Vinyl Restoration



Vinyl Restoration

By Jay Snavely

I have used vinyl dyes to refurbish several pieces on my TR8. The arm rests, sun visors, and the panel behind the seats were the originals, and had not been replaced when the rest of the interior was changed to a beige color. The process is very similar to using spray paint on metal parts. I used SEM products, but other brands are similar. The first step is to clean the vinyl with vinyl prep to remove dirt and any silicone residue from waxes. The next step is to wash the surface with soapy water. Let it dry and then spray on a product called Sand Free that softens up the surface so the dye penetrates. The last step is to spray on the dye. You can change the colors, even going from black to light colors. The trick is to use light coats. Do not try to get complete coverage on the first couple coats. Let it dry a few minutes between coats. I have heard that people use it for car seats. It is used commercially on seats in restaurants, so it must be durable.

The finish is very good, but if you are trying to match colors, your satisfaction will depend on how well the colors match. Go to a store that sells automotive paint. They have a lot more shades than the chain stores. If you do not find a stock color you are happy with, they can custom mix colors. I chose the Palomino color that was a very close match to the other panels, and the panels all match now. Also, there are no replacement parts for some trim pieces, such as the arm rests and sun visors for the TR7/8. If you start out with a intact part, albeit ugly, it will be transformed into a part looking brand new.

Another good use for vinyl paint is to recolor those faded seatbelt straps and convertible top straps.

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