SBRMD Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 Talking about the tri-spoke wheel that came with the Electra, Centurion, Riv, Estate from 1971 - 1973. Vinyl rim and center section, front and back, excluding the ( thankfully ) removable plasticwoodgrain horn bar. I have a nice black one, want to make it blue. Any words of wisdom regarding technique and materials would be appreciated! I've read that SEM makes a good vinyl dye, also Duplicolor. Opinions? Thanks in advance, Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Haven't tried that personally, but others seem to have good luck with SEM. I believe they have several specific primers/adhesion promoters which I think would be important for an item like this that sees constant handling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Whatever you decide to use just make sure that it's clean of all wax, grease, dirt, and oil. Especially body oils that come from your hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBRMD Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 Way ahead of you there, just "Gooped" it three times. That stuff is great. Of course if someone comes out of the woodwork with a blue one for an even - up trade, the problem is solved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 If it's truly vinyl, then before you spay it, gently wipe it with some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Keytone) that will cause the vinyl to open the pores and the dye will penetrate rather than just sitting on top. I5t has to dry but you can't walk away from it, you'll need to apply the dye quickly before the pores close again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBRMD Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 Anybody got a nice blue one they'd like to trade for a nice black one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 GM had some "different" vinyl formulations they used sometimes. Plastics, too . . . superglue wouldn't stick to them. It would probably be easier to re-color a lighter color than black, I suspect. If you got enough "color" to match, the build thickness night be enough to diminish the grain in the existing vinyl (which the ketone treatment might help diminish)? In many cases, GM superceded the trim items from "color" to "black", as times progressed. Then becoming a "Paint To Match" situation, if it was not fabric. NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 8 hours ago, NTX5467 said: It would probably be easier to re-color a lighter color than black, I suspect. If that's a concern, one could first apply a light gray or white base coat followed by topcoat of the final color. Black, however, would be less noticeable should the blue lift or wear through in spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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