Interior plastics paint?

[Big6John]

I’m planning on redoing my interior in my 86 f150 and I’m wondering how much paint I should order to do all the plastic in the cab. I’m going to use SEM paint.
Thanks
John

[Gary Lewis]

What all are you doing?  And what size cab do you have?  Your signature doesn't say.

I used 1 1/2 cans to do a large 90's console from a Bronco inside and out.  And earlier I used 3 cans to do two door panels, the regular cab corner trim, and trim that goes along the headliner and windshield.

But you'll also need the prep stuff.  Have you read the instructions on our page at Documentation/Specifications/Interior Paint?

[essmaker]

I did all of the trim around the headliner, plastic down the sides of the door opening, kick panels and used less than two cans.

[Big6John]

It a standard cab with no headliner. I’ll be doing the door panels, dash pad, dash frame, a pillar trim, and the trim down by the vents. I’ll check the instructions out.
Thanks

[AmericanSavage]

Big6John wrote

I’m planning on redoing my interior in my 86 f150 and I’m wondering how much paint I should order to do all the plastic in the cab. I’m going to use SEM paint.
Thanks
John

This is excellent, and I swear by SEM.  Use it per instructions--and use the prep, adhesion promoter, etc. before the paint. You will not go wrong.  

There is a bit of this on my thread, but, you will use more cans than you think on the larger pieces. Some may need more than one coat.

[Big6John]

They also sell a gallon of the color I’m going to use. Would I need one or two?
Thanks

[Gary Lewis]

Are you going to use a paint gun?  I've been happy with the cans that Vinyl Pro sends me.

The cans say "Net wt. 5.46oz.  Net wt. when filled 12 oz."  So I assume that means there's 12 - 5.46 = 6.54 oz of paint.

And while at first blush it would appear that you can divide that 6.54 oz into the 128 oz in a gallon to get the # of cans in a gallon, that doesn't work.  The problem is that the 6.54 ounces are weight and the 128 ounces are fluid ounces.  Two very different things.

So I thought I'd figure it out but discovered it gets a lot more complex than I want to deal with.  One site says paint weighs from 7 to 12 lbs per gallon, and that range is huge.  So I gave up.

But if I was thinking about buying the paint in gallons I'd call Vinyl Pro and ask how many cans of paint that represents.  I think it is a LOT and you'd only need one.  But then you'd need a source of dry compressed air and a spray gun, plus all of the chemicals it takes to clean the gun when you are done.

[Big6John]

Thanks Gary
We have all the tools to do it. I’ll have to give them a call.

[Ford F834]

It makes a difference whether you are color changing any pieces or not. I like SEM products, but I did find that Napa red is slightly translucent. Covering red interior pieces looked great with prep and one or two light coats. Covering an off color piece required many, many coats…

[Gary Lewis]

Good point, Jonathan.  I've only used SEM and it covers very well.  In fact on the red console I painted blue it was probably covered with two coats, but I put on four to make sure.

[Big6John]

Everything is red except the dash which is tan. I’m either going with fire thorn red or Napa red. I did some calling around and a gallon is very hard to get and it would cost $800! I can get cans from my local paint shop for $25 a pop. I talked to sem and he said a gallon is around 32 cans.
I’ll probably pick up four cans to start with.

[Ford F834]

One tip I have for changing color to red…

The generic Duplicolor vinyl paints at Autozone are cheap but actually really durable. Their red is absolutely awful, raspberry vomit. But, it IS very opaque. I discovered that good prep, a base coat of the horrid Duplicolor red then top coated with SEM looked just as good as the Ford Canyon Red plastics refreshed with the SEM Napa red color. If the Firethorn red has translucent qualities, try the Duplicolor under it so you don’t have to use a ton of coats.

[Gary Lewis]

It looks like you have a good plan.  But Jonathan's suggestion certainly has merit.  

[Big6John]

What are your guys thoughts on SEM clear coat over the paint/dye?

[Gary Lewis]

I've not used clear much.  Did on something as I have a can, but the guy at SEM said it wasn't required so I haven't been doing it.

[BigBrother-84]

Big6John wrote

What are your guys thoughts on SEM clear coat over the paint/dye?

I suppose it is matter of taste.
The original panels are more flat then shiny.
And touching for small repairs is certainly easier on flat paint.

[Ford F834]

Big6John wrote

What are your guys thoughts on SEM clear coat over the paint/dye?

It really depends on why you want the clear coat. They sell a glossy one and a matte one. If you are wanting to increase or decrease the sheen, then yes, clear coat is the thing to do. If you have a bunch of parts with different amount of sheen and you want them to match, clear coating everything will help.

If you are just wanting to add protection then skip it. My experience is somewhat limited, but the pieces that I painted black for my ‘81 have held up amazingly well. It’s been six years and lots of abuse by grandkids and dogs yet it still wipes down and cleans up just as nice as when I painted it. This was the Autozone Duplicolor brand vinyl prep and paint, and SEM ‘sand free’ prep on the hard plastics.

[Big6John]

Thanks everyone for your input!