Mazda Rotary Club

Folks,
  I need to spruce up a dash on an earlier car with the rubberised dash - I dont like the marks in it.

Im tempted to strip and paint :-

1) I understand it a bit of a job - is it really that bad with some nasty strippers (of the paint kind!) to remove the rubbery coating?

2) After prep is using a spray can ok or better to do with a gun?

For the easier option Ive trying to locate a nice and well fitting dash overlay kit, but without much success. Does anyone know where I may be able to locate one please?


Thanks

Ant

Cellulose thinners will remove the rubberised coating with ease.

I used spray cans for mine and a fan heater to cure them, very happy with the result. The biggest part is stripping it all down, its not that bad, i have changed colour on mine 3 times now, only tales 1/2 an hour to an hour to strip the whole lot.

cheers

Donato

QuoteOriginally posted by Donato
Cellulose thinners will remove the rubberised coating with ease.

I used spray cans for mine and a fan heater to cure them, very happy with the result. The biggest part is stripping it all down, its not that bad, i have changed colour on mine 3 times now, only tales 1/2 an hour to an hour to strip the whole lot.

cheers

Donato

I thought they would take it off fairly OK with some scotchbrite as well before prep.

When you say stripping it all down you mean taking the rubber off I presume? Getting the pieces out is a 15 minute job :)

Isnt there some special plastic paints that give really smooth finish with good cohesion? I think Ive seen it in Fast Fours, Ill need to check but a quick search didnt reveal much - anyone know?

Thanks

Ant

1/2 an hour to an hour to remove the bits and strip the rubber mate. With the cellulose thinners you wipe it on let it start to bubble and wipe again, off comes the rubber so its quite quick.

Dont know the answer to your question about the plastic paint im afraid..

Cheers

Donato

QuoteOriginally posted by Donato
1/2 an hour to an hour to remove the bits and strip the rubber mate. With the cellulose thinners you wipe it on let it start to bubble and wipe again, off comes the rubber so its quite quick.

Dont know the answer to your question about the plastic paint im afraid..

Cheers

Donato

Thanks for info.

Im keener to go with a dash overlay kit for ease etc. Anyone know of any? Failing that then I just have to go the painting route.

Ta

I would definately say go with the paint. But it took me 5 days solid to do all the prep and spray work. The prep work is just time consuming, but i didn\'t use any thinners. There didn\'t feel like there was a rubbery coating on mine. Should take easily an hour to remove the dash and then at least another couple to take all of the bits apart ready to prep.

Then you need to start with a rough sand (about 400 grit) to remove the bobbles. Then go down to about 1000 grit to get the smooth finish. This is the long bit.

Then i used 2 coats of plastic primer, 2 coats of white primer, 3 coats of mazda silver and 3 coats of clear laquer. Lots of coats !!!

Only real advice will be to let them dry properly and be very careful of the final clear coat, mine seemed to cause runs and a big headaches !

Looks much better though.

If you have a sprayer friend, then get them to paint it, but do the prep work yourself.

Shaun

QuoteOriginally posted by shaunwil
I would definately say go with the paint. But it took me 5 days solid to do all the prep and spray work. The prep work is just time consuming, but i didn\'t use any thinners. There didn\'t feel like there was a rubbery coating on mine. Should take easily an hour to remove the dash and then at least another couple to take all of the bits apart ready to prep.

Then you need to start with a rough sand (about 400 grit) to remove the bobbles. Then go down to about 1000 grit to get the smooth finish. This is the long bit.

Then i used 2 coats of plastic primer, 2 coats of white primer, 3 coats of mazda silver and 3 coats of clear laquer. Lots of coats !!!

Only real advice will be to let them dry properly and be very careful of the final clear coat, mine seemed to cause runs and a big headaches !

Looks much better though.

If you have a sprayer friend, then get them to paint it, but do the prep work yourself.

Shaun

Ah you have the later dash then, earlier ones have a fine rubber like coating that marks stupidly easily!

Plastic primer, is that a halfords job?

Thanks for advice

Ant

Yep, I used the holts dupli-colour. Just buy one can and test how you find the spay head. I got a can later on with a much naffer can. Mazda silver is a standard colour.

Shaun

hi shaun

could you post some pics up mate i wouldn\'t mind seein the work you have been doin on your dash i\'m thinkin of doin it myself but just mincin with the idea at the mo.

cheers ant

:wave :wave

im thinking about doin my dash too...some pics would be nice

Im in process of doing the side door panels and gear stick sorround.   I used a plactic primer from halfords and then bit of sanding down follow by Flexible Vinyl Paint also from Hal;fords.  Its blody expensive though for 300ml can,  but the result is good with only one coat and no drips.  Straight after that i used a clear lacquer also from halfords.  All and all £20 and 3 hours of sanding...lol
pics will follow soon....

cheers

I\'ll dig some photos out when i get home !

Shaun

Just some photos of the speedo and heater control ready to go back in.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/shaunwil/DSCF0288.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/shaunwil/DSCF0290.jpg)

It does make a big difference !!!!

