Changing vinyl interior colors
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
I feel they call it dye because it's what we are accustomed to calling this stuff.
And it was mentioned that you can spray this stuff (or "Dye" as some call it) as much as you like and it won't fill in the grain....I beg to differ. I promise you if you lay enough coats it WILL wash out the grain texture.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
This is a subject I don't agree with a lot of people. Personally I feel there is no such thing as a vinyl "dye". All of it is basically a paint with a flex agent built in. The layers can wear down over time and need a re-coat.
That stuff does fuse better with vinyl and plastic than a can of Krylon because it's designed to fuse with those materials.
Sem color coat, in my opinion is the best stuff you can get on the market. They just don't call it dye, because that's not what it does.
The stuff at the auto parts store that's called vinyl dye does the exact same thing as sem's color coat.
If anyone can show me a can of vinyl dye that can physically change the color of a piece of plastic or vinyl and not just cover it.....I'll change my opinion.
That stuff does fuse better with vinyl and plastic than a can of Krylon because it's designed to fuse with those materials.
Sem color coat, in my opinion is the best stuff you can get on the market. They just don't call it dye, because that's not what it does.
The stuff at the auto parts store that's called vinyl dye does the exact same thing as sem's color coat.
If anyone can show me a can of vinyl dye that can physically change the color of a piece of plastic or vinyl and not just cover it.....I'll change my opinion.
absolutely true
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
Sort of a mute augument, but something I finally can comment on.
I've been in the business of vinyl's for over 35 years. In the manufacturing vinyl is "colored" as part of the manufacturing process. Call it dye, call it paint... same results.
Now in the aftermarket of changing vinyl color, that's a different story. Other than manufacturing porosity in the form of vent perforations, vinly is non absorbent, or solid as a product.
In order to alter the color, ones needs to coat the surface with a type of opaque finish. That would be a paint, to put it simply.
Dye by nature, is at best semi-opaque or better described.. transparent. This thinning is necessary for the dye to penetrate the surface it is applied to. More porous surfaces such as fabric, carpet, etc...
I am not familiar with the ingredients of the discussed products, but unless what is being called a dye has the ability to chemically break down the vinyl so it can penetrate or became part of it,(possible but unlikely), I'd say it's paint.
Does this help? I doubt it. If it works for you.....whatever makes you happy.
I've been in the business of vinyl's for over 35 years. In the manufacturing vinyl is "colored" as part of the manufacturing process. Call it dye, call it paint... same results.
Now in the aftermarket of changing vinyl color, that's a different story. Other than manufacturing porosity in the form of vent perforations, vinly is non absorbent, or solid as a product.
In order to alter the color, ones needs to coat the surface with a type of opaque finish. That would be a paint, to put it simply.
Dye by nature, is at best semi-opaque or better described.. transparent. This thinning is necessary for the dye to penetrate the surface it is applied to. More porous surfaces such as fabric, carpet, etc...
I am not familiar with the ingredients of the discussed products, but unless what is being called a dye has the ability to chemically break down the vinyl so it can penetrate or became part of it,(possible but unlikely), I'd say it's paint.
Does this help? I doubt it. If it works for you.....whatever makes you happy.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No, it doesn't help. Auto paint supply (professional) stores sell paint made for vinyl/plastics and they sell dye for vinyl/plastics. They are NOT the same thing and you being "in the business for 35 years" does not convince me to buy PAINT, when the correct thing to use is DYE. Why don't you folks who want to paint their interior parts go ahead and do so...and let these nice folks [who don't know what to do] buy the same 'stuff' that was put on their parts by the manufacturer in the first place.... DYE!!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
lol.....show me a picture or a link of the dye your referring to?
I know it's not the sem color coat I posted, I'm curious as to what I have been doing wrong painting my interiors with Sem it for the last 17 years.
Taken right from the manufactures website...you must be using something other than Sem that I'm not aware of.
