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Some 'exclusive' trim work...

RJKflyer

RJKflyer

PCGB Member
Member
Have been tinkering with some very small trim projects.

I have a black leather interior, which with charcoal stitch, is very smart. However, I figured on seeing the 'Exclusive' options to have the ignition and headlight switch surrounds in leather, at a staggering price, I might try something a little different.

What do folks think? Obviously, they match the body colour...
 
Well, thank you. I did them myself.

After finding out that they were available in leather, two things struck me: firstly the astonishing price - i think the door trims were about £120 EACH (as opposed to a tenner in uncovered plastic), and secondly they would look just the same!

They are, however, a sod to do as they come coated with 'soft touch' paint which needs to come off, without dissolving the ABS, which is pretty easily damaged.
 

ORIGINAL: RJKflyer

Well, thank you. I did them myself.

After finding out that they were available in leather, two things struck me: firstly the astonishing price - i think the door trims were about £120 EACH (as opposed to a tenner in uncovered plastic), and secondly they would look just the same!

They are, however, a sod to do as they come coated with 'soft touch' paint which needs to come off, without dissolving the ABS, which is pretty easily damaged.
Click to expand...

Wet sanding ?
 
Don't stop there - tell us how you did it! Or are you going to write an article for PP? Or even a 997 Register column entry?
 
The process essentially goes:

1. Using a kitchen towel, soak the 'soft-touch with acetone
2. It absorbs quite a bit, but will then wrinkle up, whereupon it can be wiped/scraped off
3. Don't use too much as it also dissolves the ABS (which is what these parts are made of)
4. Let them dry off. They'll look pretty ropey, as the solvent WILL have damaged the surface.
5. Wet sand them with 800
6. Mask the parts up for just the area you want to paint - you don't want/need overspray as it will look rubbish if someone takes them off
7. Prime them with acrylic primer, NOT cellulose (which will completely dissolve into the ABS)
8. Make any adjustments to the surface quality now, and reprime
9. Top coat them with your choice of colour
10. Make sure they look up to snuff
11. Laquer them - I did up to TEN coats on the door piece to get a deep lustre
12. If you've done it in as dust free an environment as possible, you may not need to do any flatting and polishing
13. Bake them in the misses' oven at 60 deg C (ABS softens at 80 deg) for 30 mins
14. Allow to cool
15. Leave for a week (you don't way to install them for the finish to sink and reveal a flaw,or for it to stick to the surrounding trim), and see if the finish remains satisfactory. If not, wet flat and repeat 11-14
16. Zymol, or whatever your favourite is...

So, not a five minute job, but it can be done. A centre console might be a rather ambitious one to start with though...
 

ORIGINAL: RJKflyer
11. Laquer them - I did up to TEN coats on the door piece to get a deep lustre
Click to expand...

No wonder they look awesome!

13. Bake them in the misses' oven at 60 deg C (ABS softens at 80 deg) for 30 mins
Click to expand...

Ah - the most dangerous part!

Chris.
 
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