Shaun

looks good that shaun might hava go my self

cheers for the pics

ant

:wave :wave

Ask Archbish i\'m sure he could tell you the recipe:rollin

Righto\' - Only the drivers door parts to remove now, all other parts are in a state of final coat or primer/prep.

Its actually OK to do - the earlier rubber comes off easy with chemicals. Ive found brake and clutch cleaner works best :) Scotchbrite is good to use as well.

A question to those that have done. Did you wet and dry the final colour coat before the clear coat?

Thanks

Ant

Anyone can do these kind of work to the dash up in manchester??

I am still thinking either to buy some carbon stick up dash or paint my own.  Saw a few rx yesterday at pips with painted dash and it looks good:cool .


Can anyone advise where is best to do this job?

I know that bosyshop will do it but they could charge a fortune, so dont know if is worth it.

If my car was running i would do, but im still waiting some bits for my fmic :(

Sounds like the later dash is much more of a git to do.

I think if your using a metalic colour then i would say don\'t wet and dry the final coat. Best bet is to read the can, should tell you if you should or not. I know with the mazda silver i had it didn\'t need to be sanded back. I did do the plastic coat and the primer coat though.

Shaun

Your best bet is to do all of the prep work yourself, to a level that the paint shop will accept and then get them just to paint it. Shouldn\'t make it a dear job. Its the prep work that takes the time.

Try and just get a quote for them to just paint it.

Shaun

I\'ve got a real carbon fibre interior trim on order from the states, should be arriving sometine early next week.

I\'ll post some pics up as it goes on and everyone can see what they think.

QuoteOriginally posted by cjr
Ask Archbish i\'m sure he could tell you the recipe:rollin

Yeah - I was awaiting that to come up. *sigh*

QuoteOriginally posted by Oedipus Rex
I\'ve got a real carbon fibre interior trim on order from the states, should be arriving sometine early next week.

I\'ll post some pics up as it goes on and everyone can see what they think.

Cool please post some pics up I will love to see them what they are like,  I saw loads on ebay but not sure what quality they have.

How much did that cost u if you dont mind me asking???

cost me $170 shipped. I figure if it\'s **** I\'ve hardly lot a lot. Someone needed to be a guinea pig.

I sprayed all my dash last week lol.. took about a day all in.

I used the 5 step process, car looks great.. once you`ve remove all the parts you want to spray sand them all down with wet and dry sand paper, this takes ages but worth it :) (dont rush this)

Theres a shop here called Brown brothers and i got all my paints from them.

First coat is a coat that allows the primer to bond with the plastic and allows for flexing, prevents it cracking when twisted.

Second coat is the primer, its quite thick and several coats hides any imperfections on the plastic.

Third coat is a ruff spray that makes it all nobbly lol you dont need this but mine had a few deep scrathes from the owner before so this hid them.

Fourth coat is the colour paint, i went for black :)

Fifth coat is the laquar, i suggest applying about 5 coats, protects the paint and trust me, if you scratch it afterwards you`ll be ****ed like me lol:rollin

Hope this helps :) if you want some pics i can post some tomorrow.

Yeah post some pics please:D

well my real carbon fibre interior kit arrived today and what a load of ****ing crap. It\'s a mile away from fitting properly, really far, I put little nicks in it here and there, warmed it up so it would bend nicely around the corners, put loads of effort into trying to make it fit properly but what a load of arse. No chance.,


Result of experiment, please nobody waste your money on these they are totally out.

Umm went to take some pics the day we ma dads camera, sat it on the roof and it fell off :(

Me dads gunna kill me cus its now it 4 pieces :spank

Sorry to hear both those threads. Hope they are both fixable !

Shaun

:eek:  hope your dad is ok about it.

So thats no carbon dash for me then :( .

Might jus have to respray it then.  

Are there anyone who has some spare time and can do a good job on the dash, in reward for some money :D

Its kewl bud, iv got the perfect gettaway car lol..

If you wanna post it to me then i`ll gladly do it for free m8..

i think the darker grey looks nice as well..thats the colour im going for :D

Thats nice!! :eek:

Great job.

QuoteOriginally posted by interloper393
Its kewl bud, iv got the perfect gettaway car lol..

If you wanna post it to me then i`ll gladly do it for free m8..

:D cheers mate, I will see if I know how to take it off first.  So did you manage o get any pics in the end??

I will pay for all the incurred cost like paint and things, dont expect to be all freebies :p .

Nahh m8, cameras ^&%^$$%^%$$%!!! dad was not a happy bunny :rolleyes:

Just pay for the postage and the colour of paint ya want, its 5 bucks a can, iv got all the other stuff here so its no prob, id say it`ll take 2 tins for the whole interior :)

Im just in the process of putting mine back together. Looks soooooo much better than the old scratched up rubbery coating!

