My Cubby Door surface has become scratched/worn in places as I foolishly had a tablet that rested up against it and the paint on the cubby (and waterfall) and similar textured interior pieces is bonded VERY poorly,.. we all know that.

Yes, I know removing the whole waterfall and painting it is an option.

I've removed that waterfall 3 times and with the audio setup I have going, and how much of a PITA it was to get back in just right each time.. I absolutely am not going to remove it again.

So,.. call me lazy.. that's fine. But I just want your advice and opinions if you HAD to make it look decent without taking it out of the car.

I don't mind painting.. Only thing that comes to mind is to spend a while taping everywhere around the areas I will be painting with blue painters tape super well.

I'm not sure if doing some sort of paint in a container and using a brush or other tool to dab it on would be safer/work better in this case?

Are there any other options to consider like some sort of panels to apply over, or possibly wrapping it ?

Lower power sprayer?

I'll be doing just the door, the rest of the piece looks fine.

Try to humor me here,.. I'm sure this is not an impossible task.

I'd even bring it to a shop of pro's to paint it (without removing) ..

Maybe I'm missing some options -- and if not, give me your best ideas to get the door looking pretty good.

I read somewhere on here that you can go to some places and they can measure the color with a machine and match it 100% exactly and even put in a sprayer if you want. If that's true, what sort of place does that?

Thanks,

 

I also ran into that same problem it really is a pita to take it off so I went into a auto parts store and purchased some black interior paint taped everything off and painted it using small layers and letting it dry and then building it up with another light layer until the scratches are gone. With that textured it still looked really good just have to be careful not to scratch it or you'll run into the same problem again GL!!

 

Awesome. I've been searching and found a good thread just now after days of random searching just with a different keyword. First person I Saw who said.. "I decided just to try it,.. and if I messed it up I would just buy a new XYZ".

He said he got two clear tarps and covered the whole car!

Now in my mind I picture the outside and entire inside all with plastic wrap over it.. but that's over kill unless you stand back 3 feet and spray

I thought about maybe getting one of those sponge brushs.. where I could dab the paint in and then sort of mix it around with a rag. But.. that would probably be the way to go to do a small imperfection ...

From what I"ve read you want to do at least the entire cubby door.. no just spot treating it. So I've got the paint name down.. so will pick up a can of that.. and it seems you don't use sand paper, primer, or anything for the textured areas.. You clean the area with soap and water or alcohol.. then spray.

I am a bit torn on whether or not to use any adhesive promoter. ... other people didn't and theirs looks great. Do I need to?

I have the rings around the AC controls worn in a precise ring on the far right dial. I figure that piece comes off super easy.. but sticks on the shifter.. So I need to figure out how to remove those three dials at the bottom/ac.. Are those easy to get out?

Then I'll paint that section. And the entire cubby door.

I am going to also do that little button.. I have a 2008 so it's the pull down type. with little circle indentations.

I think on that I'll take a look at it.. and make a choice whether to sand or not. If I sand... there's not going back

Should I put a coat of primer on that square? Or just some coats of gloss black I have .. let dry and then some clear coat to help mainly with it from scratching up so easily again?

I almost want to put some clear on the cubby door because I don't know how the Vinyl and fabris paint will hold up compared to factory. Factory on those parts = god awful soft. Maybe the new stuff will not come off/scratch easily.

So for prep.. I plan on getting blue painter tape.. and maybe some newpaper and covering up about a 2-3 ft area around where I'm painting. including windows.

I just know it will float in the air a little and not sure the right way to avoid that. A lower powered aerasol can would help.. but since plenty of others have done this without removal.. If I'm careful and take my time it should turn out fine. The right knee pad just where it ends and is trim.. is warn from, well my knee. On that spot I'll probably just touch up instead of painting everything that still looks fine.

If this works out fine.. then I know I can "fix" imperfections without too much hassle other than 20 minutes of prep or so..

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Jazzy -- I have the same OCD about my car. IE: If it's clean to most peoples super clean standards.. it's not to me. Clean = Clay barred, rotary polished, and waxed.. It's time to do that again since I didn't maintain a fresh coat of wax.. but I digress.

This was all caused by putting a tablet there on a winshield mount .. and now I wish I could mount this nexus 7 in the door cubby hole.. but it's just too big,.. and I'm not going to dremel the car.

Thanks