Painting Interior Plastic

[nubuilder]

I've run across a lot of trucks on the internet with painted interior pieces and would like to do some of my interior too.

I have found and read Bigredmariner's thread on how-to, but he did a flat piece (fuse box cover).

Here are a few pics of what I want to paint (only difference is mine will be Forest Green).

Basically dash bezel, all air vents (including ones for defrosting side windows), power windows/locks panel, door handle trim, overhead console, and I'd like to paint the passenger airbag cover too.

I know prep is key, but how the heck do you prep the air vents and still get in all the nooks?

Questions
1) Sanding - I'm going for a gloss
2) Filler
3) Primer
4) Type of Paint - can I use DupliColor exterior paint (rattle can, color matched with truck)
5) Clear Coat

Product recommendations would be greatly appreciated (DupliColor, SEM; where to find). I'm doing this all with rattle cans.

Thanks!

 

[CJ Hungus]

Good luck on the project. I people try to paint some stuff on their interrior and it always flakes off. I don't know if they didn't prep right or what but it always looked like crap. Let us know how it works out.

 

[Zembonez]

Best results are going to come using HVLP paint gun and some professional paint materials. Sanding, smoothing, priming are all very big deals and you need to use materials made for plastics if you want them to stick for good. Regular paint topcoats are fine on hard plastic as long as they are prepped right and primed. Anything soft is a gamble... no matter WHAT you use on it.

Word of caution: If you are an Armor All user, stop while you are ahead. The ONLY way you'll ever get paint to stick is buy new plastic parts.

 

[nubuilder]

Do you consider these parts hard plastic or not?

Could I use plastic filler and primer and then use DupliColor exterior paint and clear?

Crap! I use Armor All! However, I might have found a truck that I can get parts from.

 

[Zembonez]

Most of what you describe I would consider hard plastic. The soft really flexible stuff is hard to successfully paint.

You could use the duplicolor paints.

 

[OldCracker29]

From the pic's you have posted, I wouldn't do a thing to it. It looks good as is.

 

[Mcdiver]

You will have to use adhesion promoter to get the paint to stick, after that it is prime, sand, prime, sand...... until the surface is as smooth as you like. The key is the adhesion promoter before you start with the primer. Before all this, you will need to sand the plastic until it is smooth as you like.

 

[KillaF150]

I plan on doing the same thing to my truck. good luck!

 

[KillaF150]

On the topic of paints-
I've had great success with Krylon paints. but like the other guys have stated, prep is KEY. i would suggest sticking with one brand for both paint/primer, but that's just me.

 

[Cowboy Cadillac]

You will have to use adhesion promoter to get the paint to stick, after that it is prime, sand, prime, sand...... until the surface is as smooth as you like. The key is the adhesion promoter before you start with the primer. Before all this, you will need to sand the plastic until it is smooth as you like.

So far my paint hasn't chipped off. Before, when I tried(without the promoter) it peeled off as soon as it got flexed even the slightest bit.