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
I know it's not the sem color coat I posted, I'm curious as to what I have been doing wrong painting my interiors with Sem it for the last 17 years.
Taken right from the manufactures website...you must be using something other than Sem that I'm not aware of.
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
Last edited by 1982CorvetteDude; Dec 17, 2008 at 05:22 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
QUOTE=7T1vette;1568233545] No, it doesn't help. Auto paint supply (professional) stores sell paint made for vinyl/plastics and they sell dye for vinyl/plastics. They are NOT the same thing and you being "in the business for 35 years" does not convince me to buy PAINT, when the correct thing to use is DYE. Why don't you folks who want to paint their interior parts go ahead and do so...and let these nice folks [who don't know what to do] buy the same 'stuff' that was put on their parts by the manufacturer in the first place.... DYE!!!![/QUOTE]
No, it doesn't help. Auto paint supply (professional) stores sell paint made for vinyl/plastics and they sell dye for vinyl/plastics. They are NOT the same thing and you being "in the business for 35 years" does not convince me to buy PAINT, when the correct thing to use is DYE. Why don't you folks who want to paint their interior parts go ahead and do so...and let these nice folks [who don't know what to do] buy the same 'stuff' that was put on their parts by the manufacturer in the first place.... DYE!!!![/QUOTE]
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
It is very interesting that the SEM product site specifically states that "SEM Color Coat product is not a dye". I think that states it clearly enough. 
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
It is also interesting that the SEM website does not list their vinyl dyes. I suspect that these are only sold through professional paint supply stores. Many of us on this Forum have used SEM vinyl dyes....just in case you doubt that, too.
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
It is also interesting that the SEM website does not list their vinyl dyes. I suspect that these are only sold through professional paint supply stores. Many of us on this Forum have used SEM vinyl dyes....just in case you doubt that, too.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 18, 2008 at 07:23 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,102
Likes: 1
From: Forsyth Illinois
Wipe the parts down w/lacquer thinner to clean,and soften,then spray SEM,and all will be well.Also,use adhesion promoter,and SEM.Both these methods work fine.Just be careful to not get too much thinner,or will start to loose the grain,but will soften the plastic/vinyl,and allow the SEM to kinda burn it's self into the surface.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
It is very interesting that the SEM product site specifically states that "SEM Color Coat product is not a dye". I think that states it clearly enough.
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
It is also interesting that the SEM website does not list their vinyl dyes. I suspect that these are only sold through professional paint supply stores. Many of us on this Forum have used SEM vinyl dyes....just in case you doubt that, too.
http://semproducts.com/Catalog.asp?cat=36
It is also interesting that the SEM website does not list their vinyl dyes. I suspect that these are only sold through professional paint supply stores. Many of us on this Forum have used SEM vinyl dyes....just in case you doubt that, too.
Now show me a product that specifically changes the physical properties of a piece of plastic or vinyl and I'll call it a dye......otherwise it's a Color Coat or in layman's terms.........paint.
I asked you to show me the "dye" that you keep referring too, you have yet to produce that.
As I said before "dye" is a generic reference to the process we use to change the color of our interiors by laying a topcoat over the plastic in the color you are trying to achieve......nothing more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Wipe the parts down w/lacquer thinner to clean,and soften,then spray SEM,and all will be well.Also,use adhesion promoter,and SEM.Both these methods work fine.Just be careful to not get too much thinner,or will start to loose the grain,but will soften the plastic/vinyl,and allow the SEM to kinda burn it's self into the surface.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
You are one stubborn dude... I think I'm wasting my time trying to inform you. 
{If I had a digital shot of the SEM vinly dye can on my workbench, I'd post it...but 82"dude" would just say that I Photoshopped it...}
{If I had a digital shot of the SEM vinly dye can on my workbench, I'd post it...but 82"dude" would just say that I Photoshopped it...}
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
More like 82 "dude" is persistent rather than stubborn... and by the way correct
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 41
From: Toronto
Is there a SEM color that duplicates bright blue for a 70 interior?
