Dicky Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Anyone spray painted their centre console from gear knob surround up. I've just sprayed my drivers door arm rest control switch panel with Halfords "Rubberised" paint and am quite pleased with it. I was wondering if I commit to the gear knob surround etc, which has that bubble effect finish, do you have to rub it all down or can you just spray on top. Like many others the bubbles around the gear knob surround are starting to burst exposing a grey underside and it's looking a bit tatty ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 I would either sand it all down so it's flat or use high build primer to level it all up and then paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 I feared that may be the case. Have you done it yourself and discovered it's better to rub it all down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R88RPE Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 I'm selling a gear surround on ebay for a tenner if you want a spare to paint? Think auction finishes tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 I feared that may be the case. Have you done it yourself and discovered it's better to rub it all down? yea i did my once, before it was hydro dipped...and yea, ive sanded it down and then used normal primer to make sure its fully smooth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mopedmark Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) Smoothed it down on this lot and its hard going but then I did this, but I didn't smooth but it was 6 coats of 2 pack primer Edited September 12, 2015 by Mopedmark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 (edited) I used matt black plastidip on mine about 3 months ago and it looks completely OEM. First time I've used it, I was more than a little sceptical, but It's good stuff. Just wish it was permanent I didn't rub it down though, just degreased it. If I was using permanent paint then yeah, I'd rub it down and do it properly. Edited September 12, 2015 by Juggalo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Great job that Mark, looks perfect. Must have had blisters rubbing that down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzard27 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 ive just started doing mine and that stuff on the centre console is a bitch to rub down started using 80 n 60 grit and it still pretty tough stuff might be worth priming and re-sanding with a fine grit to get a smooth base for the paint... think this will be my plan... unless someone with more experience thinks this is a bad idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Thanks for the input all. Been mucho busy lately and forgot to respond. My main concern with spray painting is its resistance to scratching and would it all be in vain. What do you think the original covering on the gear knob surround and gauge panel is, some sort of wrap or paint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TT350 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Getting a good finish with paint is all about preparation. I've painted guitars etc and one time I got impatient and used to course a sand paper on the body of a guitar. Couldn't see or feel the grooves left by the sand paper but by golly gosh when the paint went on it was obvious. Sand it. Sand it again then sand it some more. Then make sure it's CLEAN. Wash it. Dry it. Then give it a good hosing down with electrical contact cleaner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Getting a good finish with paint is all about preparation. I've painted guitars etc and one time I got impatient and used to course a sand paper on the body of a guitar. Couldn't see or feel the grooves left by the sand paper but by golly gosh when the paint went on it was obvious. Sand it. Sand it again then sand it some more. Then make sure it's CLEAN. Wash it. Dry it. Then give it a good hosing down with electrical contact cleaner. Prob better to use panel wipe than electrical contact cleaner if for not better reason it's cheaper! That's usually a chipsaway special......Sanding lines under the base coat. Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Thanks for the input all. Been mucho busy lately and forgot to respond. My main concern with spray painting is its resistance to scratching and would it all be in vain. What do you think the original covering on the gear knob surround and gauge panel is, some sort of wrap or paint? Rubberised coating I would guess. Utter swine to remove but it's doable. In terms of resistance.....if you do it properly then it should be as hard wearing as the exterior paint work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 Ah scratch that......just read first post properly. No mate unfortunately rubberised paint isn't the most hardy on high traffic areas. We've done whole cars with the proper plastidip and it is pretty durable but I've spayed handles with a plastidip rattle can and its only lasted a few months. Plastidip primer will give better adhesion so I'm told but I've never use it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1 6RYF Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I've just sanded mine down and primed it all. I painted it an electric blue but it has come out alot lighter than I would of prefered. I just have a clear lacquer to put on, then i will see what it looks like in the car before i change. If i don't like it, I might offer it to a forum member in a swap for unpainted set of trim. Seems a waste to just sand it all down again to change the colour. Someone could be very happy with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Ah scratch that......just read first post properly. No mate unfortunately rubberised paint isn't the most hardy on high traffic areas. We've done whole cars with the proper plastidip and it is pretty durable but I've spayed handles with a plastidip rattle can and its only lasted a few months. Plastidip primer will give better adhesion so I'm told but I've never use it Thanks for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzard27 Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 fitted mine this morning, im happy with it but i will consider rubbing it all down and re-spraying later on as there are visible scratches from a slightly rushed sanding job (my fault) but its all a learning curve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1 6RYF Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I have notice most people sand the centre console down until all the bubbles have gone, but i quite like the textured look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebedy Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 (edited) ive painted mine keeping the texture as I quite like it. Edited September 23, 2015 by ZZZebady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted September 26, 2015 Author Share Posted September 26, 2015 I like all of the painted efforts above, they all look professional. I would also like to retain the bubbles textured look if I spray. However my problem is that some of the bubbles at the front of the gear lever surround look like they've burst, showing a grey colour underneath. I concerned that if I just spray over the top that this damage will still be evident. I've also bought some textured wrap off eBay and may give that a go (link below), I need to make a decision here. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1m-x-1-5m-Textured-Matte-Black-Vinyl-Wrap-Cars-Adhesive-Decal-Film-Bubble-Free-/141593071344?hash=item20f79acef0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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