Big Blue's Bucket Seats

[Gary Lewis]

You may remember that Chad/Little Beefy gave me a pair of low-back bucket seats. I took them to a guy to have them rebuilt and upholstered about a week ago, and realized today that he may call next week and have them ready. So I'd better get busy painting the trim that goes on them as well as the center console.

 

Given that, today I started on the little trim pieces that cover the hinges. So I looked up the SEM instructions for prep and painting:

 

4 STEPS TO PROFESSIONAL RESULTS

1. CLEAN: Clean the area with SEM Soap and a gray scuff pad. Scrub thoroughly, paying close attention to textured or recessed areas. Rinse with water or wipe away residue with damp cloth and let dry.

 

RE-CLEAN: Clean with Plastic & Leather Prep or Zero VOC Surface Cleaner using a clean, lint-free towel and wiping in one direction. If contamination still exists after cleaning, water will bead on the surface. Repeat until beading no longer occurs.

 

Tech tip: Wiping in one direction will remove contaminants from the surface, rather than smearing contaminants around.

 

PREP: To promote adhesion on plastics, such as ABS, PVC or other similar plastics, apply a medium wet coat of Sand Free. While still wet, apply a light coat of Color Coat. (Avoid applying the first coat of Color Coat too heavily or sagging could occur.) As Sand Free evaporates, Color Coat is drawn into the surface, resulting in excellent adhesion.

 

To promote adhesion on plastics, such as TPO, EPDM, PP or other similar thermoplastics, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter. Apply one light coat, let flash for 5 minutes, and then apply one full wet coat. Allow this coat to flash 10-15 minutes, but no longer than 30 minutes before topcoating.

 

Tech tip: If the type of plastic is unknown, place a drop of acetone on the back of the plastic and rub it with your finger. If the plastic smears and melts, use Sand Free. If acetone does not have an effect on the plastic, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter.

 

APPLY: Apply Color Coat. View the TDS, Color Coat How-To Video, or our Refinishing Auto Plastic & Vinyl Procedures (RAP-1) training manual for more detailed instruction.

 

I started on Step 1 but didn't get very far as the "bad" plastic wouldn't come off with the gray scuff pad. So I tried a Nylon brush, and then Go Jo, but no go. So I resorted to a stainless steel wire brush as shown in the 2nd pic below. That, and Dawn, got the "bad" plastic off, as you can see in the comparison below, with the untouched one on top and the scrubbed one on the bottom.

 

 

I then cleaned all four of the pieces using Dawn & the stainless steel brush, then used the SEM Soap and the gray scrub pad. Then I moved on to Step 2, and pre-cleaned with SEM Plastic & Leather Cleaner.

 

Tomorrow I plan to pick up on Step 3 and hope to get them finished. I'll let y'all know how that goes.

 

[viven44]

Look forward to the results! This would work on much of the interior trim.

[Gary Lewis]

Look forward to the results! This would work on much of the interior trim.

Yes, it would. And I've redone most of the trim on BB, as you can see here.

[viven44]

Yes, it would. And I've redone most of the trim on BB, as you can see here.

Very well done. Like-new results. Didn't realize the SEM color coat was a flexible coating, sounds like Plasti Dip.

[Gary Lewis]

Very well done. Like-new results. Didn't realize the SEM color coat was a flexible coating, sounds like Plasti Dip.

Thanks, but it isn't really like Plasti Dip as it doesn't build up on the item. Via the prep the Sand Free bonds to the plastic and as it "evaporates, Color Coat is drawn into the surface, resulting in excellent adhesion." But it doesn't change the texture of the plastic.

However they do have a spray that does put a texture on the plastic and then you spray on the Color Coat. That give it a bumpy texture, kind of like our door panels, which get sanded smooth when we refinish them.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Yes, it would. And I've redone most of the trim on BB, as you can see here.

