Dye vs. paint for a replacement console
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 43
From: Choctaw Country
Dye vs. paint for a replacement console
gents....
going thru the interior on my 75 C3 and am not satisfied with the color match on the replacement console. (black)
Replaced the dash,,,,good match. Other parts etc lood good but for the console. I swear it looks to be a lighter color of black, darn near gray.
ecklers swears its the right one.......
Looking at previous posts I see a few references to dyeing. This may be a silly question,,,,but you don't dye plastic, you paint it (Correct?).
What are my options for a BLACK console?
any suggestions or comments appreciated...
r/wdd
going thru the interior on my 75 C3 and am not satisfied with the color match on the replacement console. (black)
Replaced the dash,,,,good match. Other parts etc lood good but for the console. I swear it looks to be a lighter color of black, darn near gray.
ecklers swears its the right one.......
Looking at previous posts I see a few references to dyeing. This may be a silly question,,,,but you don't dye plastic, you paint it (Correct?).
What are my options for a BLACK console?
any suggestions or comments appreciated...
r/wdd
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Ofallon MO
Duplicolor sells a Vinyl and Fabric dye and I have read that lots of people have had good luck on rubber too. I used it to re-dye my carpet and I think it turned out great.
Regarding incorrect colors.. Corvette Central just delivered my Indoor Handle Release trim that should've matched my car. Trim code is 752 and for a 1981 it is should be "81 Medium Red". But the Medium red looks almost maroon. After more digging around, it looks like the color I wanted was actually "78-80 Red". So either I have an incorrect trim code which I seriously doubt, or these vendors and manufacturers are a bit mixed up.
Regarding incorrect colors.. Corvette Central just delivered my Indoor Handle Release trim that should've matched my car. Trim code is 752 and for a 1981 it is should be "81 Medium Red". But the Medium red looks almost maroon. After more digging around, it looks like the color I wanted was actually "78-80 Red". So either I have an incorrect trim code which I seriously doubt, or these vendors and manufacturers are a bit mixed up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
dye = paint 
Go get a can of sems "landau black" vinyl dye from your local auto paint supply store......it'll take care of your problem.
That's the same paint Corvette America re-labels and sells for the 68- up corvette black interior codes....
Go get a can of sems "landau black" vinyl dye from your local auto paint supply store......it'll take care of your problem.
That's the same paint Corvette America re-labels and sells for the 68- up corvette black interior codes....
Last edited by 1982CorvetteDude; May 7, 2008 at 07:23 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 8
From: Hamilton NJ
I agree, dye will work on plastic.
I recently used an SEM formulation known as an "elastomeric polymer" that came out beautifully when coupled with an adhesion promoter. Be sure all surface treatment has been removed, especially siliocnes, otherwise you may end up with "fish-eye"...yuck.
Good reference:
look for "How to repair and refinish interior trim pieces", by Lars
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Interior
I recently used an SEM formulation known as an "elastomeric polymer" that came out beautifully when coupled with an adhesion promoter. Be sure all surface treatment has been removed, especially siliocnes, otherwise you may end up with "fish-eye"...yuck.
Good reference:
look for "How to repair and refinish interior trim pieces", by Lars
http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.php?title=Interior
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You must be joking.... "Dye is paint." ?????? That's like "Apples are Oranges". Dye is dye; paint is paint. Dye is used to color plastic pieces permanently; paint is used to adhere a colored coating onto whatever. If you dye plastic you can continue to dye the same piece as many times as you want and change colors easily; if you paint it you'll be "done". You guys don't rad the Forum much, do you?
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Scottsdale Arizona
I'm going to give it a try.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore MD
gents....
going thru the interior on my 75 C3 and am not satisfied with the color match on the replacement console. (black)
Replaced the dash,,,,good match. Other parts etc lood good but for the console. I swear it looks to be a lighter color of black, darn near gray.
ecklers swears its the right one.......
Looking at previous posts I see a few references to dyeing. This may be a silly question,,,,but you don't dye plastic, you paint it (Correct?).
What are my options for a BLACK console?
any suggestions or comments appreciated...
r/wdd
going thru the interior on my 75 C3 and am not satisfied with the color match on the replacement console. (black)
Replaced the dash,,,,good match. Other parts etc lood good but for the console. I swear it looks to be a lighter color of black, darn near gray.
ecklers swears its the right one.......
Looking at previous posts I see a few references to dyeing. This may be a silly question,,,,but you don't dye plastic, you paint it (Correct?).
What are my options for a BLACK console?
any suggestions or comments appreciated...
r/wdd
This is what i used for my interior http://www.bryndana.com/index.html You can request a color chart from the company. Only draw back was you have to order a certain amount fromt he company. They do have dealers but not sure where.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
You must be joking.... "Dye is paint." ?????? That's like "Apples are Oranges". Dye is dye; paint is paint. Dye is used to color plastic pieces permanently; paint is used to adhere a colored coating onto whatever. If you dye plastic you can continue to dye the same piece as many times as you want and change colors easily; if you paint it you'll be "done". You guys don't rad the Forum much, do you?
