?? about painting 72 arm rests - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

teeitup · 03-01-2008, 07:31 AM

I got a set of orginal black arm rests. They are in good shape, the only thing is the have some wear on the black, can these be painted or dyed to look better? Years ago I bought some stuff at Chevy Duty and painted some 70 rests and they turned out OK, but they are plastic not like the 72 arm rests. Any help is appreciated. Thanks Randy

joedoozer · 03-01-2008, 07:32 AM

Those arm rests are cheap, you can get them new for like $15. I am not sure they would look good painted, with that foam stuff inside.

teeitup · 03-01-2008, 07:40 AM

I know they are cheap but the repro ones do not look like the original ones or as good IMO, the originals are foam and repro ones are plastic.

Huck · 03-01-2008, 06:17 PM

Randy, the trick is to get them clean of any dirt, grease, oil, and don't touch them with your hands after cleaning---they paint with a vinyl black paint---one or two LIGHT coats. That usually works best on arm rests, steering wheels, etc. Huck

Livrat · 03-01-2008, 07:48 PM

Like Huck said. clean them up real good.. I usually start off with enamel reducer then wash them with TSP.. try not to handle them with your bare hands after cleaning. I have found that "SEM" brand vinyl spray seems to hold up the longest.

teeitup · 03-01-2008, 10:11 PM

Thanks guys for the help!!! Livrat, where do I get TSP at? So will rubber gloves work? Thanks Randy

Livrat · 03-02-2008, 08:03 AM

I usally find it at a hardware or house hold paint store. "TSP" is short for Trisodium Phosphate. Rubber gloves work fine.. the idea is to keep the oils from your hands/skin off of the freshly cleaned parts.

**1970cstblazer** · 03-02-2008, 08:19 AM

I am pretty sure the repro '72 arm rests are made from urethane with a steel core. They fit and look good.

joedoozer · 03-02-2008, 08:34 AM

Yeah I just bought and installed some repro ones last week from Brothers. I think they look great. I bought a dash pad too, looks great.

teeitup · 03-02-2008, 09:30 AM

Thanks Livrat, I'll get some of that
I've had a set of the repro arm rests in one of my other trucks, the 72 style IMO do not look like the orginals. The 67 and 68-71 style look fine but the 72 style are not like the originals. But that is just my opinion, and I do have a good set of originals and they are hard to find or atleast the drivers side is, so a little paint and I'll be happy. Thanks Randy

03-01-2008, 07:31 AM	#1
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	?? about painting 72 arm rests I got a set of orginal black arm rests. They are in good shape, the only thing is the have some wear on the black, can these be painted or dyed to look better? Years ago I bought some stuff at Chevy Duty and painted some 70 rests and they turned out OK, but they are plastic not like the 72 arm rests. Any help is appreciated. Thanks Randy __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

03-01-2008, 07:32 AM	#2
joedoozer is Certifiable Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hinesville, Georgia Posts: 160	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Those arm rests are cheap, you can get them new for like $15. I am not sure they would look good painted, with that foam stuff inside.

03-01-2008, 07:40 AM	#3
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests I know they are cheap but the repro ones do not look like the original ones or as good IMO, the originals are foam and repro ones are plastic. __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

03-01-2008, 06:17 PM	#4
Huck Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Shelbyville, KY Posts: 3,269	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Randy, the trick is to get them clean of any dirt, grease, oil, and don't touch them with your hands after cleaning---they paint with a vinyl black paint---one or two LIGHT coats. That usually works best on arm rests, steering wheels, etc. Huck

03-01-2008, 07:48 PM	#5
Livrat Member #1049 Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Troy Montana Posts: 3,940	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Like Huck said. clean them up real good.. I usually start off with enamel reducer then wash them with TSP.. try not to handle them with your bare hands after cleaning. I have found that "SEM" brand vinyl spray seems to hold up the longest.

03-01-2008, 10:11 PM	#6
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Thanks guys for the help!!! Livrat, where do I get TSP at? So will rubber gloves work? Thanks Randy __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

03-02-2008, 08:03 AM	#7
Livrat Member #1049 Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Troy Montana Posts: 3,940	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests I usally find it at a hardware or house hold paint store. "TSP" is short for Trisodium Phosphate. Rubber gloves work fine.. the idea is to keep the oils from your hands/skin off of the freshly cleaned parts.

03-02-2008, 08:19 AM	#8
1970cstblazer All stock and staying that way Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,440	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests I am pretty sure the repro '72 arm rests are made from urethane with a steel core. They fit and look good. __________________ 1970 K/5 Blazer CST 4WD, Bronze, 93k ACT. miles, 350, 4 speed, positraction, 16.5" x 8.25" wheel option, tilt, tach, vacuum, AM/FM, manual throttle...Dad ordered and purchased new 4/70. Currently frame off restoration in progress... 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 2WD, DK Blue/White, 90K ACT. miles, 402, TH400, 4.10 open, tilt, tach, vacuum, A/C, AM/FM, manual throttle.. A mostly original paint never rusted Texas survivor... 2017 Sierra 1500 SLT 4WD, Black, 41k miles, 5.3, 6L80E, 3.42 LS, 20" polished wheels, everything but moonroof and 6.2... 2019 Canyon SLT 4WD, White, 60k miles, 3.6, 8L45, 3.23 LS, 18" wheels

03-02-2008, 08:34 AM	#9
joedoozer is Certifiable Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hinesville, Georgia Posts: 160	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Yeah I just bought and installed some repro ones last week from Brothers. I think they look great. I bought a dash pad too, looks great.

03-02-2008, 09:30 AM	#10
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	Re: ?? about painting 72 arm rests Thanks Livrat, I'll get some of that I've had a set of the repro arm rests in one of my other trucks, the 72 style IMO do not look like the orginals. The 67 and 68-71 style look fine but the 72 style are not like the originals. But that is just my opinion, and I do have a good set of originals and they are hard to find or atleast the drivers side is, so a little paint and I'll be happy. Thanks Randy __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure" Last edited by teeitup; 03-02-2008 at 09:33 AM.

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