[RH]

I'm transforming the interior on my '35 and after putting new fabric on all the side panels, wanted to change the color of my rear fenderwell covers from light grey to black. After looking around online and seeing everyone recommending SEP products for "painting" or re-coloring leather, I stumbled across a BMW forum where they were raving about Color Bond spray. Can't find it anywhere but online so I ordered a couple cans of black from Summit and today did them and I gotta tell ya - this stuff is amazing! Looks like they were originally covered in black leather. Dries in less than a minute and I couldn't be happier. Check it out!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CBD-119

[RH]

Here's a photo of the leather painted with the Color Bond. The seat back behind has the original light grey leather. The fenderwell covers are covered in leather and attached to a panel covered in black fabric. This has 5 light coats of paint, done at 10 minute intervals. All I did was wash the leather in soap and water, and then again with alcohol, then started spraying. The whole process took less than an hour and they came out great - hope you'll agree.

Apparently it also works just as well works on vinyl, and plastic too - so you could transform or touch up just about anything in your interior. Pretty cool stuff!

[EDNY]

Thanks for the tip..pictures look great.  The combination of material it covers almost seems unfeasible (leather and plastic)?  On a serious note wonder how it would work on for example black leather boots.

[TFoch]

RH,
Thanks for the info.  Looks like it came that way.  Does it make the leather any stiffer?

[RH]

EDNY - Here's a video I found showing a demonstration. They use it on boots, belts, dashboards - everything!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejKQk_gA1FE

TFoch - It's supposed to feel exactly like normal. Mine is not stiffer at all, however running my hand across it it feels a little rough like there's overspray on it - which I think is probably my fault in the application of the last coat. I read on one forum where a guy used some leather conditioning cream on his, I just have not done that yet.

Ha ha - I sound like a salesman for this stuff and am really not      Just really happy with how easily it worked and how well it turned out.

[RH]

Quick follow up - I just went out to the garage to take a look and felt the leather - no more overspray feel at all, they feel just like the original leather. Even thought its completely dry after a minute, it still must cure overnight or something.

[EDNY]

I'm sold...don't need it right now but will in the future.  Up to now my favorite paint that dries really fast and is great especially on plastic is Krylon "Fusion" paint.

Thanks RH

[ghost28]

Really great tip. Thanks...John

[trbomax]

 I think I'll try it on my butt-ugly mercedes 300sl seats in the 28. There is a tear in the back covering (not where you sit) that I'll have to reglue to the frame. They are the ugliest green Ive ever seen,so I will do them in black. I'm going to buy the quart size and spray it with the hvlp.I dont like bug bombs! When I do it I will post it up.

[trbomax]

 I sent color bond an e-mail on fri asking them about the bulk product and where I could buy it. Tonight I got what was obviously a computer generated genaric responce telling me to use 1.5 cans /seat and use adhesion promoter on hard surfaces.I didnt ask either of those questions! Summit doesnt show the bulk product so I will try and call color bond tomorrow (monday). So far I'm not impressed with thier cust service!Might just end up useing SEM.Ive used it before with exelent results so we will see what happens!

[trbomax]

I called color bond yesterday.The guy on the other end was a fast talking salesman type,not that that is bad,but he had the web page info memorized and thats what I got.I kept asking about the qt pakg and he kept telling me the qts were TINTS and had to be mixed to get a color.I ask who was a product dealer that could do this and never did get an answer.He was getting a bit agitated and finally ask me "what is your problem with spray cans?". I told him I have been a gun painter for over 55 yrs and never had what I considered to be "comparible quality results" with cans.He ask "what did you paint?" and I was honest.My bussiness molded frp components that were color matched,not gel coat finished and that most of the parts were medical equipment and large computer enclosures. We did steel fab and the frames,both large (some 25' long and small were finished for the most part with Corlar and Imron. The only cars I did were my own. He finally told me to "just order some black tint and a few spray cans of clear and do it your way".He kept telling me that they were recognized as a certified OEM repair for ford. I finally ask him if he's driven a Ford lately?I thanked him and hung up. Guess I will put off the seats for a while untill I get back to toledo at B-W auto Paint supply where I bought material since I started painting at age 14, and just get some SEM mixed up.Ive used it many times with exelent results.

My bottom line take is that thier product may be either OK or really good,but the customer service sucks. I never did find out where an inter-mix capable dear was/is if there even are any.

[RH]

Sorry you had a bad experience calling them. I am not a painter so don't know anything about it - all I know is my experience using Color Bond on my leather covered fenderwell covers - just using rattle cans the result was terrific. Crazy fast drying, great coverage and I couldn't be happier. Saved me from taking them to a shop and leaving them for re-upholstering in a new color too - I came home and did them on my lunch break at work, installed them that evening. 

[trbomax]

He was just trying to sell what the company wants him to sell,no biggie,I just prefer guns ! I dont understand how it can penetrate or bond to the base, be it leather or vinyl, unless a decent, wet coat is applied.It goes against logic,my experiences,and the physics of a coating adhering to a substrate.