Dash Pad & Door Panel Paint

[mod58]

Whats Better To Use For Re-painting A Dash Pad And Door Panels???? Sen Or Duplicolor????????????

[tvblazer78]

SEM Color coat would be the better one..

Originally Posted by mod58

Whats Better To Use For Re-painting A Dash Pad And Door Panels???? Sen Or Duplicolor????????????

[slugish]

had good luck with duplicolor, but not on dash pads or door panels.

[slugish]

Imean I havent tried any type of paint on dahes or door panels.

[bigblock73]

SEM fan here, have had excellent results.

[BaddBusa2005]

SEM for sure.

[Roper]

What is SEM and who sells it?
Also when you paint door panels does it die it or just paint the surface?
Wont the paint wear off in no time?

[benoit454]

online stores, restoration places sell it and auto body supply stores.

I had bad luck with sem on hard type plastic surfaces, also had some with duplicolor, but I had great experiences with duplicolor on dashes, I did the one in my monte carlo with it, no issues, arm rests and vinyl door panels, even seats with it.

The sem I used to do a black 84 dash cap to blue and it seemed to take forever to notice any color on it and the can didn't go far. The duplicolor went a long way and was alot cheaper too.

I would HIGHLY reccomend the use of adhesive promoter on hard plastic surfaces, like door panels in these years of trucks.

[bigblock73]

I have followed SEM's steps by the book, no dissapointments here. Use a good cleaner, adhesion promoter, and you should be good. It all about the prep work. Here are a few pics of the console I just restored using all SEM products.

[Alex1]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

I have followed SEM's steps by the book, no dissapointments here. Use a good cleaner, adhesion promoter, and you should be good. It all about the prep work. Here are a few pics of the console I just restored using all SEM products.

[old Rusty C10]

i bought the duplicolor and i used it on a set of door panels on my old 86 and the arm rests the paint came off almost immediately

what is the SEM stuff and where do you get it? i have a red set i wanna make grey

[ocbaud]

Originally Posted by benoit454

online stores, restoration places sell it and auto body supply stores.

I had bad luck with sem on hard type plastic surfaces, also had some with duplicolor, but I had great experiences with duplicolor on dashes, I did the one in my monte carlo with it, no issues, arm rests and vinyl door panels, even seats with it.

The sem I used to do a black 84 dash cap to blue and it seemed to take forever to notice any color on it and the can didn't go far. The duplicolor went a long way and was alot cheaper too.

I would HIGHLY reccomend the use of adhesive promoter on hard plastic surfaces, like door panels in these years of trucks.

[benoit454]

LOL yep that's pretty much the color blue I had to try and dye my black cap to be, turned out dark, but wasn't the exact blue anyways.

[Roper]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

i bought the duplicolor and i used it on a set of door panels on my old 86 and the arm rests the paint came off almost immediately

what is the SEM stuff and where do you get it? i have a red set i wanna make grey

I see Chevyduty sells it. Its actually a dye not a paint. I still have to wonder if it will work. Example factory door panels tend to get chiped. If that dye doesnt penetrate its not going to work for long.
Ive got a new set of chevyduty aftermarket red door panels that I would like to do but they are hard plastic. Seems hard to believe this stuff could penetrate?

[LBJ]

They make a pre-sealant for the dyes and sprays. It increases adhesion. I used SEM on my new dash for the 77. Turned out well. However, the manufacturer said NOTHING would adhere to that poly-something material. I washed, scrubed, sealed, and dyed the dash. It has held up well except in the creases around the dash bezel.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by Roper

Example factory door panels tend to get chiped. If that dye doesnt penetrate its not going to work for long.
Ive got a new set of chevyduty aftermarket red door panels that I would like to do but they are hard plastic. Seems hard to believe this stuff could penetrate?

Even the factory panels are not always the same color underneath...if they chip, you will see that color no matter what.

The dye itself does not penetrate thru the panel...it is just adhered really well via the adhesion promotor, and I believe IT (the adhesion promoter) penetrates slightly into the panel.

Bottom line, nothing will look new forever, but it can last longer when a quality product is used and it is properly applied.

[tvblazer78]

You said it. Did my gauge cluster and wheel. Came out very good..

The number one thing is to clean it very good..

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Even the factory panels are not always the same color underneath...if they chip, you will see that color no matter what.

The dye itself does not penetrate thru the panel...it is just adhered really well via the adhesion promotor, and I believe IT (the adhesion promoter) penetrates slightly into the panel.

Bottom line, nothing will look new forever, but it can last longer when a quality product is used and it is properly applied.