I tried searching, because I presumed this should have been discussed several times. 

I tried a test panel with some BBQ grill paint, but that soaks up oil from your fingers and would look really bad in a car.

Is there such a thing for a vinyl dash in black?  I want it to be absolutely flat, without any sheen at all. I suppose the Florida or Arizona owners would know this well.

The local AP stores only have VHT in "wrinkle" which is still a satin finish, or they have no idea what a flat anti-glare paint is. 

 

Edited May 3, 20177 yr by TomoHawk

You need VantaBlack

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-object-has-been-sprayed-with-the-world-s-blackest-pigment-and-it-s-freaking-us-out

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 20177 yr by 240260280

And if you worry about coffee spills on the dash

 

 

Charcoal  is the color closest to black that is appropriate for vintage cars.

Edited May 3, 20177 yr by TomoHawk

I used SEM Trim Black on my dash.  It is not a flat black but it is non glare.  I have no complaints.

I wish I had known about the Trim black long ago, but the store I was shopping didn't have it or anything similar- just Duplicolor products.  the doors on my city car had back windowframes, but now they're almost grey.

 But no worries.  I'm getting a new car very soon.  No it's not a Datsun.

The SEM product information says it comes in satin, so I'll take that as non gloss satin, and probably less glossy than what's already on the thing....

 I'll browse through the other local stores, such as NAPA and Oreilly's to see what they have, and maybe the Home Depot.

Edited May 4, 20177 yr by TomoHawk

I made a test panel using Rustoleum High Heat BBQ Black.  It dried quickly and had a non-glare finish.  It was called "BBQ Black" but it's not even close to black!  It's not even close to charcoal.  It was like a dark grey primer. 

I'm not sure I will use it on the entire dash, because I was getting fingerprints when handling the test panel, and fingerprints are bad, especially in a car you'll be using during the hot& sweaty summer, and some bozo may even try wiping the thing with ArmorAll, thinking he's helping you get more points for a show.

If the Trim paint can hold up to fingerprints, like a vinyl paint, and some light scuffing, like from a GPS setup or a computer mount, then it'll be worth the $13 a can.  Vinyl paint also do that, but you can't get it in flat black.

And it seems that every black automotive paint is made with gloss...

 

Edited May 9, 20177 yr by TomoHawk

What do you guys think about using a black latex paint?  Can you get it mixed with a flattening agent?  It'll be flexible, and usually it hold up to fingerprints and household chemicals or waxes...

Darn, I drove by TWO NAPA stores today.

Edited May 9, 20177 yr by TomoHawk

 I used that same high heat bbq paint on my first rebuild.  It almost looks dark chocolate to me.

Mine was almost like a charcoal color, but now it has a lot of fingerprints.

 

Take gloss oil and flat oil,  mix 50/50 for semi gloss.  Then 33/66 for satin or less for matte. I've had great results that way. You should google first but I'm almost sure thinning with denatured alcohol will flatten it out even more.

Please explain more about gloss and flat oil?

 

7 minutes ago, TomoHawk said:

Please explain more about gloss and flat oil?

 

Not sure what you're getting at? Gloss is shiny flat isn't. Mixing them together gives different levels of sheen.

Latex is house paint, I wouldn't consider that for a dash it'll get soft when it's hot.  What about a bedliner type paint? I've read a bunch of people using that with good results.