SEM interior painting steps?
#1
SEM interior painting steps?
I'm getting ready to order some SEM Landau Black (#15013) to paint a few of the beige interior trim pieces that may take awhile to find original black ones of: door window trims, one back seat window trim, and possibly the center console and/or stereo/shifter surround.
First question is, how many cans is that likely to take? I have three in my cart at the moment.
Second, is there a consensus on what steps to follow and which products to use? I've read a couple dozen threads and am less certain than when I started... Most of the info seems to pertain to leather (seats and steering wheel), so I'm not exactly sure what to make of the vinyl surfaces.
SEM Soap (#39362?)
Plastic/Leather Prep (#38353)?
Adhesion Promoter (#39863)?
The SEM Soap is commonly recommended as the first step, but then there are those who say a mild soap mixed with degreaser is the same thing. I imagine dirt and grease doesn't penetrate vinyl like it does leather.
The Plastic/Leather Prep is similar to the Soap, being commonly recommended but also replaceable by acetone/thinner, possibly diluted 5-10%. Seeing as I'm not doing plastic or leather, I'm unsure if it'll be of any benefit.
Likewise, Plastic Adhesion Promoter is frequently recommended, but the people who have used it on some parts but not others don't seem to report an effective difference. Plastic is one of the tougher materials for paint to stick to, so it makes sense that it would benefit from an adhesion promoter. The product name makes me think it would be a waste of time on softer surfaces.
Is sanding after cleaning recommended on vinyl, as with leather, or just scuff with a grey or green scouring pad? (Combining lots of suggestions here!)
My understanding is that a clear top coat is not recommended.
First question is, how many cans is that likely to take? I have three in my cart at the moment.
Second, is there a consensus on what steps to follow and which products to use? I've read a couple dozen threads and am less certain than when I started... Most of the info seems to pertain to leather (seats and steering wheel), so I'm not exactly sure what to make of the vinyl surfaces.
SEM Soap (#39362?)
Plastic/Leather Prep (#38353)?
Adhesion Promoter (#39863)?
The SEM Soap is commonly recommended as the first step, but then there are those who say a mild soap mixed with degreaser is the same thing. I imagine dirt and grease doesn't penetrate vinyl like it does leather.
The Plastic/Leather Prep is similar to the Soap, being commonly recommended but also replaceable by acetone/thinner, possibly diluted 5-10%. Seeing as I'm not doing plastic or leather, I'm unsure if it'll be of any benefit.
Likewise, Plastic Adhesion Promoter is frequently recommended, but the people who have used it on some parts but not others don't seem to report an effective difference. Plastic is one of the tougher materials for paint to stick to, so it makes sense that it would benefit from an adhesion promoter. The product name makes me think it would be a waste of time on softer surfaces.
Is sanding after cleaning recommended on vinyl, as with leather, or just scuff with a grey or green scouring pad? (Combining lots of suggestions here!)
My understanding is that a clear top coat is not recommended.
#2
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
Let me simplify your life a little and refer you to the TDS (technical data sheet). When in doubt always follow manufacturer recommendation (this is a key to ANY refinishing).
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...color_coat.pdf
Here's another PDF they have about plastics:
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...g%20Manual.pdf
I would personally use it as a complete system. As far as how much you need, I'd assume 2-3 cans is sufficient. Again just read and follow the tech sheet. Everything is there.
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...color_coat.pdf
Here's another PDF they have about plastics:
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...g%20Manual.pdf
I would personally use it as a complete system. As far as how much you need, I'd assume 2-3 cans is sufficient. Again just read and follow the tech sheet. Everything is there.
#3
The tech sheet says to use SEM Soap followed by Vinyl Prep (#38343). That's the first I had heard of the latter, so scratch Plastic/Leather Prep from the list.
As far as how much you need, I'd assume 2-3 cans is sufficient.
#6
Just one of many examples:
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-SEM-Vinyl-Dye
All in one place, you've got pros saying to not bother with SEM's prep products, and recommendations to use adhesion promoter (also found here in CL threads) on vinyl.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-SEM-Vinyl-Dye
I prefer the SEM and I've been selling it for years, and using it on my own vehicles for years.
The big key is to clean everything with hot soaping water and a grey scotchbrite pad. I have much better luck with doing that versus using one of their preps.
...
Agreed on the soap and water thing, the "preps" are generally worthless. I also use vinegar as part of the prep on some types of plastic.
...
Don't forget to use a quality adheasien promoter when spraying plastics, nylons vinyls an such.
The big key is to clean everything with hot soaping water and a grey scotchbrite pad. I have much better luck with doing that versus using one of their preps.
...
Agreed on the soap and water thing, the "preps" are generally worthless. I also use vinegar as part of the prep on some types of plastic.
...
Don't forget to use a quality adheasien promoter when spraying plastics, nylons vinyls an such.