It's the only way that all your interior plastics come out matching. 👍

[Gary Lewis]

It's the only way that all your interior plastics come out matching. 👍

That's for sure! The guy doing the upholstery asked if I want an actual 1985 color, so I told him that I'm convinced no two panels were the exact same color from the factory. Or at least they aren't today, although that could mean they've just all aged differently.

But all of Big Blue's panels have been painted with SEM - with the exception of the dash itself. The SEM on the other panels ties nicely, but not perfectly, with the dash. So we picked a vinyl for the seats that matches the SEM color as close as possible in direct sunlight as it'll be the door panels and console that are right next to the seats, not the dash.

[Gary Lewis]

That's for sure! The guy doing the upholstery asked if I want an actual 1985 color, so I told him that I'm convinced no two panels were the exact same color from the factory. Or at least they aren't today, although that could mean they've just all aged differently.

But all of Big Blue's panels have been painted with SEM - with the exception of the dash itself. The SEM on the other panels ties nicely, but not perfectly, with the dash. So we picked a vinyl for the seats that matches the SEM color as close as possible in direct sunlight as it'll be the door panels and console that are right next to the seats, not the dash.

Well, there's a spanner in the works and I may be the one that put it there. That's because this morning I tried the test in the previous instructions that said "If the type of plastic is unknown, place a drop of acetone on the back of the plastic and rub it with your finger. If the plastic smears and melts, use Sand Free. If acetone does not have an effect on the plastic, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter." And the plastic didn't seem to smear or melt.

So I got the Plastic Adhesion Promoter out and read the instructions for its use, as shown on the pic below. And there I got really confused so called SEM on their tech line @ 800-831-1122. But I had to leave a message and haven't heard back.

Here are my thoughts/questions:

1. Step 1 on the can says to use "3833() Scuff & Clean", but their website says there is no such thing as "3833". But there are plenty of hits for "3986" so shortening the search by one digit is legit. And Scuff & Clean is 38391 or 38398 depending on which container you get. So what is "3833()"?

2. Step 3 says "400". Does that mean to scuff 400 times? Or use 400 grit sandpaper?

3. Step 5 says to lay down 1 light coat using some product. Which one?

4. Step 7 says to lay down 1 wet coat using some product. Which one?

I'm finding SEM's instructions far less than intuitive.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Well, there's a spanner in the works and I may be the one that put it there. That's because this morning I tried the test in the previous instructions that said "If the type of plastic is unknown, place a drop of acetone on the back of the plastic and rub it with your finger. If the plastic smears and melts, use Sand Free. If acetone does not have an effect on the plastic, use Plastic Adhesion Promoter or XXX Adhesion Promoter." And the plastic didn't seem to smear or melt.

So I got the Plastic Adhesion Promoter out and read the instructions for its use, as shown on the pic below. And there I got really confused so called SEM on their tech line @ 800-831-1122. But I had to leave a message and haven't heard back.

Here are my thoughts/questions:

1. Step 1 on the can says to use "3833() Scuff & Clean", but their website says there is no such thing as "3833". But there are plenty of hits for "3986" so shortening the search by one digit is legit. And Scuff & Clean is 38391 or 38398 depending on which container you get. So what is "3833()"?

2. Step 3 says "400". Does that mean to scuff 400 times? Or use 400 grit sandpaper?

3. Step 5 says to lay down 1 light coat using some product. Which one?

4. Step 7 says to lay down 1 wet coat using some product. Which one?

I'm finding SEM's instructions far less than intuitive.

Steps 2 & 4) say 38353, which is the 16oz aerosol.

Step 3) Yes. But P400, the international grit rating system.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Steps 2 & 4) say 38353, which is the 16oz aerosol.

Step 3) Yes. But P400, the international grit rating system.

You need to read it as -action- then product-action-then product.

It is a lot clearer that way.

Scrub in the scuff 'n clean

Rinse and dry

Wipe on the plastic & leather prep

Sand

Wipe on the plastic & leather prep

Spray a light coat of colour

5 minutes to tack

Spray on a wet coat of colour within 15-20 minutes and dry to touch for 30 minutes