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While I was getting some touch-up paint today, I noticed a can of vinyl/carpet recolouring spray. The guy in the shop seemed to think it was good stuff, which got me thinking about colouring my seats. I've photoshopped what I reckon I'd do. What do people think? Has anyone had any experience with this stuff?

Looks tad purple but if that's what you going for, i think it looks great

Hjt wrote:Looks tad purple but if that's what you going for, i think it looks great

It's just a quick photoshop knockup, so the colour isn't indicative of the actual outcome. It was just to see what it'd look like

Personally, I wouldn't do it from a spray can.

2 main reasons.
1. If it is a dye, then you'll have to soak the fabric, and that means the foam inside the seat will also get soaked and it could make the foam disintergrate.
If the foam does get wet, then it could take ages for it to dry so, every time you sit in it, you're back will feel wet.

2. If it is a pigment, then it will sit on the surface of the fabric, and will make the fabric feel hard and brittle, and it will eventually peel off, usually in small patches, which will make the seats look terrible.

Trying to dye or pigment black cloth into a lighter colour is also very difficult and the colour on the can will NOT be the colour it will come out, as the black will show through somewhat and darken the colour substantially.

If you want to have different coloured inserts in your seats, you're better off going to a motor trimmer and getting him to do it.
It won't cost that much either, as he's only replacing the centre section.

Thanks for your input, Benny. I didn't really think of the dye vs pigment issues. I'll have a look around for a good motor trimmer

The seats are normally grey, but I've photoshopped the outer part of the seat to be darker, in anticipation of getting some black paint as well

Good point Benny.

Lee, try Gary Blackman Auto Trimming, I think they are in Richmond. I have heard nothing but positive things from them.

It is an interesting topic I reckon. Vinyl sprays are said to be compatible with carpets and I would have thought that this would work on a fabric seat. It could be tested on scrap material.

To use a fabric dye selectively requires a certain technique- see Dylon web site for some info on this. Again a trial on scrap could be required. You would of course have to remove the trim and my guess is that the selective dye process would be tricky.

A trimmer can sew in an insert but it can be expensive - get a quote for sure- it is a reliable way to do it. If you presented the trimmer with the covers it would cut the cost quite a lot. Personally I think the NA seat in black looks very good and if it does fade it seems quite do able to re dye it all balc - see Miata for a diy which I read some time ago.