Dashboard Scratch Repairs

[PeterW113]

Hello all,

Has any one had any success with mobile paint / scratch repair services in the UK.

I have the dashboard mostly dismantled while I am replacing the heater controls and speedo cable and wonder should I go the whole hog and remove the few remaining items and get the metal dashboard touched in / repainted at the same time. At the moment there are several scratches around the radio and the ignition which could easily pass as patina or character.

Would it be worth the risk or should I leave well alone and accept the scratches as part of the appeal of having a 40+ year old car?

Thoughts and experience welcome.

Peter

[Neil Thompson]

Peter I'm in the motor trade and would suggest that if you have most of the brightwork and trim off the dashboard area that you have the whole area resprayed properly as when you drive your dream it is the thing you look at the most. In my opinion and experience 'smart repairs' are a quick cheap fix directed at rental/fleet companies and the like to tidy a vehicle up prior to sale. The areas usually repaired, normally to a poor standard, are scuffed bumper corners etc

Neil

[Larry & Norma]

I used spray cans to do mine, came up pretty good.
There are companies that produce matching paint and supply
primer, topcoat, laquer and polish in a kit.
Try www.paints4u.com.
You must do the whole area including glove box for best results

[PeterW113]

Neil,

Thanks for your reply, I certainly agree with your advice, my issue is that as the dash is in pieces, no steering wheel, instrumentation etc. I would need some one to come to me, hence I thought of a mobile sprayer. The dilemma as always is who do you trust to do it properly. My garage is cleanish so hopefully it should be possible to achieve a good result.  If not then I will leave alone.

Any ideas/recommendations anyone?

Thanks in advance

Peter

[Neil Thompson]

as gnuface says spraycans can be good, I still say a smart repair is a quick fix, they are for localised areas to be 'blown in' to tidy up for sale. If everything is removed it is easier to prepare and get good results even with spray cans. Time taken with preparation and properly masking the area to avoid overspray will pay dividends. If you do all this and then get a mobile sprayer in to finish the job off if necessary should be ok because, again in my experience, it can be their preparation that lets them down not their spraying ability.

Neil

[Wolfmann]

Yep, prep and mask it yourself and have a pro' spray it for you. Most of the money is in dismantling preparing and masking, the actual paint application should be inexpensive.

S.

[stickandrudderman]

I wouldn't recommend doing it yourself. If the dash is already stripped out I would ship the car to your preferred professional and have it done properly.
This is a major focal point whilst you're in the car and rectifying a poor job later will probably never happen becauuse of the amount of work required to strip the dash out again.
Proper prep is paramount to any paint work and unless you're very good or very lucky you won't get a professional, durable finish.
If you want to experiment with the spray can you're better off doing it on an external panel where an unsatisfactory result can easily be rectified later.
I'm a very experienced professional and I wouldn't do it myself, I'd get my painter to do it.

[PeterW113]

Thanks to you all for you replies , the verdict seems to be get the job done whilst the dash is in pieces which it more or less is. I am not a confident painter myself but i will find someone who is and report back the results.

Peter

[Wolfmann]

I know a specialist in Basingstoke who has restored my car, he is inexpensive and does a great job.
If you're interested give me a ring and I will give you the details.
07974 355313

Steven.