Console Painting

[69 MOD]

Ok maybe I'm in the wrong place for this and if so forgive me.

What's the best way to make the console look new, I want it to be black and someone has already done a crappy black paint job over what seemed to be a cream colored console.

Being I'm no auto body specialist and I don't really want to shell out a ton of coin to have it done by one...any advise?

Vinyl dye or regular paint?
Scuff with scotch pad or just wipe it down with wax & grease remover?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

MOD

[SS Tim]

Might look into getting it soda blasted to get back to the factory grain.

[FirstOwner69]

A lot depends on how much of the grain is filled in by the previous paint job. If filled then you should consider what Tim says above.

I've had 3 of this type console that I've refinished. One is in my 69 and is black. The other was in a 79 Blazer and was parchment or white. I bought those two vehicles new. I have also re-done one that was in pretty poor shape that came from the junkyard. For that one I used regular hardware store paint stripper along with a fairly stiff brush to remove the paint and expose the grain. It had no ill effects on the console. It also had a couple minor cracks. It's amazing to see how well super glue works to fix those. It soaks in, firms the material up and mends the crack very well and quickly. The 2 originals I had did not require any repairs or paint removal. To look original, they should not be gloss or semi-gloss. I used satin paint on all which was very close to the original sheen. For the original black console and the junkyard console, I used Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover Satin Canyon Black. For prep, I only washed them. I also let the one I used stripper on sit for a week or two to be sure the stripper residue would not affect the paint.

I'm sure many have used a more elaborate process, but I've never had a problem doing it this way.

Here's a picture of the one from the junkyard. If you look closely, you can see I only painted the bezel around the ashtray. I haven't gotten around to replacing that with the new one I have.

[hugger6933]

Scrub it good I have not tried this yet on anything to be painted or dyed but Comet cleanser works WONDERS on int. parts that have gunk on them. I learned this recently rebuilding an Avalanche that had an INT. fire and it did not burn any of the door panels[they are different than the truck]but they were grey and did have lots of smoke. I was using various things around my shop to clean with [town is 6 miles away] and I had some Comet cleanser over the sink to clean off the soap gunk that gets on the sink from time to time. I spayed a little water on the panel and used one of those sponges with the sponge on one side and a scotchbrite on the other. The sponge is all that is needed in most but all of the hardest of spots. Try that I have used it many times on late truck to clean arm rests and door panels where wrecker drivers would load a wreck and get inside a wreck and put a big greasy palm print right in the middle of a pristine tan leather door panel. It will clean them real good it does well in cleaning the "grain" and getting the hard to reach places between the grains. Now as far as finishing it is pretty much like you would any other, Have the place that mixes the dye, give you the "P" sheet. It will tell you what all you need and how to spray it and the pressures and whatnot. If you get stuck holler back and I'll help you through it. Jim

[WIDESIDE72]

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[69 MOD]

Thanks for the ideas/advise.

Hugger I don't even own a paint gun so I was hoping for a rattle can option like Firstowner did...just unsure what to use.

Firstowner your console looks great!

I was looking at the patio furniture paint (works with plastic) for the finish may work too.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 69 MOD

Firstowner your console looks great!

I was looking at the patio furniture paint (works with plastic) for the finish may work too.

Thanks! The Rustoleum product also says it can be used on plastic. I see you are in Minnesota so there may be a Menard's near you. That's where I got the paint.

[69 MOD]

Just so you can see what I'm dealing with, here's a couple pics
You can see all the grain, I think he used the rattle can vinyl dye and only gave it 1 coat.
Also as you can see in pic 2 there's a broken piece, can I make it from 2 part resin? (plastic repair)





The ring was totally painted but scotch bright pad took care if that, just have to hit it with #0000 steel wool and it will be like new
.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 69 MOD

Also as you can see in pic 2 there's a broken piece, can I make it from 2 part resin? (plastic repair)[/IMG]

Possibly. You can give it a try. The good thing is that if you are using factory buckets that area is barely visible.

Edit: added picture.

[RenoKeene]

SEM products are made just for this. Thought I had a pic of just the console by itself after I finished it but can't find it.

[Lees68GMC]

Im in the process of prepping and painting a Tan console Black I bought on E-bay. Its encouraging to hear you guys had some past success doing this. Finishing this and my gas pedal mods are holding up my carpet installation too.

Crap flys around on my trucks bare floor when Im driving (fast), no where but the glove box to stash stuff right now.