentioned, several thin coats with the appropriate flash time makes even the most difficult color changes turn out very well.

[Don Z.]

Re: Dyeing Vinyl Question

Thanks to all. I am dyeing the same color, black over black. I gather from the answers that I should stay with vinyl dye and do not use Trim black paint.
I read somewhere in the archives that someone used a SEM Color Coat Vinyl Dye but also used a SEM Vinyl Prep #38348.
Has anyone used these SEM products ?? and,... is the Vinyl prep like the Bull Dog promoter ???

[Paul J.]

Re: Dyeing Vinyl Question

...I gather from the answers that I should stay with vinyl dye and do not use Trim black paint....

Smart move. Paint cannot keep up with the flexability and movement of vinyl.