#7
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
They shouldn't, but often times they can. Quickly looking over their products the soap is a mild abrasive as well as a cleaner, and the vinyl prep is an adhesion promoter specifically formulated for vinyl. Again I see no reason not to use it as a system...
Side note - Their soap TDS mentions not to rinse with water for vinyl or leather:
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...s_sem_soap.pdf
Side note - Their soap TDS mentions not to rinse with water for vinyl or leather:
http://www.semproducts.com/manage/ht...s_sem_soap.pdf
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#8
Pole Position
iTrader: (18)
Here you go get all of this...
Use the prep spray first....and clean the parts off with it....
Then Spray Color Coat...
It needs to be pretty warm out and I would spray it in full sun.....also if there is humidity in the air the top coat will not adhere good enough to the parts and will peal off easily.
Use the prep spray first....and clean the parts off with it....
Then Spray Color Coat...
It needs to be pretty warm out and I would spray it in full sun.....also if there is humidity in the air the top coat will not adhere good enough to the parts and will peal off easily.
Last edited by CatManD3W; 04-22-16 at 12:52 PM.
#9
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (8)
Cover wood trim and spray everything while it's in the car! Just kidding, terrible idea, but that's how I did my dash. I just put a piece of cardboard on the inside windshield and sprayed away. Came out great and that was several years back. I cleaned the dashboard really well with alcohol and it came out perfect.
#10
CatMan, that's just 3 products, right? I can't make out the Color Coat details, but I assume they're all the same thing. That would mean your recommendation is just one prep product for vinyl and one for plastic/leather? I.e., no SEM Soap?
See what I mean about no consensus?
I won't be painting the dash, as I swapped in an original black one this past week. The pieces I need to paint are just the trims mentioned in the first post, all of which will be easy to remove and require minimal masking.
Tabaka, did you use any of the prep steps in addition to the alcohol? The more I read, the more convinced I am that the SEM line of prep products is for convenience and peace of mind only.
Low humidity is a challenge around here, even when the temperature is in the 70 degree target range...
I've actually almost talked myself into giving the DupliColor a try after that Bimmer Forums thread. I've read more since that and surprisingly, there's no clear cut preference between DupliColor and SEM for vinyl/leather. But, DupliColor is less than half the cost and, most importantly, stocked by all the auto parts stores so I don't have to guess at how much to order.
See what I mean about no consensus?
I won't be painting the dash, as I swapped in an original black one this past week. The pieces I need to paint are just the trims mentioned in the first post, all of which will be easy to remove and require minimal masking.
Tabaka, did you use any of the prep steps in addition to the alcohol? The more I read, the more convinced I am that the SEM line of prep products is for convenience and peace of mind only.
Low humidity is a challenge around here, even when the temperature is in the 70 degree target range...
I've actually almost talked myself into giving the DupliColor a try after that Bimmer Forums thread. I've read more since that and surprisingly, there's no clear cut preference between DupliColor and SEM for vinyl/leather. But, DupliColor is less than half the cost and, most importantly, stocked by all the auto parts stores so I don't have to guess at how much to order.
#11
Lead Lap
iTrader: (1)
Everything you need is in the data sheets... As a painter I've given you exactly what I would utilize if I were to do this job. I feel like you are convinced of something else already, so I'm not going to attempt giving you advice from here. Good luck with the process though.
#12
Everything you need is in the data sheets... As a painter I've given you exactly what I would utilize if I were to do this job. I feel like you are convinced of something else already, so I'm not going to attempt giving you advice from here. Good luck with the process though.
#15
I went by AutoZone to see if the DupliColor Gloss Black (HVP104) or Flat Black (HVP106) looks good in person. The Flat is way too flat, but I brought along the leftmost dash trim piece (the one that pops off easily below the vent) and the Gloss looks like it'll work great.
I also wanted to read over DupliColor's instructions, as nowhere had I seen people recommending specific prep steps for it like with SEM. Sure enough, there are none. Just clean thoroughly.
As a bonus, it's on an unadvertised special currently. The local store only had one can left on the shelf, so they ordered a couple more for me from another store. It'll be a few days before the weather is cooperative for painting, anyway.
If this works out, the cost savings are significant. We're talking less than $20 for three cans as compared to $85 for that amount of SEM and the prep products. (Or just $45-50 for the SEM paint + generic prep steps.)
I also wanted to read over DupliColor's instructions, as nowhere had I seen people recommending specific prep steps for it like with SEM. Sure enough, there are none. Just clean thoroughly.
As a bonus, it's on an unadvertised special currently. The local store only had one can left on the shelf, so they ordered a couple more for me from another store. It'll be a few days before the weather is cooperative for painting, anyway.
If this works out, the cost savings are significant. We're talking less than $20 for three cans as compared to $85 for that amount of SEM and the prep products. (Or just $45-50 for the SEM paint + generic prep steps.)