Spruce up dash - paint or dash kit?

[db2boy]

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

[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

[db2boy]

Originally 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

[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

[db2boy]

Originally 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

[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

[db2boy]

Originally 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

[shaunwil]

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

[duff]

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

[babz_audio]

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

[Laeeq]

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

[shaunwil]

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

Shaun

[shaunwil]

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





It does make a big difference !!!!

Shaun

[duff]

looks good that shaun might hava go my self

cheers for the pics

ant

:wave :wave

[cjr]

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