What we are doing with the vinyl dye that we buy for our cars is putting a colored top-coat over the part....hence it being "paint"
A real dye actually fuses itself into the molecular structure of the part, like throwing a white t-shirt in the wash with some red food coloring.
Therefore vinyl dye = paint,
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Yes, I have. And never had a problem. Most folks who do have problems [when using a good-quality dye], didn't get their panels thoroughly clean (probably from the years of Armor-all use 
). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.
). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
Yes, I have. And never had a problem. Most folks who do have problems [when using a good-quality dye], didn't get their panels thoroughly clean (probably from the years of Armor-all use ). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.
). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.In the case of vinyl dye, it is formulated for adhesion to the vinyl (and to flex with the vinyl) but it doesn't penetrate. If subject to wear, the "dye" will wear off and the original color is still underneath. Yes the dye is a paint designed for better adhesion to the vinyl but none the less it is really more of a paint with specifically designed properties. Same with the plastic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Yes, I have. And never had a problem. Most folks who do have problems [when using a good-quality dye], didn't get their panels thoroughly clean (probably from the years of Armor-all use ). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.
). In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off.So your telling me an armrest that was black, then "dyed" red will never wear down after a year of someone resting thier arm on it in a certain spot? You'll never see a hint of black start coming through?
I beg to differ, high traffic areas (door panels, seats, armrests) will show signs of a needed touch-up eventually.....I don't care what you use.
No different than painting a car, even applied properly if the car is out in the weather for years...the paint will wear thin in certain spots and need a touch up.....
So that tells me it's a "paint" not a dye......the name on those cans are misleading.
You have your opinions on the subject and I have mine
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
[QUOTE=1982CorvetteDude;1565356065...
So that tells me it's a "paint" not a dye......the name on those cans are misleading.
[/QUOTE]
Yea, same with "epoxy" in a spray can. This is just a gimmick. Real epoxy is 2 parts.
Don't know how they get away with this false claim.
So that tells me it's a "paint" not a dye......the name on those cans are misleading.
[/QUOTE]
Yea, same with "epoxy" in a spray can. This is just a gimmick. Real epoxy is 2 parts.
Don't know how they get away with this false claim.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you've ever really used a good vinyl dye, you would know that it's not the same as "paint". It is very thin and runny, but coats very well with even light coats. And, no, if you put dye on properly, it won't wear off in a year. [When I keep a new car for any length of time, it takes several years to wear the surface significantly. And parts suppliers to the car companies use...you guessed it....vinyl dye.] Try the "real" stuff sometime...you may find it works better than you thought.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
If you've ever really used a good vinyl dye, you would know that it's not the same as "paint". It is very thin and runny, but coats very well with even light coats. And, no, if you put dye on properly, it won't wear off in a year. [When I keep a new car for any length of time, it takes several years to wear the surface significantly. And parts suppliers to the car companies use...you guessed it....vinyl dye.] Try the "real" stuff sometime...you may find it works better than you thought.
^ And that's a characteristic of the definition of paint.......not a dye.
You said it yourself.paint
n a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a
surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a
liquid); dries to form a hard coating
Dye
n To stain; to color; to give a new and permanent color to, as
by the application of dyestuffs.
Dyestuff
n : a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g.
fabrics or hair
But if you wanted a generic definition of dye....you can say dye means "to change colors".....which would apply to "vinyl dye"......but it's still a paint....
Last edited by 1982CorvetteDude; May 8, 2008 at 07:30 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 275
From: Naples FL
I've used the dye from Corvette Central on my '58 and love it. It gives the car an original look. I can't imagine paint looking correct.
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 13
From: San Angelo TX
I've used the dye from Corvette Central on my '58 and love it. It gives the car an original look. I can't imagine paint looking correct.
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
But, you missed the point of the argument.
By definition, it is a paint not a real dye.
However, it is a specially designed paint to adhere to and flex with the original vinyl.
7T1vette said "In any event, dye put on properly will bond with the plastic and will NOT wear or flake off." He is right about flaking and bonding and wrong about wear. Really, vinyl dye is designed to adhere to vinyl and although it works well on hard plastics, other spray paints work just as well on plastics.
On vinyl or plastic, if subject to wear, vinyl dye will wear off and the original color underneath will show. The so-called dye does not change the color of the substrate. It adheres to it but lies on top. It IS a paint.
What product would I use on vinyl to change to a different color? Of course the products that call themselves vinyl dye as they are paints designed to be used on vinyl. Is it good? Yes it is. Does it look good? Yes it does. Does it wear well? Yes is does wear well but it does wear out.
Why do they call them dyes when they are really paints? I would say because they are special formulas designed for adhesion to vinyl and they wanted to not use the word paint. "Vinyl paint" doesn't sound as impressive as "vinyl dye". But paint it is.