When I used SEM stuff in the past I have used every recommended additional product listed on the can and even the additional adhesion pronoters suggested by the paint distributor. I really don't like the stuff at all for a number of reasons. One you mentioned, lots and lots of coats to achieve coverage or change...hard to not put on too much at this point. 2. Harder plastics like a kick panel will not withstand any abrasions without scratching down to the original molded color. 3. Expensive, it took 13 cans to change a red headliner to white, (granted an extreme change), in a '63 Bel I had. I'd have been better off doing a new headliner - but it was in good condition just the wrong color. Into the project and it's funding I wasn't gonna pay for it twice. I think at the time the stuff was 11-12 a can. 4. Lack of adhesion, on a vinyl seat, let's just say your pants will match your interior perfectly. 5. Way too flat, most new interiors of our vintage will exhibit a little sheen, most SEM stuff I've used has been as satin as late-model Euro leathers. If it isn't the first week or so, just give it a little more time. 6. This was a really big one and relates to reason 2 - difficult to clean/maintain. Since it doesn't have much durability, cleaning anything previously sprayed many times resulted in touching it up as well. Thinking the hype on the can was just there to sell more useless product after a few different trials on various cars; I decided to try something different. I wiped everything down with acetone and went straight to color. This helped with adhesion to some degree but not a lot and the rest of the problems remained.. Seemingly the only folks I've ever seen get somewhat satisfactory results with the product (in my 25+ years of being a dealer), were the guys that had it mixed off a color code and applied it via spraying equipment. I think this is largely due to stronger solvents and higher pressures used - than are available in aerosol format. Never tried that method myself, I never liked the stuff much in small quantities to start buying in bulk. In a nutshell, I feel like I've given the stuff more than its due time in court and never was pleased with the
overall results. John Hammond----- Original Message ----- From: <62pluckedchicken@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:29 PM Subject: RE: vinyl dye spray
Sounds like Meltonian is the way to go.. but I wonder if your problems with SEM was painting too thick.. I got very good results with very light coats, applied 10 minutes apart. I applied white over blue and it took about 8 to 10 light coats.. and you have to be sure to use either "Sand Free" or "Adhesion Promoter" before the color. it softens the vinyl and allows the color to bond with the vinyl. John Hammond wrote:If you are looking to go with black, without question... Meltonian Nu-Life color spray. Used mostly for leather shoes and available from shoe repair shops or EBAY - the stuff is awesome!! Look for buys on the larger 12-14 oz cans since the small 4.5oz would be cost prohibitive. Gloss is just right and the durability and touch-up cabaibility is second to none!! I never had any luck with SEM products on anything but a headliner and even then only if you really layed it on thick. The Meltonian stuff covers well and sticks like nothing else I've ever seen of this type of product. It does come in a large number of colors but whether or not the're available in large size I don't know. One other item I've had good success with is (Believe it or not), is Krylon Fusion. This has less use potential due to avaialble color and gloss choices but if one works for ya it's basically a better, (and less expensive), product than any of the the so-called vinyl-dyes out there. The guy that turned me on to the Meltonian stuff said he had used it on the grip of a Buick Grand National wheel that was in a daily driven car. Two years later it still looked like the day it was sprayed. I really doubted this until I tried the stuff...I think now the claim is pro- bably a fact. As an extra note the sprays from Dupli-Color aren't too bad (better than SEM in my book), but I wouldn't use anything other than the Meltonian if I could get what I needed in their line. As far as prep goes, clean with a good upholstry cleaner, allow to thoroughly dry, wipe down with a solvent of some sort, (rubbing alchol works well), blow off any towel lint with compressed air and give it a go. You just want to make sure that ALL traces of silicones (armor-all type products) are removed especially in the pleats and seamed areas. John Hammond----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Huseby" <wchuseby@xxxxxxxxxx>To: <1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:57 AM Subject: vinyl dye spray > > I am replacing the black bucket seat covers with replcements from > Legendary but will be using the vinyl dye spray for the rear seat. Does > anyone have a recommendation on a good source for the spray and if the > spray should be gloss, semi-gloss, satin or what to match the new front > covers? > What have your experiences been with the product and is it really > necessary to use there preparation spray rather than a really good > cleaning? I'm not trying to cut corners on the prepping just if a good > cleaning is all that is required prior to spraying. > thanks in advance. > > Wayne Huseby > 64 polara 500
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