Fabric/paint/colour of center console

**GUS** · 07-19-2007, 10:13 AM

I need some help with figuring out what kind of surface and colour the center console of my Mercedes should be. I would like something like brushed dark metal.
I found a company i Australia about a year ago that could paint just about anything to look like wood or metal, can't find them now

Painting is the only way to go for me I think.

**kleicl** · 07-19-2007, 11:14 AM

It looks easy to DIY if you have the tools, i live in OZ and you can get the metal paint form Bunnings or a hardware store. all you need to do is sand back the old paint and put a coat undercoat then build up the layers.

i hope this is what you were after.

**GUS** · 07-20-2007, 02:37 AM

The Paint on it right now I sprayed myself with a can, quickjob, not that bad, but I don't like it.

I have access to compressor and spraygun, so the painting is no big deal, also getting quite good at the spraying thing...

What I was looking for is examples, pictures and most of all how you do it.

The Company I found last year did amazing things, they would colourmatch wooden panels, you couldn't tell the difference.

I would guess you do something like this to make a metal look:
Sand it, put undercoat on.
Spray it with some kind of silverish paint.
Put some colour coat on top.
Finally a few layers och clearcoat.

But haven't found anything yet to read about this process.

**BiGGy** · 07-20-2007, 10:25 AM

I think the way it looks now is fine. Matches the body colour of your car. Have you thought of a vinyl overlay?

**GUS** · 07-20-2007, 11:02 AM

I don't think any overlay will do, all buttons are a tight fit, don't know how to make the overlapping at the monitor edges and buttons. I can't fold it around the edge.
Vinyl is no favorite, black leather would be nice though, but then same problem, no folding at button/monitor edges. Any ideas?

I have to repaint it, soem sctratches and also, the frame around the gearshift moves a bit and har sort of "pushed" the clear coat around.

The quality of the paint and paintjob was poor.

**BiGGy** · 07-21-2007, 02:29 AM

Vinyl is easy to manipulate, you need some contact cement and and heat gun, you can get pretty thin vinyl and no folding or sewing is needed. Leather on the other hand cannot be stretched with heat like this. Although You can get leather imitation vinyl. If you do this I recommend practicing on something of lesser value until you master it.