How to remove black paint/coating from NA dash top ????

michael · Postby **michael** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 2:52 pm

Hi all,

Can anyone tell how to safely and effectively remove the black paint/coating from the top of the dash in an NA without damaging the textured surface or the integrity of the plastic in the black top section of the dash.

Thanks for your help
Michael

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:03 pm

Michael, I'm not sure what your asking is possible. Many years ago I worked in the lab for a company that produced automotive plastics & vinyl. My understanding, & I'm not an expert, is that the plastic has been made that colour. In other words, during the manufacturing process black pigment would have been added to the plastic's formula. So my thinking would be the only way to change the colour would be to paint or similar over the current colour. But I don't know how successful, in terms of longevity, it would be, or how good it would look. Hopefully someone on here does!

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:12 pm

There are flexible vinyl paints availablw that work great.

Dann

michael · Postby **michael** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:17 pm

Thanks Fellas,

In the case at least of the tan dashes I don't think the black is the plastic colour, because I recently saw one and the black was somewhat soft, and scratched in several places revealing the underlying tan colour of the plastic. So the black seems to be a paint or similar coating and because it is quite scratched needs to be largely removed so that a new black coating can be reapplied.

Any further thoughts ?

Regards
Michael

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:55 am

I've heard the same thing as well about it being tan with a black paint.

I think there may be a thread about it on Miata.net somewhere.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:17 am

michael wrote:In the case at least of the tan dashes I don't think the black is the plastic colour, because I recently saw one and the black was somewhat soft, and scratched in several places revealing the underlying tan colour of the plastic. So the black seems to be a paint or similar coating and because it is quite scratched needs to be largely removed so that a new black coating can be reapplied.

Had a look in Brian Long's MX5 book to see if the JDM NA BRG LE's had a tan coloured dash top, but from the few pics they appear to all be black, although as you say, apparently painted black - who would have thought! Guess they might have gone for an all tan look initially & then realised there would be design rule issues in at least some markets.

You've probably found these as suggested by hks, but for other BRG owners facing the same situation:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=434702

http://www.miata.net/garage/tandash.html