cleanshavenXLT
Sep 30 2004, 07:33pm
I've been looking through the forums here recently and was noticing that alot of people are wanting to "glass" their dash to make it smooth. I just wanted to help out those people by giving them an easier way to "glass" their dash without actually glassing it. I am currently working on mine and I have done several others like this as well. These are the steps I have taken to get that smooth feel to my dash without the mess of fiberglass.
First, scuff up your dash or what ever pieces you want to smooth with 180, 220, or 320 grit sandpaper. I use 220 but I have seen people use coarser grits.
Second, buy some 2k Urethane Primer or some good high build primer. Spray over entire surface. Usually the stuff you buy in the quarts and gallons and shoot with a spray gun usually work better than the rattle can. Rattle can tend to take longer to build up. Once the first coat dries, wet-sand with 220 or 320. I would use either of these two because 180 would take too much off and 400 I would save for the final coat.
Once the entire dash has been wet-sanded, dry dash and spray another coat of high build or 2K primer over dash again, but this time, spray a little thicker. The first coat was used more as a tack coat so that the other coats of primer and paint will stick to the dash. The second coat you will want to build up so that when you wet-sand it this time, it will be actually smooth and have all the rough texture fromt he dash out. Once the coat has dried, wet-sand with 400, (note: only sand with 400 if this is the last coat. I know on some occassions that I have had to put a third coat on because some areas were still rough. In this case, use no finer than 320.) Once completely sanded, you should be ready for paint.
Doing it this way will make the dash easier to work with because fiberglass can be hard to sand and to shape. I did a friend's S-dime two years ago and painted it for him and the dash still looks brand new.
If anyone has any questions on doing this, please let me know and I will help you out the best I can. Also, if anyone wants to add to this or point something out that doesn't seem right, feel free to do so. I just wanted to help some people out. I know how messy fiberglass can be and it's not worth the hassle if you don't have to mess with it.
Chris
South Central Customs
First, scuff up your dash or what ever pieces you want to smooth with 180, 220, or 320 grit sandpaper. I use 220 but I have seen people use coarser grits.
Second, buy some 2k Urethane Primer or some good high build primer. Spray over entire surface. Usually the stuff you buy in the quarts and gallons and shoot with a spray gun usually work better than the rattle can. Rattle can tend to take longer to build up. Once the first coat dries, wet-sand with 220 or 320. I would use either of these two because 180 would take too much off and 400 I would save for the final coat.
Once the entire dash has been wet-sanded, dry dash and spray another coat of high build or 2K primer over dash again, but this time, spray a little thicker. The first coat was used more as a tack coat so that the other coats of primer and paint will stick to the dash. The second coat you will want to build up so that when you wet-sand it this time, it will be actually smooth and have all the rough texture fromt he dash out. Once the coat has dried, wet-sand with 400, (note: only sand with 400 if this is the last coat. I know on some occassions that I have had to put a third coat on because some areas were still rough. In this case, use no finer than 320.) Once completely sanded, you should be ready for paint.
Doing it this way will make the dash easier to work with because fiberglass can be hard to sand and to shape. I did a friend's S-dime two years ago and painted it for him and the dash still looks brand new.
If anyone has any questions on doing this, please let me know and I will help you out the best I can. Also, if anyone wants to add to this or point something out that doesn't seem right, feel free to do so. I just wanted to help some people out. I know how messy fiberglass can be and it's not worth the hassle if you don't have to mess with it.
Chris
South Central Customs