My process was :-

1) Use clutch and brake cleaner with scotchbrite to remove the rubbery coating

2) Wet and Dry all parts with 400 paper to give dull finish

3) Coat with 3 coats of plastic primer (choose primer colour appropriate for your finished colour)

4) Use 1200 wet and dry paper to give smooth finish to primer coat

5) 4 coats of my base colour - Nissan 526 red

6) Use 1200 wet and dry paper to give smooth finish to colour coat

7) 4 coats of a metallic red

8) Use 1200 wet and dry paper to give smooth finish to metallic coat

9) 2 coats of clear laquer

I didnt wet and dry between metallic and clear laquer.

Things I would do differently if I was to do again :-

1) Use a filler plastic primer

2) Wet and dry between every coat of paint

3) Leave a little longer between main coats to harden off


Rgds

Ant

Just finished the interior today and im well happy with me handy work.

1--- I used a red base primer to cover the plastic with, only one coat was enough after hours of sanding.

2--- Used halfords flexible vinyl paint in red also, again only one coat was enough.

3--- Used clear lacquer to finish the job but with two coats.


picture is with the primer on and ready to paint:

Interior :cool

Last one:cool

oh here is the picture..lol:cool

:god

Wow, how bright :) That looks very cool. It isn\'t an easy job to do, but the rewards with a colour choice are massive !

Shaun

Thanx!  in the picture with the camara flash it does look bright :cool  but with tinted windows it doesn\'t seems as bright.  I like it and the cockpit is more welcoming and looks tidy.

You could go to the next step and have the seats re-trimmed

oh! don\'t start that mate...lol  I was already look inti that..

hehe :cool

Anyone know how you get the door parts out?

Are there any screws?

QuoteAnyone know how you get the door parts out?

Waht exactly do you mean - taking the door cards themselves or the parts off the door cards.


John

The plastic parts in the door cards that people are painting. When I try to pull them out it feels like they are going snap.

From memory the drivers side handle and plastic inserts are screwed in and came off ok.

I seem to remember having to leave the passenger door pull in place but again got the plastic bits off ok.

There is a nasty little screw behind the door latch, very hard to see let alone undo.

John

sorry to bump an old thread, but i have a relevant question and thought this one was most apt rather than starting a new one :)

i\'m mid way through having a go at refurbing my rubber coated interior bits, and am currently on the dash speedo surround panel. there are two little green plastic bits for the indicator left/right signals which flash when you indicate, and these appear to be stuck (i.e. melted) onto the black plastic from the back. i don\'t want to risk pulling them off and resticking them incase they break, and can\'t think of anything suitable to mask off such a small intricate area.

i was wondering how everyone else went about doing this panel? did you remove the green bits or mask them off, and if the latter what did you use to mask them?

i carefully pulled them off, then used araldite glue to stick them back on..this worked great..you can buy araldite 2part glue off ebay or halfords.  also when you install the painted gauge cluster above the steering wheel , i would recomend loosening the steering wheel column mounting nuts (but dont take them off) this makes it loads easier to install the gauge cluster and wont wreck the new paint.

Quote from: Juzsorry to bump an old thread, but i have a relevant question and thought this one was most apt rather than starting a new one :)

i\'m mid way through having a go at refurbing my rubber coated interior bits, and am currently on the dash speedo surround panel. there are two little green plastic bits for the indicator left/right signals which flash when you indicate, and these appear to be stuck (i.e. melted) onto the black plastic from the back. i don\'t want to risk pulling them off and resticking them incase they break, and can\'t think of anything suitable to mask off such a small intricate area.

i was wondering how everyone else went about doing this panel? did you remove the green bits or mask them off, and if the latter what did you use to mask them?

I used a pliable and non-setting plumbing paste. Fill the holes with it and smooth it off and when the paint has fully hardened you can easily remove the paste.

Ant

i was gonna post some pics of my finished dash but forgot about this thread till now..colour is vauxhall steel grey..i got it to look like the pic i posted ages ago so i am happy with it :D

looks good mate

That\'s a lovely suttle colour...well done mate looks nice
BTW, sort out your handbrake to match yout gearknob!!
Removing the original is brutal but worth it!!
Pete

Quote from: Juzsorry to bump an old thread, but i have a relevant question and thought this one was most apt rather than starting a new one :)

i\'m mid way through having a go at refurbing my rubber coated interior bits, and am currently on the dash speedo surround panel. there are two little green plastic bits for the indicator left/right signals which flash when you indicate, and these appear to be stuck (i.e. melted) onto the black plastic from the back. i don\'t want to risk pulling them off and resticking them incase they break, and can\'t think of anything suitable to mask off such a small intricate area.

i was wondering how everyone else went about doing this panel? did you remove the green bits or mask them off, and if the latter what did you use to mask them?

Pulled them off and replaced with a blue plastic to suit the rest of the dash lights...

thanks for the advice chaps, all sorted now...

(http://www.juzee.com/files/IMG_0386.JPG)

(http://www.juzee.com/files/IMG_0384.JPG)

(http://www.juzee.com/files/IMG_0385.JPG)

i went for a few coats of grey plastic primer, then couple of coats of matte black, then a few coats of lacquer to finish. the finish is a little more reflective than before, but looks good as it much more hardwearing :)

Nice!! im liking what im seeing lol