I just got my SEM paint package to redo my interior with someone on the board recommended it...anyway I got the SEM Soap...the vinyl/plastic prep...and 2 cans of Flame Red...is this all I am going to need...it says something about some Sand Free in the info packet...and also something about some tac free stuff or whatever...I understand how to clean it up now but do I need to sand it or what...does that sand free make it where you don't have to sand it...and wouldn't sanding interior scratch it up it seems like it would...but is that all I need is my basic question

Josh

Someone might be able to help you more than me with the sanding. Because I did sand some of my pieces and it took more coats to get it smooth because the sand paper did scratch for me. So I just stopped sanding. I just clean it with rubbing alcohol. Then primer with Krylon Primer. Then SEMS paint. Then clear coat if i feel like it.




18" Konig Tantrum Rims
Yokohama Parada Tires
AEM Cold Air Intake
Redone Black Carpet
Interior Painted White/Blue (Soon to be silver/black)
Various Neon Lights
Hyperwhite Lights
2 Rockford Fosgate XLC Subs
750 Watt All Digital Amp
Indiglo Pedals and Gauges

Soon To Have:
Bored Throttle Body
Coilovers or Springs
Steering Wheel
Seats

ok if you like the look of the stock int then you dont have to sand at all.

i wanted my int smoooth.. well my accent pieces are smoooth as can be.. rest of the car is semi smooth because i get lazy and sanding takes a while

you have to sand in diff grits.. for me i used 180 first and worked up to like 400

then primer and wetsand high spots and low spots with 220 and then 400-600 to smooth it out.. then spray.. works for me

if you just clean the int good and spary u will be ok..

u dont have to sand


some say start with 80 to tear the int up then work up

if you want the look of stock, use 600 or 800 grit wet sandpaper. you gotta give the paint something to stick to.

i didnt sand either...looks good.

>i didnt sand either...looks good.

isnt your paint chipping off now? (the interior)

Hey Evan, Im ording some SEM Vinyl and Plastic Prep but im not sure what parts are made out of vinyl, would this be the dash since its softer when compared to the door panels which are a hard plastic?

Bump

I didn't sand any of my pieces either. Basically I just cleaned up the pieces really well and allowed them to dry. Once dried I sprayed on Sand Free then sprayed a real light coat of the color I choose to use. (Sand Free is an adhesion promotor. The guy and the paint shop recommended that I should use it) Then I just let the sand free and light coat of paint completly dry before I added on more coats of paint. Once that was done I covered the pieces with some SEM low-luster clear coat. Looks great and is pretty resistant to chipping.

mines only chipping cause i didnt put more layers over certain areas. otherwise, minus 3 areas I can think of rite now, it all looks great.

3 problem areas i need (and still have YET to fix) to respray...
-Door kick panels from peeps' feet.
-Center a/c control piece (easy, just some white came off)
-Small minor areas in rear 1/4 panel, all of which just need a lil paint to go over.

Mike, use Sand Free and some low-luster clear on the lower door panels. I did on mine and of all the times I've kicked the thing getting in and out of the car the paint has yet to chip. It just gets some black scuff marks from my shoes. A rag,water, and some elbow grease fixes that and gets it back to lookin new again.
P.S. - I'll get some pictures up soon so you can see the black/white conversion on my interior. Still working on it but its getting done. Heh, Bryden has some competition for the Shamu award now :)

Hey Dan,

Where did you get that sand free stuff? Any store or a paint store?

I just happen to have a sherwin williams automotive finishes store not to far from my house. They carry SEM's entire line so it's pretty easy to get ahold of the stuff. any store that is local to you and carries SEM products should be able to get ahold of it for you. Try some of the DIY automotive paint/restoration type stores they might carry the stuff in stock.

thura the only place i know of that sells that shiz is where joe found his SEMS paint. cuz i cant find anywhere in houston