I've heard people say good things and bad things about certain types of vinyl dyes. I need to dye the interior panels on my 63 Bel air wagon (the inside panels that cover the spare etc..) They're bluish green right now and need to go all green. I've seen some of these spray can vinyl paints on ricer mobile dashes, and they all seem to chip, scratch really easy. I want it to last and look half descent any recommendations/ experiences?
I've used the VHT spray dye with some success. I used it on the knob for my nitrous bottle. It got used and abused... turning the bottle on and off numerous times. It still looks like new. I haven't used it on big pieces yet... I had some stuff dyed, but it was done professionally.
I did door panels and headliner on our 69 Mustang with some from the auto parts store. Just prep well first.
Yep, I've used SEM vinyl color in a spray can and had good results with it. The key is prep. I think the reason you see the ricer dashes and such getting chipped and peeled is because those dashes have probably been Armor-All'd every weekend since they were new and if you don't super-clean the pieces you're dying it's not going to stick. I think "dye" is the wrong word for the process, it's really a flexible paint that sticks to vinyl. Scrub your parts down with laquer thinner, wax & grease remover, or if your brand of vinyl dye suggests a certain cleaner, use that. If you do the prep work well you'll have good results.
Mar-Hyde makes a good vinyl dye. CLEAN vinyl is the key to any of them. have seen certain dye systems that use a "primer" as well, it is some sort of cleaning solvent i am sure, i just didn't get to taste it.
If there is silicone type dressing on parts you might have to use tolulene base cleaners, but I have had the best luck scrubbing with sos pads and comet cleanser. Trick seems to be getting any oily stuff out of the pores. Then dont paint in hi humidity or temps below 70 degrees, cause it is paint and those parts are flexible.
An old interior guy told me about SEM. You get it at auto paint suppliers. 9.95 a can and worth every penny. Did the whole interior of a stepside including hard plastic and two leather chairs in my house. If you get a scratch pst, pst all gone. Great stuff.
Any PPG jobber can mix you any color vinyl dye you need and it comes ready to spray from any gun. They also have a clear coat to protect it from scratches and chips. Plus they have the cleaners. You have to get everything super clean, I usally clean it with a scrub brush and lots of soapy hot water and then use some thinner but it depends on what you are spraying. I have used it many times and it will last for years and years , if you do scratch it , it's very easy to touch up.
The Jalopy Journal
