console refinish
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 49
From: West Palm Beach,Florida
console refinish
We are all due for Console Refinish. Im sure most of us has that stick feel when we touch the interior. Has anyone here tried a vinyl wrap instead of paint? I think that it would have a smoother finish than sanded and painted plastic
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
I did the entire console and dash pieces with wrap. I used 3M in the matte black carbon fiber pattern and it turned out pretty nice. Over a span of 2-3 years I had some edges pick up a bit so I just took it off, cut another piece to fit and laid it on. You could do the same with any color you like. I get my wrap from Metro Restyling, they handle nothing but good quality wrap, give great advice, and their prices are reasonable. I would love to do my whole car but I'm a little hesitant to try it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 49
From: West Palm Beach,Florida
1 have a 96 . Even my OEM replacement that i had in a closet turned to mush. Yours turned out fantastic
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 177
From: NE Ohio
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
i did the entire console and dash pieces with wrap. I used 3m in the matte black carbon fiber pattern and it turned out pretty nice. Over a span of 2-3 years i had some edges pick up a bit so i just took it off, cut another piece to fit and laid it on. You could do the same with any color you like. I get my wrap from metro restyling, they handle nothing but good quality wrap, give great advice, and their prices are reasonable. I would love to do my whole car but i'm a little hesitant to try it.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
someone around here did a carbon fiber wrap on interior pieces --
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ct-carbon.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ct-carbon.html
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
I just de-dulso'd my aftermaket shift plate and was going to do the vent and bezel. Chumpvette replied that the bezel & vents were dulso(not as thick as the shift plate). and just replied in time before I started sanding. I'll see how the SEM paint matches up, if close, I'm done with dulso
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 399
Likes: 37
From: Kansas City Metro Area, Missouri
I took mine out and stripped that old rubber coating off it with non acetone nail polish remover and painted it with a air brush. It came out great. I thought about a carbon fiber wrap don't trust myself enough not to mess it up.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
That stuff cleans off, SEM paints are great they leave the proper finish and dont fade or peel.
Had a steering wheel (82 Z/28) that was also super sticky..some simple green, elbow grease it came clean, dyed with SEm that was 8 yrs ago still looks brand new. Dont use the cheap duplicolor stuff from the auto parts store looks like chit.
Had a steering wheel (82 Z/28) that was also super sticky..some simple green, elbow grease it came clean, dyed with SEm that was 8 yrs ago still looks brand new. Dont use the cheap duplicolor stuff from the auto parts store looks like chit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
I find the SEM paints and products produce an excellent finish if you are patient and thorough. I have used them on both my C3 (78) and my C4 (86). In fact, I just pent the last week doing this on my windshield frame and dash trim. I found great success by doing the following:
SEM Soap - Clean the parts with this mildly abrasive blue soap and gray scotch-brite. This will remove contaminates and clean the piece. No water until you rinse the piece.
SEM Plastic/Vinyl Prep - Use this with a clean micro-fiber cloth to remove any remaining contaminants
SEM Adhesion Promoter - This one got me as I had an old can (109+yrs, and a new one). For the new ones, you do a quick coat, let it flash 5 minutes, then a wet coat with a 15 minute flash
SEM Flexible Paint (Landau Black is closest) - I did three coats; a light mist for the first coat, and then two medium coats with 10 minutes of flash time between coats.
To me the biggest issue was all of the waiting. I used a timer (phone/Echo, etc) to make sure I did not rush. I tend to be my own worst enemy in painting
The process takes a good bit of time, especially if you have to do both sides of a piece, but the results are definitely worth it.
Good Luck!
SEM Soap - Clean the parts with this mildly abrasive blue soap and gray scotch-brite. This will remove contaminates and clean the piece. No water until you rinse the piece.
SEM Plastic/Vinyl Prep - Use this with a clean micro-fiber cloth to remove any remaining contaminants
SEM Adhesion Promoter - This one got me as I had an old can (109+yrs, and a new one). For the new ones, you do a quick coat, let it flash 5 minutes, then a wet coat with a 15 minute flash
SEM Flexible Paint (Landau Black is closest) - I did three coats; a light mist for the first coat, and then two medium coats with 10 minutes of flash time between coats.
To me the biggest issue was all of the waiting. I used a timer (phone/Echo, etc) to make sure I did not rush. I tend to be my own worst enemy in painting
The process takes a good bit of time, especially if you have to do both sides of a piece, but the results are definitely worth it.
Good Luck!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,069
Likes: 262
From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 176
From: Hillsborough NC
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 205
Likes: 40
From: Orlando, FL
this looks really good for 5 years old. I was just thinking about vinyl wrapping my 84 dash in CF. I also like that shifter, was that a difficult install?