Center console paint

[mally002]

Has anyone ever tried to paint or spray the black center console. If so did you use SEM or is it best to just leave it alone.

I did re-paint all my interior plastic, but not the console. Did a search but no results popped up.

Thanks for any input.

Randy

[EScanlon]

SEM Landau Black gives a good rich satin black finish which corresponds very well with the rest of the plastic parts.

2¢

E

[bkelly]

Since this was brought up- I was looking over mine when it was taken out and there are a few hairline cracks (<1in long) and a couple "chips". Would it be possible to fix those and repaint it? If so, what should be used to fix it, epoxy? It's nothing major and I didn't notice it until I took it out, I'm just putting so much work into the car there's no sense short cutting things.

[mally002]

Thanks E, you are the man.

also bkelly, I'm in the same boat as you, I have everything else looking really good I hate to skimp on the console.

[ktm]

Believe it or not, Krylon's Fusion paint is a great product. It is specifically designed to spray on plastic and comes in Gloss, Satin and Flat black. I restored my center console using the Satin black and it came out great. It actually coats the piece with a chip resistant coat and does not clog the texturing either.

bkelly, to fix the hairline cracks, you can use fiberglas or epoxy and some backing material to bridge the crack. Chips are another issue. The console is textured and as such, any chip filler will show up as smooth.

[het976]

I just did mine with the same paint used to paint the dash...SEM Trim Black. I think it turned out great. I modified my console better fit the 5 speed and I fixed some cracks with a simple 2 part epoxy then filled the cracks and any nicks with body filler, sanded it smooth and shot it with 3 light coats of the SEM product.

[ktm]

het976, you could consider removing the metal dash "cowl" piece and repainting it as well.

[EScanlon]

Matching texture is always a major problem when effecting repairs on plastic pieces.

The best way I've found to do it is to use another matching and unbroken piece and using plastilene or even silicone and mold release to get an impression of the texture to transfer to the repair material.

I've had good luck using JB Weld, and other "soft" mix epoxies that can take the impression easily. If you use a stiff epoxy or a heat generating material (as fiberglass resin is) it is hard to imprint the pattern.

If you don't have another piece, many times you can use another part of the same piece to get the surface pattern from. The repair will / may be noticeable depending on how careful you are to match the pattern.

2¢

E

[het976]

Thanks...that is already done...this is an in-progress picture a week ago. I did not even clean off the finger prints...The seat heaters are working tho as are the power seats and the stereo/GPS/bluetooth/video screen.... There is a lot more to do, but I am shooting for the end of March meeting in Seattle.

[DougN]

Where can I get SEM paint? Do any of the major auto supplier chains (AutoZone, PepBoys, etc) carry it?

[BRE-240Z]

Where can I get SEM paint? Do any of the major auto supplier chains (AutoZone, PepBoys, etc) carry it?

Your local automotive paint store should have it (I have even seen it for sale at upholstery shops), but if not you can definitely find it online.

http://www.levineautoparts.com/semvinandpla.html

[het976]

I got mine at "Baxter's Auto", so some auto parts places carry it. You can also go to SEM's website

http://www.sem.ws/

and see who has it, but I know from personal experience that the list is not complete and there more places that carry it than are listed there (I found that out after a 90 minute RT to the place listed only to run across it at the Baxter's Auto 5 minutes from my house).