Painting Your Dash

[Fr3ak+--]

A quick little how to on painting you dash and other interior plastics

now there are a few different ways to do it, i am just going to explain the method i used.

Supplies:
Wax And Grease Remover
Big Can of Plastic Primer
Big Can of touch up paint
Big Can of clear coat

if they only have the little cans get 2 or you will be going back for more half way through

I picked up all these things at autobarn for the amount of around $55




1. Remove the plastics you want to paint from your car



2. Tape up areas that you don't want to get paint on



3. Now it need a clean, this is very important if you use things like armourall. the best way to clean it is with a can of wax and grease remover. give it a really good scrub all over to get rid of all the crap on it



4. Next it's time to prime it. now i used a can of holt's plastic primer but most plastic primer's will do the trick. now if you haven't done this before please read the instruction on the back of the can (THEY DO HELP) now give it a even coat and let it dry for 20 mins. then apply a second coat a let that dry.
when its dry the plastic should now be a bit rough.. if you don't think that it is you can always do a third coat it wont hurt



5. Now its time for the color.

When ever people ask what to spray a dash with a lot of people tend to say vinyl dye. Now i did not used vinyl die and with this method you don't have to. I used touch up paint.
The best thing about this way is there is a lot more color's to choose from as vinyl dye only has 10 color's where as i used touch up paint which you can pretty much get in any color you want

after the primer is dry start to paint.

i gave mine 3 coats but its up to you how many you give it.



6. After the paint is dry it is time for the clear coat..

now with the clear coat you determine how shiny you want it. if you only put on a coat of 2 its a bit more of a matte look as appose to a gloss.

but remember the more clear coat you put on the less likely of it getting chipped. i have had a few mates do this without the clear coat and it is destroyed in a few months. i put on 3 coats and i have only had 2 chip's in a year.



7. now after this is dry it is time to replace the parts. just be very careful when doing so. you would hate to scratch it putting it back in


Before





After

[DUK13Y]

nice quick walk through. I don't really know how to remove the plastics though. I have a VYII berlina. Would it be much different to your car?

How did you get the airbag cover off to paint? And then back on for that matter? My car just got back from the workshop for damage and the airbag looked sealed with a glue type substance. It had evidence of something being used around the edges of the cover anyway.

[Fr3ak+--]

if you notice in the picture i did not paint that part of my dash and i have no idea sorry

[mws]

If your painting your actual dash, like right near the screen i strongly recommend for visibility anyway not to use too much clear the sun reflection is brutal lol.

[krypt0n]

That looks awesome

[DUK13Y]

if you notice in the picture i did not paint that part of my dash and i have no idea sorry

I'm talking about the section left of the main console. It's silver.

[sinister6]

I'm talking about the section left of the main console. It's silver.

that section is a "one part" piece that is the entire top of the dash. you'll find that if you look closely, it isnt actually a seperate piece, its just a indent in the mould. tha same as on the glove box. its difficult to paint this but if you were really set on it you could tape it up an try.

[Mc Nugget]

green looks awesome, i might try it and match my exterior green color.

[Ozzie]

One of the things I did before I even saw this thread was paint the dash panel... The original metalic paint holden used was absolute s**t.. It scratched and faded too easily.

[Bawx]

Are there any guides on how to remove the dash on here for a VX? I only managed to find one for a VY, would that work?

[VZTHUNDER]

there should be one (i think its in with a blue lighting mod thread). VY dash is totally different to a VX

[VT-Prime]

Really good walk through!
Im going to give it a go in about a month or so then ill post some pics up to show how it all turned out!
Cheers

[apoc585]

i was lookin at doin my interior professionally but im gona give this a go first. awesome walk through and basic terminology haha

Cheers matey

[VT-Prime]

What did you sure to paint it?
An air compressor and a spray gun like what one would use to paint a car?

[Fr3ak+--]

What did you sure to paint it?
An air compressor and a spray gun like what one would use to paint a car?

a spray can

[Juztin]

Edit: Didn't mean to post lol but gonna try this as soon as I buy everything and get a new dash =]

even thought its a few months old and this is thread digging, thanks mate

[Dayvo]

I was thinking about doing my VX as has alot of scratches . Just one question , Do you have to remove the the radio and heater/fan controls before you remove the facia or does it just slip over them ?

[Juztin]

I was thinking about doing my VX as has alot of scratches . Just one question , Do you have to remove the the radio and heater/fan controls before you remove the facia or does it just slip over them ?

Slips over im pretty sure, but dont hold me to that lol

[-Jonno-]

looks sweet mate. Ive seen a few painted (one of my mates especially) and they look wicked. gonna have a go myself in 2 weeks time. Thanks for the advice and directions they will defs be handy

[Goon]

Nice!!! Im so giving this a go!! wooo!!!

[beware-brunette]

Looks really good, you didnt have any issues? drips, runs etc?

[cds]

going to go do this sometime this week after work going to start on the bottom 1/2 of the dash part 1st see how it turns out then decide if i'll do it white for the rest, see how it goes - will post pics up once done.

[Excale]

One of the things I did before I even saw this thread was paint the dash panel... The original metalic paint holden used was absolute s**t.. It scratched and faded too easily.

Im sorry but that red dash looks crap. Should of done nice green like the guy who made this thread.

[stocky]

Im sorry but that red dash looks crap. Should of done nice green like the guy who made this thread.

green dash in a red car would look like absolute shit. his red one suits the colour of his car

[cds]

lol... my cars black and I'm doing mine in white? it looks pretty good so far actually.