Painting the plastic interior trim to look like wood...

Hi All,

Did a few things to the car today which involved me pulling the surround from the gearshift.

Realised that was plastic and not real wood (although I know the dash and door cappings are) which I feel strangely disappointed by...all my Rover 800's had real wood trim throughout and they weren't even Sterlings.

Then I noticed that there are some people on eBay selling plastic trim very skillfully painted up to look like veneer - but boy...what a price (there are some tweeter covers on right now for £150..!!).

However, if done right this is obviously much better than the stick-on trims you can get. Despite googling and searching on YouTube, I can't find any "how to paint/spray fake walnut veneer effects". Does anyone know of any links out there?

I have an airbrush and compressor by the way, and if I stuff up I'd just spray the whole bloody lot gloss black and pretend it's piano black veneer...

Cheers,

Malcolm

fablon ?

I fell foul of actually fitting one of those kits to my P38. Looked good once fitted, but on the odd really hot days last year the heat from sun made it seperate from the sticky backing that held it in place to the dash.

I personally wouldn't go that way again for a wood effect.

So I had the messy job of removing it all.

Alan

malcom you can get a product from blackfriars called back to wood its like a pink/biege paint that you can then lay a layer of coloured varnish over and comb out to give a wood effect.You would need to use a primer first i think said companies problem solving primer goes on plastic or if not zinseer bullseye 123 will prime plastic.You would be looking at about 20 quid for the primers in 1ltr sizesthe coloured varnish then about 10 quid.

i think id have to say dont do it, unless your a superb artist with the airbrush, ive seen people paint things to replicate different timbers and when its done right its brill but when done by a novice its so obvious and looks an eyesore. It take them years of experience to be be able to paint like that, prob why they charge so much!well thats my two pence worth!!!

Thanks Guys.

Yes, the tales of the stick on dash kits peeling off - plus the fact they are stick-on bits of trim and (except around things like the HEVAC unit) will always look obviously naff - is what made me intrigued by alternatives. But I recognise that this sort of painting is hardly something that can be done without at least a 'modicum of experience'...

Found the Blackfriars web-page on their back-to-wood product: Blackfriar Paints and Varnishes

Intrigues me and as I see I can get it locally and in quite small tins (250ml and 500ml) and so could have a play for about £15-£20, I might give it a spin.

There's always gloss black (sorry "piano black") if it doesn't work out!!

Malcolm

go for it, like you say for 15-20 quid why not as you can always go piano black!!!! post some pics if it comes out good.

you could always apply your own veneers then serval coats of clear.

Buy a TIN OF DOOR SCRUMBLE looks like wood? but is only paint. . In your case might require 3+ coats. C

You could try the old trick of spray it a suitable wood colour nice and thick then wave a blow torch over it a few times but not long enough to burn the plastic just enough to randomly darken the paint, then lacquer over the sooting ,they used to do it to steering wheels on classic cars to make em look like walnut.Not done it meself but seen it done and it looks great.

Painting anything to look like wood and graining it is an highly skilled job. You are sure to make a balls of it. Either get the proper stuff or leave it as it is. The stick on plastic is ****.

snigger pvc painted with wood preserve-seen it done and how I laughed-at least it won't rot

I tried the stick on plastic when I purchased mine, only the Hevec looks OK, the rest lifted off over time. Forced me to buy some of the painted plastic from guys off eBay. I have bought from 3 guys on ebay, one is awful, one good and one excellent at doing this.

Rachelkgr said:

I tried the stick on plastic when I purchased mine, only the Hevec looks OK, the rest lifted off over time. Forced me to buy some of the painted plastic from guys off eBay. I have bought from 3 guys on ebay, one is awful, one good and one excellent at doing this.

Click to expand...

A link to your recommended seller Rachel ?