Want to know how to paint dash!

[qtbug03]

Hey ~
I keep seeing dashboard pieces "painted" ..... would somebody explain how to do this process please!?!? thanks!

[Argintessa]

You should buy one of my dash covers. That way if you grow tired of the paint job with time you can simply remove the cover and be right back to stock interior. I can paint it to match your exterior for $100 or buy a regular black one for $50 and paint it yourself

[SMG]

No idiot is going to paint their whole upper dash, so your product isn't relevant.

I'm surprised you're not trying to sell those awful covers in threads like people asking how to change a headlight bulb.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by SMG

No idiot is going to paint their whole upper dash, so your product isn't relevant.

I'm surprised you're not trying to sell those awful covers in threads like people asking how to change a headlight bulb.

Ouch. Some idiots have painted the whole upper dash. I prefer just the center portion. I plan on doing so with my Bernt Pod. The shameless plug is a bit annoying, I do agree.

To the OP, it is hard to get a good finish without the right tools. Rattle cans sometimes work, but you have to go very very light/even coats. Just sand, prime and prep (clean). You may just want to call around to some body shops, many will do small things like this relatively cheaply.

[MichelleRoze]

That's ironic, I was just wondering the same thing. Though I also wanted to know where to get the paint. I want reflex silver to match the beetle. but i'll only do the center and over the speedo cluster and around the "oh ****" bar up front. Common styling I believe. So, where to get the paint?? Stealership??

[1.8beetle]

If you want to paint it yourself I would start with sanding the pieces to be painted so that the paint has something to adhere to.

1)Start with a finer grit sandpaper like 400 or 600.
2)Once you feel that the piece to be painted is smooth enough to your liking paint the part with a filler primer such as dupli color.
3)Then sand the primer down with 500 or 600 grit sandpaper.
4)Next you put on the color coat of choice.
5)Let it dry and reinstall the part.

If you are going to paint a really big piece then spray cans are not recomended because steaks could be left because spray cans are not made to be used for large surfaces.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

That's ironic, I was just wondering the same thing. Though I also wanted to know where to get the paint. I want reflex silver to match the beetle. but i'll only do the center and over the speedo cluster and around the "oh ****" bar up front. Common styling I believe. So, where to get the paint?? Stealership??

The dealership or you can try paintscratch.com. Some of the auto parts stores sell touch up paint in spray cans too. Ive had to use paintscratch when the color of our car (Tangerine Metallic on our 06 Honda Element) wasn't available thru the dealer.

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by 1.8beetle

If you want to paint it yourself I would start with sanding the pieces to be painted so that the paint has something to adhere to.

1)Start with a finer grit sandpaper like 400 or 600.
2)Once you feel that the piece to be painted is smooth enough to your liking paint the part with a filler primer such as dupli color.
3)Then sand the primer down with 500 or 600 grit sandpaper.
4)Next you put on the color coat of choice.
5)Let it dry and reinstall the part.

If you are going to paint a really big piece then spray cans are not recomended because steaks could be left because spray cans are not made to be used for large surfaces.

I've tried that too, but I prefer my steaks on the grill

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

That's ironic, I was just wondering the same thing. Though I also wanted to know where to get the paint. I want reflex silver to match the beetle. but i'll only do the center and over the speedo cluster and around the "oh ****" bar up front. Common styling I believe. So, where to get the paint?? Stealership??

You go girl New wheels, duding up the interior. You'll be looking for a cold air intake and a set of coilovers next

[1.8beetle]

Originally Posted by vwgary

I've tried that too, but I prefer my steaks on the grill

Lol, yeah I meant streaks
Good one though

[Argintessa]

Yes many people have painted there dashes and my dash covers are a great way to modify without being permanent. Nuff said. If you are needing paint find a place that will custom match aersol cans. You will have to have the paint code for them to match it. If its reflex silver its LA7W/8E. Check my website under painted for all the color codes. That and follow the advice given above and you will be fine.

[NaplesTurboS]

I have done my dash and I used very fine SPONGE sandpaper. Works great. You can use a spray can, as long as u do it in coats. Takes longer but comes out wonderful. I didnt have to prime my dash board. duplicolor for vynil is what I used.

[NBTurboFreak]

I am finishing up painting mine only because the rubber coating was peeling and not looking good. I found that using Zep Citrus degreaser for wet sanding really helped in getting the coating off. I am doing mine in a flat black and matte clear, nothing fancy.

