(Re)colouring Plastic/Vinyl Trims & Carpet
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 3:10 am
I've received a couple of PMs about the recolouring I did in the newly registered beast (the thread is in 'Show & Shine'), so I'll put what I did here in case anyone else is interested.
Basically, I did the whole door trim recolouring thing because I screwed up. I'd bought some vinyl spray which I thought matched the original colour (I'd neglected to take a sample in, 'cos I thought my colour sense was good enough. I wasn't even close). When I found out it didn't match, the only way out was to recolour the whole door trim (both of them). I decided to go for a two-tone thing like in my other Staz.
I used two vinyl colour products:
Motospray Vinyl Spray (for the darker grey)
VHT Vinyl Colour Dye (for the lighter grey)
Both are readily available at most auto shops, and both will work on vinyl, plastic and low pile carpet. There's quite a good range of colours. It's also a very simple job. As with any painting type job, preparation is everthing - the prep being clean it, then use a solvent wax & grease remover. The results are surprisingly good on a properly prepared surface. I was initially a bit sceptical, but not anymore. Here's a closeup shot of a section of recoloured door trim, so you can see the two shades of grey on plastic and vinyl (the lighting is pretty crappy, but good enough to see the final finish). The original door trim colour is in one of the pics further down:
As you can see, it looks like a factory finish. All the 'grain' is still visible. This stuff does not appear to peel, scratch or anything else (it says that on the can, actually, and it looks like they're actually not bullshitting).
Here are the steps in a nutshell:
For plastic and vinyl parts:
1. Remove the bits to be coloured from the car
2. Wash/clean them with whatever you want, rinse and dry.
3. Now use a wax & grease remover (I used a spray can of K&H Wax & Grease Remover). Follow the directions on the can!
4. Let the bits dry thoroughly
5. Spray the bits with the colour, smoothly and evenly - I used about 3 or 4 coats, waiting until touch-dry (about 15-20 minutes) between coats. For bits of trim that aren't flat, you'll have to turn them over to make sure you get coverage
6. Let it dry overnight and you're done!
For carpet:
1. Scrub the carpet with a carpet cleaner (just use a cheap one)
2. Let it thoroughly dry
3. Brush the carpet with a stiff brush, and then get the carpet pile facing in one direction
4. Spray the stuff onto the carpet
5. Wait for it to dry, then brush the carpet, the get the carpet pile facing in the other direction
6. Spray again
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 in different directions until you get the colour the way you want
8. Brush to get some of the residual stiffness out
If there are bits of original colour that only show up after you've put the carpet back in the car, not a problem. Just mask with newspaper and spray the required section.
Here are some pics:
Before: crappy, dirty carpet. After I cleaned it, it still looked pretty much the same (so you don't have to try and get it spotless or anything like that)
After: Woohoo!
before: grubby door trims, difficult to clean, crappy carpet
After: Woohoo!
You'll notice I haven't yet done the plastic trim on the A pillar - it' still the original (but faded and grubby) colour. I did do the plastic kick panels, scuff plates and plastic bits on the seats:
I still have to do the rear trims, but that can wait a bit.
Basically, I did the whole door trim recolouring thing because I screwed up. I'd bought some vinyl spray which I thought matched the original colour (I'd neglected to take a sample in, 'cos I thought my colour sense was good enough. I wasn't even close). When I found out it didn't match, the only way out was to recolour the whole door trim (both of them). I decided to go for a two-tone thing like in my other Staz.
I used two vinyl colour products:
Motospray Vinyl Spray (for the darker grey)
VHT Vinyl Colour Dye (for the lighter grey)
Both are readily available at most auto shops, and both will work on vinyl, plastic and low pile carpet. There's quite a good range of colours. It's also a very simple job. As with any painting type job, preparation is everthing - the prep being clean it, then use a solvent wax & grease remover. The results are surprisingly good on a properly prepared surface. I was initially a bit sceptical, but not anymore. Here's a closeup shot of a section of recoloured door trim, so you can see the two shades of grey on plastic and vinyl (the lighting is pretty crappy, but good enough to see the final finish). The original door trim colour is in one of the pics further down:
As you can see, it looks like a factory finish. All the 'grain' is still visible. This stuff does not appear to peel, scratch or anything else (it says that on the can, actually, and it looks like they're actually not bullshitting).
Here are the steps in a nutshell:
For plastic and vinyl parts:
1. Remove the bits to be coloured from the car
2. Wash/clean them with whatever you want, rinse and dry.
3. Now use a wax & grease remover (I used a spray can of K&H Wax & Grease Remover). Follow the directions on the can!
4. Let the bits dry thoroughly
5. Spray the bits with the colour, smoothly and evenly - I used about 3 or 4 coats, waiting until touch-dry (about 15-20 minutes) between coats. For bits of trim that aren't flat, you'll have to turn them over to make sure you get coverage
6. Let it dry overnight and you're done!
For carpet:
1. Scrub the carpet with a carpet cleaner (just use a cheap one)
2. Let it thoroughly dry
3. Brush the carpet with a stiff brush, and then get the carpet pile facing in one direction
4. Spray the stuff onto the carpet
5. Wait for it to dry, then brush the carpet, the get the carpet pile facing in the other direction
6. Spray again
7. Repeat steps 3 to 6 in different directions until you get the colour the way you want
8. Brush to get some of the residual stiffness out
If there are bits of original colour that only show up after you've put the carpet back in the car, not a problem. Just mask with newspaper and spray the required section.
Here are some pics:
Before: crappy, dirty carpet. After I cleaned it, it still looked pretty much the same (so you don't have to try and get it spotless or anything like that)
After: Woohoo!
before: grubby door trims, difficult to clean, crappy carpet
After: Woohoo!
You'll notice I haven't yet done the plastic trim on the A pillar - it' still the original (but faded and grubby) colour. I did do the plastic kick panels, scuff plates and plastic bits on the seats:
I still have to do the rear trims, but that can wait a bit.
