poor quality arm rests
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
poor quality arm rests
I ordered armrests from Corvette America. They came and were installed but after a short time the color pealed. They had simply been painted. I called the company and they sent me replacements. Guess what, same thing.
Are they all like this, just painted? Do other companies have better products?
thanks
Are they all like this, just painted? Do other companies have better products?
thanks
Last edited by dburgjohn; Sep 2, 2011 at 03:39 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
Well, if they are made of 'plastic', they should have used vinyl dye (a type of paint that is formulated differently and bonds to the plastic, rather than just adhering to it). Either they really used paint (cheaper....but WRONG!), or they didn't clean the surface well before shooting it with dye. Your best option is to clean those armrest covers again with detergent, rinse well, dry and shoot them with SEM ColorCoat vinyl dye mixed to your interior color code. Buy a pint of [liquid] dye and a Pre-Val bottle/gas canister sprayer ($10). It will recolor those covers properly...and, you will have some extra dye for other 'touch-up' needs to the interior panels. {Get the dye and sprayer at a professional auto body paint supply store...not at local car parts stores or over the internet in spray cans.}
P.S. You might want to use a rag dampened with lacquer thinner to remove any loose 'paint' before you clean/re-color them.
P.S. You might want to use a rag dampened with lacquer thinner to remove any loose 'paint' before you clean/re-color them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,383
Likes: 789
From: Redondo Beach, California
Well, if they are made of 'plastic', they should have used vinyl dye (a type of paint that is formulated differently and bonds to the plastic, rather than just adhering to it). Either they really used paint (cheaper....but WRONG!), or they didn't clean the surface well before shooting it with dye. Your best option is to clean those armrest covers again with detergent, rinse well, dry and shoot them with SEM ColorCoat vinyl dye mixed to your interior color code. Buy a pint of [liquid] dye and a Pre-Val bottle/gas canister sprayer ($10). It will recolor those covers properly...and, you will have some extra dye for other 'touch-up' needs to the interior panels. {Get the dye and sprayer at a professional auto body paint supply store...not at local car parts stores or over the internet in spray cans.}
P.S. You might want to use a rag dampened with lacquer thinner to remove any loose 'paint' before you clean/re-color them.
P.S. You might want to use a rag dampened with lacquer thinner to remove any loose 'paint' before you clean/re-color them.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There are only a select set of colors that come molded and all other colors are dyed.
The issue is the armrest gas out over time and the paint will come off. This has been a problem for a very long time... They are a little better now than they were a few years ago. I tried to dye a set to dark blue and even though we prepped it correct and used the right dye.. they would never dry. So the problem is not as bad now as it used to be but the only way to really solve this issue is to look for an original armrest in color.
Willcox
The issue is the armrest gas out over time and the paint will come off. This has been a problem for a very long time... They are a little better now than they were a few years ago. I tried to dye a set to dark blue and even though we prepped it correct and used the right dye.. they would never dry. So the problem is not as bad now as it used to be but the only way to really solve this issue is to look for an original armrest in color.
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,668
Likes: 3,123
From: Shamong, NJ
You don't mention what year your dealing with, but I assume it's for the 81 in your avatar. These are made of a soft flexible vinyl material, not the harder plastic used for 68-76 parking brake consoles.
What you've experienced is not Corvette America's fault, or even limited to just them. Wilcox explained the problem with these perfectly.
The ones available from GM were only available in black. There is now a repro on the market, but it only comes molded in 5 colors (77-81 black, 77-81 St.Louis red, 79-80 Oyster, 78-80 Doeskin & 78-81 St.Louis dark blue). If you have any of the 18 or 19 other colors offered between 77 and 82, your only options are to dye one, or try to find a good used original.
What you've experienced is not Corvette America's fault, or even limited to just them. Wilcox explained the problem with these perfectly.
The ones available from GM were only available in black. There is now a repro on the market, but it only comes molded in 5 colors (77-81 black, 77-81 St.Louis red, 79-80 Oyster, 78-80 Doeskin & 78-81 St.Louis dark blue). If you have any of the 18 or 19 other colors offered between 77 and 82, your only options are to dye one, or try to find a good used original.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If the part is "vinyl", I can't imagine SEM ColorCoat not sticking well to it, as ColorCoat is flexible. If the part is silicone or has silicone in it, very little, if anything, will bond/adhere with it. If the plastic material is breaking down and 'oozing goo', it is shoddy material to begin with.
Since I've not experienced that particular part, I'll leave it to others for further advice.
Since I've not experienced that particular part, I'll leave it to others for further advice.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