[OldSkoolVWLover]

Originally Posted by vwgary

The dealership or you can try paintscratch.com. Some of the auto parts stores sell touch up paint in spray cans too. Ive had to use paintscratch when the color of our car (Tangerine Metallic on our 06 Honda Element) wasn't available thru the dealer.

paintscratch prices are kinda high....

dealership, will be an order item with payment up front.

or if you have an auto paint place in town (most places will have at least one) you can get it mixed for less than the dealership (and paint scratch), in varying qualities of paint, as well as single stage or base coat clear coat. gets mixed while you wait, so no making multiple trips to the dealership.

I personally prefer going to the local jobber instead of the dealership, since I have more control over what is getting mixed and quantity (dealership is one size only).

[Candyman]

I painted my center console, my speedometer cover and some other things. It turned out great. I just used the duplicolor for vynil rattle can. The hardest part is the prep. 1.)I first sanded down the old paint with the grityist (not a word lol) sandpaper. 2.) I took some finer sandpaper and sanded again. 3.) Once I was happy with the sanding I primed. (they have primer filler that works great if you have any scratches)4.)After priming I wet sanded everything with extremely fine sandpaper. If you dont keep changing the paper it will mess up what you have already done. 5.) After wet sanding, depending on how it turned out, I put another coat of primer on. 6.) Then I moved on to the painting. If you use a rattle can like I did do lots of coats with little paint. 7.) Even though its not neccesary I put on a clearcoat after my color. I figured that it would make the color pop better and make it stronger.

TIPS-(I wish I had these before I started)
-Even if it takes hours make sure to tape good. Nothing ruins hard work like paint where you dont want it.
-Use light coats
-DONT RUSH let atleast half an hour pass by before each coat. And let atleast an hour go by before you handle your piece and go to install it.
-Dont think that your final coat will hide any imperfections that you see when you primer it. What you see when your finished priming is what you will see when you finish painting.
-TAKE YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Titchy]

I just finished mine too. It took me a very long time to sand the main piece. The gauge pod came to me with a professional paint job and I just repainted it. I used the sponge sanders quite a bit and used everything from 400 up to 1500 in all the stages. The wet sanding seemed to be very effective. Light coats of color, about 3 or 4 and slightly heavier coats of clear coat. I used Duplicolor every thing, primer, color, CC and lightly sanded between every coat.

What Candyman said about keeping the sandpaper clean and careful taping is very true. I used careful taping on the speedo bezel to get the black line around it and then some light wet sanding to smooth the line in before clear coating. I filled the seat belt light in too in the center, I never liked that

I believe if you do a search in the Paint and Body forum you will find a thread by FineExampl called Interior Painting watch me work. Very long, very informative, many pix. Check it out. Other good threads there too.

Tracy

[vwgary]

Looks good. Very clean looking dash

[qtbug03]

Wow titchy~ awsome!! Love it girl!! :d

[MichelleRoze]

Originally Posted by Titchy

I just finished mine too. It took me a very long time to sand the main piece. The gauge pod came to me with a professional paint job and I just repainted it. I used the sponge sanders quite a bit and used everything from 400 up to 1500 in all the stages. The wet sanding seemed to be very effective. Light coats of color, about 3 or 4 and slightly heavier coats of clear coat. I used Duplicolor every thing, primer, color, CC and lightly sanded between every coat.

What Candyman said about keeping the sandpaper clean and careful taping is very true. I used careful taping on the speedo bezel to get the black line around it and then some light wet sanding to smooth the line in before clear coating. I filled the seat belt light in too in the center, I never liked that

I believe if you do a search in the Paint and Body forum you will find a thread by FineExampl called Interior Painting watch me work. Very long, very informative, many pix. Check it out. Other good threads there too.

Tracy

I'm so jealous!!! I love that interior!!! Where did you get the pedal covers? And the dead pedal with the NB on it? I sooooo want a set!!! Hmm...how much would you charge to paint mine? hehe

[vwgary]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

I'm so jealous!!! I love that interior!!! Where did you get the pedal covers? And the dead pedal with the NB on it? I sooooo want a set!!! Hmm...how much would you charge to paint mine? hehe

I know ECS Tuning has the pedal covers and dead pedal. I'm not sure tho if the dead pedal is the NB logo style. i'm sure others will chime in. I just bought the full set here on the Org classifieds.