Dyeing Vinyl- How good is it?

[JamesWilson]

I'll be replacing the seats in my car and want to go with some nice leather ones and it seems an appropriate moment to sort the rest of the interior out.

It's all in great condition, but I don't much like the color- it's a bit too bright a blue.

I much prefer Black, or at least a darker shade of blue.

How sucessful are the spray cans of dye for automotive interiors?

How good is the coverage? Consistency, opaqueness, wear resistance, etc.?

Are commercial dyers any better?

I can remove the panels and take them in for treatment.

I wouldn't want to dye the seats so I don't think that kind of wear would be a significant consideration, though Id still be interested in it- if I went with trying to have dark blue for the seats as well.

 

[Bayless]

Never tried it myself but I have a friend who says it works great. He is really meticulous about that sort of thing so I accept his word. You do have to get the vinyl exceptionally clean though.

 

[JFS]

The golden tan sun visors on my TR8 were extremely sun faded but otherwise in very good shape. Since reproduction visors are not available, I dyed them about six years ago. I also dyed the solid color perimeter of the door panels and the rear panel behind the seats. I have since replaced the door panels and rear panel because they weren't in as good a condition as the visors and I didn't like the tartan inserts of the door panels. The visors still look like new.

I followed the directions on the spray cans and the results were surprisingly good -- looked like fresh from the factory with no runs, no drips, no errors -- the spray passes blended together perfectly.

The product I used is NU-LIFE COLOR SPRAY distributed by KIWI Brands, Inc., Douglassville, PA. I found it in a local shoe repair shop that had racks of different colors. I brought in a piece of vinyl that had been protected from the sun and they let my sample various colors until I found a match with #653 Golden Brown. The can says it can be used on leather as well as vinyl. I don't recall the cost but do remember that it wasn't cheap.

I also have a friend who dyed the red interior of his Tiger blue with dyes in a spray gun, but he was a professional who owned his own shop. Again, looked like new.

 

[John Kuzman]

I used this product on my El Camino interior and it matched well and has lasted over three years without any signs of wearing.

Dyenamic Systems

 

[toysrrus]

Hi Folks,

"Happy Thanksgiving":

I was just driving thru and noticed this post. I`ve dyed both Leather and Vinyl with "GREAT" success with a product called "COLOR PLUS". Its Mfg. in NE PA (My last place of residence) & The Owners name is "Joanne". She`s just a Sweetheart & "Meticulous" about Her Product.

I`ve dyed entire Interiors on my TR3, E-Type Rdstr, My current Bugeye & a variety of other cars & "Household" Items.

Her`s is "NOT" a spray but a "BRUSH ON" (Buy Her "Camel Hair" brushes for approx. $10.00). The bristles are extremely soft & do not come out of the brush; Washable & Re-Usable.

You simply dip the brush into the dye & with a "Criss-Cross" motion; Apply a light coat. If your chosen color is relatively the same as what you have; You`ll probably need only one coat. If your going from "White to Black"; You`ll probably need 2 or 3 coats for that "Perfect" New Look. You could`nt take this stuff off after it dries (24hrs / 70deg temps) with a "Brillo Pad"!

She has a variety of Std. colors & can custom mix to exactly what you want by sending her a 1" swatch to match. I`ve always bought a "Pint" can for my 2 seaters & that was enough to put 3 coats on my Bugeye (Entire Interior). I went from "Black to Red". Her dye actually "Penetrates" (Not just covers) ea. pore in the Mat`l. This stuff is "GREAT"!!

A pint is approx. $85.00 + $10.00 for the Brush. It sure does beat the cost of Recovering & Looks just as good.

Her website is: www.colorplus.com

Tell Joanne "Jaguar Russ" sent you; For whatever that may get you?

Feel extremely comfortable applying her dye & Again, You`ll be amazed at the results.

Regards, Russ

 

[JamesWilson]

Thanks everyone.

I greatly appreciate your comments. I feel rather better about using dyes now- I must confess I was rather sceptical before....

James