Hello, I currently have the interior out of my car (needed some minor uhpolstry work and a good cleaning).... I remember reading an article some time ago about re-conditioning all the interior plastic peices... I have searched high a low for this article and can not find it... Anyone know it's hereabouts? I have some minor scratches etc that I might as well take care of now. Thanks in advance!

 

Sand'm all down, smooth'm, and paint'm. That'd look sweet, I don't know anyone who's done that yet.

Mathius

 

I've been considering sanding and painting the interior panels, but I don't want completely smooth plastic in my car. I want the panels to have some texture to them, like they do now. If anyone knows, is there a way to paint the panels without sanding that will not peel off?

 

check out the article about the fusion paint from krylon on this board........

 

I have completely sanded and smoothed all of my interior plastic and vinyl peices and I think it looks great. It is as shiny as the exterior and makes the car feel custom and makes it seem more one peice and not multiple peices thrown together.

 

Pictures? I've seen this in show cars, but I've yet to see it in a third gen.

Mathius

 

Sounds intriguing..sanded how?

 

This sounds like something I would want to do. Im replacing all the carpet in my car(some panels come off to get at the carpet) and may as well kill two birds with one stone.

Can someone get a little more indepth about using this technique?

 

I have no pictures to back this up seeing as how I have the crappiest computer in the world, but I will explain what I did.

Sanding by hand does not work... I mean, it does, but it takes forever. You need a power sander but not a belt sander or anything heavy duty like that. A sander that you can use in one hand should do the trick. If the sander goes to fast it just melts the plastic... I know, unfortunately.

I just sanded all the bumps, ridges, scratches out with 400 grit sand paper, then I went over it with 800 grit, then followed that up with 1000. I then sprayed vinyl color black on, several coats. Then I wet sanded it to get all the bumps and dirt and stuff out. Respray if necessary. Then just put about 4-8 light coats of clear cloat on then wet sand with 1500 until it has a dull finish. No shininess should be left on the paint. Then get some rubbing compound or paint cleaner and rub it onto the clear coat to get a shiny, reflective finish.

 

Most of the truck guys I know that have done this, don't even go that far. For starters, you weaken already weak plastic. They knock out the major grit with sandpaper, then skim some bondo over it, sand smooth, primer, and paint.

I'll post pics later when I'm not in a hurry. Got a project going and it's getting dark out.

Mathius

 

Here's one that was smoothed and sprayed with that chameleon paint. Not my personal preference, but you start to get the smooth feel anyways...

Mathius

 

Another one that was smoothed and airbrushed...

 

Lastly, just so you know what I'm talk'n about.... I think CrazyHawaiian posted this one WAY way back.... Pay special attention to the black part of the dash that would normally be textured.

 

I just got a good idea for you. Instead of messing up your interior plastic to the point where it doesnt have any texture, then realizing you want it to have texture again, why not buy a second set of interior plastics to use/practice on. This way if you mess up, you still have your original panels.

 

Well, #1, buying all new interior peices or even used could get expensive, and #2, I needed to sand the scratches and dings out of interior anyway so I thought, hey, why not.

And the plastic peices I sanded down are no weaker now than they were before, I just sanded it past the ridges which are about 1/32 - 1/16 of an inch thick, like it matters. And bondo would just add pointless weight. But to each his/her own, right?

 

That just means if you mess up you can go totally custom

Mathius