Dying Seat Covers ?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If the seat covers are vinyl or leather and you clean them well of ALL protectants, etc. and use a good quality dye [like SEM ColorCoat....stay away from the rattle can dyes], you should have no problem and will get very good, near-factory quality results. Dye bonds with the surface (unless it was previously painted); paint will effectively ruin your interior.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Clifton VA
I second the SEM. I used it at the suggestion of a local Auto Paint Supplier and it seems to be working great. I was afraid of the countless coats of who knows what kind of cleaner, silicones etc. being wiped on over the years but it seems to have bonded well. The first coat crazed a little as it dried but second coat is solid and that is going from white to black.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I second the SEM. I used it at the suggestion of a local Auto Paint Supplier and it seems to be working great. I was afraid of the countless coats of who knows what kind of cleaner, silicones etc. being wiped on over the years but it seems to have bonded well. The first coat crazed a little as it dried but second coat is solid and that is going from white to black.
anyone?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
The key is clean, clean, clean. SEM likes squeaky clean parts surfaces.
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Verdad Gallardo
Acct suspended by request 19 April 2011
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: La Porte In
The rattle can works well. Disagre with earlier post. How ever you have to buy the corect color dye. I believe I bought ny can from Ecklers. I have died plastic metal vinyl and leather. Works on all sufaces just as advertised on the can and Store
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
SEM ColorCoat in rattle cans is good stuff....you just can't get it in many colors. If you go to a pro auto body paint supply store, they can mix SEM to whatever GM interior code you want and it will match your interior very well. If SEM in spray cans has the color you want, great! Go for it.
Also, the paint store can put the mixed SEM in spray cans or leave it as liquid in a paint can. I choose the latter approach, as I also use the PreVal bottle/gas sprayer (less than $10 for it plus an extra gas cannister) for doing interior work. One pint of SEM dye is less than $20. One spray can of SEM dye is probably close to the same cost, but has about 1/3 the amount of dye in it. I guess I'm just "cheap" [but, I choose to think of it as "thrifty"
].
Anyway, I just know that SEM dye has done everything I ever expected it to do and it produces great results that look like factory new interior items. It lasts, it doesn't peel, and it doesn't loose color. What more could you want? Why try something else that might not work as well???
Also, the paint store can put the mixed SEM in spray cans or leave it as liquid in a paint can. I choose the latter approach, as I also use the PreVal bottle/gas sprayer (less than $10 for it plus an extra gas cannister) for doing interior work. One pint of SEM dye is less than $20. One spray can of SEM dye is probably close to the same cost, but has about 1/3 the amount of dye in it. I guess I'm just "cheap" [but, I choose to think of it as "thrifty"
].Anyway, I just know that SEM dye has done everything I ever expected it to do and it produces great results that look like factory new interior items. It lasts, it doesn't peel, and it doesn't loose color. What more could you want? Why try something else that might not work as well???
