It happens all the time. Your looking at a vehicle interior part. Everything is right, the year, make & just what you need for your car or truck,  EXCEPT it's the wrong color. You have two choices do it yourself or find someone else to do it. Many times that someone else just does not know what he is doing. Or your trying to sell a part. It looks good, nice and no damage soft but it looks terrible because it's faded. In 1986 I took over a  vehicle  interior restoration mainly working with used car lots. One of the reasons why I was kicked out of my distributorship is that I insist on quality. Over the years I've seen a lot, good & bad. Also seen allot of different ways to recolor interior parts. Hopefully this guide will help someone gain knowledge about this process to have it done or do their self.. Don't forget to click the "this was helpful" button if it was.

DYE OR PAINT? Call it what you want. Questions to ask about the product your using or someone else is using on your part:
1. How does the product adhere or stick?
2. How much product is needed?
3. How well does it hold up against the sun?
4. Once it's on, what property's  are there to fight against peeling or wearing off?
5. How well does it stretch and flex with the item?
6. Will it have a glossy finish like paint or will it be natural.
7. How is the color matched? Sight or machine?

FIVE SUBSTANCES COLORED (There are others)

ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) Never requires a primer. Just about anything colors it. Plastic will be sticky if wiped with high VOC solvent. If bend can break. Heat will melt

PP Polypropylene The same kind of plastic used for containers used for gasoline, pool acids & bleach. High VOC  has no effect of the item. Primers are always required. Can break with some effort

PVC VInyl Used on seats high VOC solvents and high heat will melt. Never requires a primer.

Dash Arm Rest Vinyl Different than PVC with age will crack, usually will not melt with solvents or heat.

URETHANE Aftermarket Arm rests & Dash Pads Toughest item to try to color.

THREE CATEGORIES OF VINYL PLASTIC DYE/PAINT (COLOR)

1. SOLVENT BASE Made by many major company's. The high VOC chemicals are designed to slightly melt the surface then color become one with the part on a molecular level. Keep in mind this only works on the surface of the item. Works OK on ABS & Vinyl. Have not seen any that works on urethane arm rests or dash pads. Polypropylene requires a primer. Down side is that this product is believed to hurt the environment & is being phased out. Some areas of the country is not sold anymore. You must use personal protection. Offers little in the way of scratch resistance. This usually a one step, but can be to glossy if a flattener is not used . Can be top coated for some help with durability & gloss..

2. FIRST GENERATION WATER BORN I started using this type product back in 1986 when most of my competition was still using solvent bases. Today most use this product. This is a one step, color it let it dry then your done. Down side this should be used only in cases where someone wants to make a car look good for a sale. I have seen where the pigments used fade to a light purple on tans. Little has changed over the years. Some use a cross linker now to help with adhesion and a top coat to help for scratch resistance. OK to use on non high wear areas like a dash pad. Gloss is OK but can be ajusted with spray technique if needed. Some say this has many property's of latex house paint. Peels off in sheets on urathane

3. SECOND GENERATION WATER BORN Totaly redesigned two step.
    a. step one (base)  Two jobs & two jobs only 100% of the chemicals are designed to both stick and stay on & color. After dry it remains slightly sticky.
    b. step two (top) It's job is to seal in the base coat,  create a natural gloss, soft feel & offer great scratch resistance.
This is the product I use now. The used car dealer only requires a temporary fix to help sell a car. The items I sell have to last & get through shipping and accidents my buyers may do to the part. Does NOT scratch off with fingernails. Sticks like nails to urethane  because it has urethane resins.

BIRKELO TEST

Named in honor of Einar P Birkelo who I first seen used this test for color coatings. The test is very simple non technical and will tell what are the property's of the coating being used. Best of all the average user does not have to spend thousands to see what a color coating will do. Obtain some Teflon sheets from anyone selling vinyl repair supplies or someone selling heat sealing equipment. These sheets are non-stick. First spray your coating on the sheet like you would normally do & let dry. After dry peel off. Will the color coating stretch? Does your part your trying to color do? Wad it up, does it stick together and or shatter? Remember your coatings have to flex & stretch with your part.