Project: Paint My Interior

[Kyle87T]

Well I finally got a steppin and started painting parts of my interior. I am still trying to source some pieces because what I have just won't cut it. I am using all SEM products for this project. Satin Black is the paint.

This is actually taking alot longer than I expected since there are so many steps involved. This is the process I go through with every piece.

Step 1: Scrub item with SEM Soap
Step 2: Wash item with water
Step 3: Allow to dry
Step 4: Wipe down item with SEM Plastic Prep
Step 5: Allow to dry
Step 6: Spray Medium coat of SEM Sand Free Primer
Step 7: While SEM Sand Free Primer is still wet, Apply a dusted coat of SEM Color Coat
Step 8: Wait 10 minutes between coats and repeat process

I did 3-4 coats on each piece. Its personal preference really.

Here are a few pictures of what I have done so far. I am extremely happy with the way everything has turned out. It all looks brand new and is exactly the sheen I wanted. Just like an OEM black interior.

 

[fiyota]

:love: Amazing! Turning out great!

Now get some pictures of the peices in direct sunlight!

Q: Did you paint the leather inserts with the same paint or did you use leather dye?

Q: How is the carpet? Did it get kind of crunchy, or is it still nice and soft like stock?

 

[AGlobalThreat]

Looks good, looks like you did a good job. Lots of light coats with plenty of time to dry in between is what will work best. My interior has been black for over 2 years and even the spots where I rest my arm are still holding up just as good as the day I sprayed them. You'll only have problems if the paint is too thick, and won't work well since the vinyl is flexible. The paint I used recommended just a good cleaning and no primer before spraying, but yours look good A+ I want to see more pics as you progress!

I also noticed that vinyl paint ON the plastic parts, actually worked better and even looked better than the plastic paint I tried on some of the same pieces.

 

[Neal]

^^ i second that....

 

[tekdeus]

Good Job. I opted to not use the primer on plastics. Although it does adhere well, you can scratch the paint off with your finger nail, so I am picking up some OEM grey parts that are high-wear - like handles and stuff. I'm surprised you managed to paint the carpet and grills. I found that the grill cloth took SOO much paint to actually take the color, that I opted to just re-cloth them. I assumed the carpet would be the same, and some people said it would get crunchy, so I had mine re-carpeted.

I love the look of the paint, it does make everything like new. Good bye fading, and that whitish color of bent or damaged plastic.

 

[lppro]

i wanted to do this to my blue interior.. blue juts dosent go good with black exterior.. whare can i buy this paint? how expensive is it? and i herd you can paint the seats to.. but it seems like that would look like crap after a wile...

 

[Kyle87T]

llpro - You can buy this paint at most paint supply stores in the states. I couldn't find any good prices for this stuff in Canada. I bought everything from handsontools.com. They seemed to be the cheapest for me. The total cost me around $200 shipped.

Tekdeus - The primer I used is not really a primer. Its an adhesion promoter. Its a clear spray on liquid, not solid like regular primer. The SEM Sand Free Primer is meant for interior painting and they recommend it.

Fiyota - I used the same paint for the inserts also. It is meant for both plastic and vinyl. That is why this paint is so good. It works on everything. I will get some pics in direct sunlight today. The carpet on the door panels actually feel pretty good. I am going to wait another 6 hours or so for a full 24 hour curing period before I can tell you for sure.

 

[fiyota]

Great, thanks

So, what are you going to do about the main carpet? Are you going to buy new carpet in black or use the spray on all of it? I guess it depends on how the door carpet turns out. If you spray the floor, could you post before and after pictures of it? I want to know how well it hides stains and stuff.

Thanks!

 

[Kyle87T]

I'm sorry I couldnt get pictures today. I was balls deep in painting my interior that I totally forgot to take pics and now its dark.

I have a new black carpet sitting in a box waiting to install, but I think I am going to wait until spring to install it because its going to get all mucked up from the winter. I will just paint the stock carpet for the winter and replace it later. I can definately take before and after pics of the main carpet, hopefully it will be this weekend.

 

[bmoss85]

looks great, i want a black interior in my next car. i may try using some of that paint.

 

[Kyle87T]

It's literally the best on the market. You can't go wrong with this stuff. If you want your interior to last longer than you could every imagine, get the other products I mentioned above. Its not mandatory, but they wouldn't make it if it didn't help.

As we speak I am spraying the huge panel behind the right rear seat. The one with the targa holders. I will bring the door panel inside along with a few other pieces to get some shots in light, so I can feed your hunger for pictures.

 

[ilikebigbutts]

holy shit!!!dude i was just aboutr to start a thread asking what i can do about my interior!!!i didnt know you can paint it and actually turn out good!!!dude you got me excited (in a non homo way)!i'm getting my car painted black and this is exactly what i'm looking for...more pix please!

 

[tekdeus]

Lots of good feedback from SEM products. (It's what they use on that Unique Auto Sports TV show) When I picked up my paint from Lordco, the counter guy said he knew of a guy who painted his vinyl motorbike seat and it's holding up fine.

Just for info, I've used about 9 cans of paint and I still have to do the dash. This is paint blue parts with grey paint. I find that painting my burgandy parts requires another coat or 2 to completely hide it. Anyone doing their full interior (excluding carpet) should buy a case of 12 cans and refund any extra. I used 1 can each of the plastic and vinyl prep.

A warm wind-free environment is very important. I was getting imperfect results painting outside. Any wind makes you lose a lot of paint and makes your strokes uneven. Plus when it's cold, the paint can take on a spotted matte finish and look like crap. It wasn't dewey outside when this happened to me, but it was about 13 degrees C and 3 pm outside in the shade.

Today I did my final coats in the garage. The paint was MUCH more forgiving if I srayed too much in one spot. A proper mask designed for paint fumes is a MUST or you will pass out and lose lots of brain cells I'll add some pics to this thread, since there aren't many threads about this with full details.

 

[tekdeus]

Additional info: SEM makes a combined plastic AND vynil prep, OR separate plastic prep and vinyl prep. Looking at the cans, the combo prep and the vynil prep contain water which takes longer to dry, compared to the plastic only prep, which is a solvent that evaporates fast.

One can of each worked for me. The plastic stuff is spray on, wipe off, done. The vinyl prep is spray on, wipe, then rinse with water!! I was hosing down my door panels in the driveway which was annoying and took a while to dry the water that got into the wood fibre and foam.

 

[ImperfectSupra]

what do u think about vinyl paint from autozone

 

[Kyle87T]

A mask?.... Oops. Well, I haven't passed out yet lol

The vinyl paint from Autozone is fine, but its not as good as the SEM paint. At least from what I have heard.

Well I have spent approximately 9 hours today painting more of my interior. The only pieces I have to do left are the dash, glovebox, the piece behind the targa, and the center console beetween the seats. Oh, and the carpet! :naughty:

 

[PhiDelt109]

Looks fantastic Kyle! OEM even, keep it up man!

 

[MK3.0dudeman]

werd I'm painting my interior black to.I'll put up some pics when I'm done can't wait to see yours

 

[Kyle87T]

PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, not all of my interior were in perfect shape, so I tried to sand down any of the scratches that were really deep. Too bad the paint is so thin that the outlines of the scratches still show up even though the surface is smooth.

I also need to go over the bottom of the carpet on the door panel as I didnt spray it enough, which I noticed this morning while taking pictures.

 

[lppro]

that looks great! i really want to do this now... how much did it cost you?