can you dye vinyl seat covers?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:37 pm

hi everyone,

my van is undergoing a complete restoration, as part of which it is having a respray. The existing seats are in good nick but their colour really isn't going to go with the new metalwork colour.

the seat covers are as far as i know vinyl.

while saving perhaps for a new set of lovely black covers (well, i can dream) i wondered if it was possible to dye the vinyl of the existing covers so that the seats don't look too daft when they are re-fitted?

i'm borrowing someone's computer to post this, as ours has decided we aren't worthy of looking at internet sites, so excuse me if i am slow to reply to any or all of your words of wisdom. if anyone is feeling helpful enough to take the time to very kindly email me about this, then the address is juliet at brainfog dot org

cheers everyone!

juliet

ps if i've put this in the wrong section of the forum by accident then please do move it for me, and accept my apologies

Post by **AndyPap** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:01 pm

Hi Juliet

Don't think you can dye vinyl as such but you can paint it. The stuff is called Vinylkote and it's sold by a very reputable company called Woolies (not Woolworths!!). According to their brochure, they can colour match if you give them 3 weeks, or I guess you can just by a standard colour off the shelf.

They're based in Peterborough and their number is 01778 347347.

Other than that, not really sure!!

Hope it helps

Andy

Post by **bigginger** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:27 pm

I've used the same sort of thing from Halfords (can't remember the name

), and it works OK - some original colour showing through cracks, but I'm happy with it.

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:19 pm

So not going for a flip finish interior then juliet

The other option is to keep an eye out for some of the later saloon seats as those in the white cars were often black and providing the covers are good you could just swap them over.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 4:48 pm

thanks for all your tips guys!

have ordered the woolies catalogue

been into halfords but got blank looks

kevin - a good theory - but i do want the van seats, including the fabulous flip-forward option - and not sure if other types of covers would allow for this

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:51 pm

No surprise re. Halfords - I went in for a small reel of gasless welding wire today 'cos my gas ran out - I might as well have been speaking Swahili by the look on the kid's face...
PS They didn't have any, of course...

Post by SR » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:38 pm

ello juliet ,i used vinylkote 15 yrs ago on my scimitar dash and door cards with quite good results,steve

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:59 pm

Agreed, the Halfords stuff works well on reasonably 'stiff' trim parts. The only cracking/crazing is on the seat squabs.

Post by **ell** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:39 pm

Did you ever resolve your problem, i used a red leather dye from a cobbler, you do have to give it a good rub down/ polish afterwards to prevent any further coming out onto anyones clothes, test a small area first before doing the whole seat.

Post by **moggyminor16** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:18 am

i have used normal car spray paint and gives you a very deep bright shine better than the normal stuff and dose not come

Post by **Chris Morley** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:05 am

Andrew wrote:

"No surprise re. Halfords - I went in for a small reel of gasless welding wire today 'cos my gas ran out - I might as well have been speaking Swahili by the look on the kid's face...
PS They didn't have any, of course"...

I was surprised to find that the local B&Q stocked 8mm normal & 9mm gasless wire. Is there one near you?

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:09 am

I used vinylcote from Wollies to tidy up the vinyl in the back of the traveller. Out of interest I cleaned the existing material with a bit of cellulose thinners, which keyed the surface. And one can was just enough for two coats of the vinyl and the cards at the sides. 18 months later its good as new.

Post by **KirstMin** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:35 pm

bigginger wrote:I might as well have been speaking Swahili by the look on the kid's face...

BG, in my local Halfords you've got a better chance of getting what you need if you do speak Swahili. I went in there for general automotive electrical wire and the 'computer said no' cough cough.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Wed May 31, 2006 1:31 pm

not done me seats yet, it's all going a bit slowly lol

cheers for the thinners tip, roger, and for the pic which is indeed a v good advert for your work with the vinylcote stuff