My local carquest could not find one.
Also, is there a SEM that duplicates bright blue for a 65, which I believe is different than the 70 bright blue.
My local carquest could not find one.
Also, is there a SEM that duplicates bright blue for a 65, which I believe is different than the 70 bright blue.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 567
Likes: 115
From: Long Island NY/ Cape Coral FL
Dye penetrates, Paint covers. The interior "dye" we buy from the Corvette supply houses and such are nothing more than overly thinned paint. Go to any body shop that has a Sickens or PPG or the like mixing center and ask them what is done to make the interior dye they may need. the formulas for mixing are provided by the system manufacturer. when you "dye" your arm rest the top is colored, does it penetrate and go through to the bottom part of the armrest as would the dye they sell in the supermarket or fabric stores for fabric? NO ! If a vinyl part is manufactured in a certain color the color is added during the manufacturing proccess when it's still in a molten state and it will be throughout the piece.To change the color the "dye" you apply only covers the area it's applied to not the whole piece. You can dye seatbelt webbing , you can't dye a dash panel.Look at Corvette America's dyes they also come in quart cans, that are applied by a spray gun, you don't soak the piece you're dyeing, you paint it. hope this clears up a few things . Yes we still refer to it as dying an interior 'cause we paint the body and dye the interior!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Dye penetrates, Paint covers. The interior "dye" we buy from the Corvette supply houses and such are nothing more than overly thinned paint. Go to any body shop that has a Sickens or PPG or the like mixing center and ask them what is done to make the interior dye they may need. the formulas for mixing are provided by the system manufacturer. when you "dye" your arm rest the top is colored, does it penetrate and go through to the bottom part of the armrest as would the dye they sell in the supermarket or fabric stores for fabric? NO ! If a vinyl part is manufactured in a certain color the color is added during the manufacturing proccess when it's still in a molten state and it will be throughout the piece.To change the color the "dye" you apply only covers the area it's applied to not the whole piece. You can dye seatbelt webbing , you can't dye a dash panel.Look at Corvette America's dyes they also come in quart cans, that are applied by a spray gun, you don't soak the piece you're dyeing, you paint it. hope this clears up a few things . Yes we still refer to it as dying an interior 'cause we paint the body and dye the interior!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 91
Dye penetrates, Paint covers. The interior "dye" we buy from the Corvette supply houses and such are nothing more than overly thinned paint. Go to any body shop that has a Sickens or PPG or the like mixing center and ask them what is done to make the interior dye they may need. the formulas for mixing are provided by the system manufacturer. when you "dye" your arm rest the top is colored, does it penetrate and go through to the bottom part of the armrest as would the dye they sell in the supermarket or fabric stores for fabric? NO ! If a vinyl part is manufactured in a certain color the color is added during the manufacturing proccess when it's still in a molten state and it will be throughout the piece.To change the color the "dye" you apply only covers the area it's applied to not the whole piece. You can dye seatbelt webbing , you can't dye a dash panel.Look at Corvette America's dyes they also come in quart cans, that are applied by a spray gun, you don't soak the piece you're dyeing, you paint it. hope this clears up a few things . Yes we still refer to it as dying an interior 'cause we paint the body and dye the interior!
EXACTLY!! Not that what we've said will convince some. The bottom line is, if you like the product, call it what you'd like.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I don't really care to change your opinion....we all have the right to one, anyway. All I will say is that 'stuff' specifically sold and labeled as "vinyl dye" is physically very different than paint, it covers differently than paint, it is more difficult to chip or peel off of plastic parts than paint, it doesn't fill grain like paint, it dries considerably faster than paint and doesn't really have a 'cure' period; and you can dye...and re-dye...and re-dye all you want and never lose the original surface appearance or have to worry about covering dark with light, etc. Now, if you choose to call them both PAINT, have at it. Just don't confuse everyone else with your need to label it something it isn't.
Woo, hoo.
When I talk like this, people call me a meanie.
Entertaining thread.