Interior paint recommendations

[Strutwipe]

I would like to repaint StrutWipe Tommy's interior panels. The current color is cream with the underneath a mustard yellow! My God, what were they smoking back in the 70's? I'll stick with the cream. I'm fine with using two part paints and can handle a paint gun. Also, I am mindful of Part 23 burn requirements so I am looking for aviation grade. Any brand recommendation?

 

[Snowmass]

Go to your local automotive paint store. There are paints made especially for plastic interiors which are super flexible and even work on seat coverings. As to fire safety 99% of the risk is in the underlying plastic not the miniscule paint film.

 

[Strutwipe]

Thank you. Krylon Fusion seems to be at the top of the list. I've Rustoleum 2X brand and was not impressed at all. Even with scuff up and cleaning with alcohol, it scratches right off after drying for 2 days. I hope Krylon has a better bond.

 

[Hang 4]

Look up SEM plastic paint. Designed for the job.

 

[Chris Scherry]

I've used the SEM products on my plastic interior parts and, they worked great and have held up great.

 

[NordicDave]

The ONLY paint which should be used for aviation interiors is lacquer. Goes on thin without build-up to reveal grain, mixes into any color, and it's naturally UV protectant for the plastic. Most plastic dies of drying out from UV rays.

Guys love rattle cans, but the pros use a spray gun. Completely understand the ease of access to SEM spray cans and being one of the few DIY jobs. The small simple cheap spray gun at HF works great for low volume jobs.

$17, This works well for Lacquer paint and significantly better results than a spray can: https://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-hvlp-gravity-feed-air-spray-gun-62300.html

Sprays a nice even oval pattern instead of a spotty or splattered circle of an aerosol paint can.

 

[Huckster79]

I would highly recommend “duplicolor fabric and vinyl spray.” It’s very thin-almost like a dye… it does an amazing job on plastic interior parts. I’ve not used it on my plane but I would if it had plastic parts inside! I’ve used it on a couple cars I flipped back in the broke days and it looked factory finish new - not painted.

 

[Huckster79]

The ONLY paint which should be used for aviation interiors is lacquer. Goes on thin without build-up to reveal grain, mixes into any color, and it's naturally UV protectant for the plastic. Most plastic dies of drying out from UV rays.

Guys love rattle cans, but the pros use a spray gun. Completely understand the ease of access to SEM spray cans and being one of the few DIY jobs. The small simple cheap spray guy at HF works great for low volume jobs.

$17, This works well for Lacquer paint and significantly better results than a spray can: https://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-hvlp-gravity-feed-air-spray-gun-62300.html

Sprays a nice even oval pattern instead of a spotty or splattered circle of an aerosol paint can.

yes that’s a hellova good gun for the pennies… I think I’m on my third, as after a few jobs if somethings not quite right I toss em in the scrap bin- but I have done a lot of painting on my old bird with one.

 

[kshaw]

SEM is what the auto installers use and works great on the plastics in Cherokees.

 

[Lachlan]

SEM is good stuff. You only need to be marginally more intelligent than the can it comes in to make your interior look pretty decent. Remember, new paint really brings out the flaws, so the best paint job in the world won’t fix a bad base.

 

[Lachlan]

Here’s a “before SEM paint” picture: