Custom Paint a Car Dashboard

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Painting a car dashboard a new color is a good way to customize it. Whether you have a modern car or a classic car, a custom auto shop is a good resource for creating and buying paint for your car. Dash kits also exist for improving damaged or old dashboards. Try these steps to custom paint a car dashboard.

Steps

  1. Decide what color(s) you want to paint your dashboard. Consider matching your car's exterior paint color or creating a 2-tone color effect.
  2. Get the paint color(s) you need. A custom auto shop can match a car's factory paint or create custom colors for you. Just Dashes and Redline Gauge Works are 2 companies that can create or match paint colors for customers' cars.
  3. Clean and dry your dashboard with rubbing alcohol and rags. This will help the paint adhere to the dashboard surface.
  4. Use blue painter's tape to mask any areas of the dash where you want to retain its original color.
  5. Paint your dashboard. Try spraying 3 light coats of aerosol paint onto your dashboard.
    • If painting a dash with more than 1 color, you can also put painter's tape on parts of the dash painted in the first color that you want to protect before applying the second color.
  6. Allow the paint to dry. Remove any blue tape you put on the dashboard.
  7. Apply clear coat paint after the colored paint has dried. This will prevent colored paint from the dashboard from getting on your fingers.
  8. Apply any detail paint. Use small paintbrushes from a hobby or craft shop and canned car paint to do delicate or detailed work, such as lettering or a logo.
  9. Purchase and install a dash kit. These kits offer pieces of trim that can improve the look of wood dashboards and may be available for dashboards made of carbon fiber or other synthetic materials too. You may be able to paint over your kit's pieces or use a kit instead of paint.
    • The installation process usually involves applying primer to your cleaned, dry, existing dash, and then peeling and sticking the trim material onto the dashboard.

Tips

  • If installing a dash kit yourself, make sure to arrange the trim pieces in place before removing their protective backing. You will not be able to rearrange the trim after sticking it onto your dash.
  • Flat dashboard kits have trim pieces with smooth beveled edges that cover flat areas of the dashboard. Molded or formed dash kits are made for wider areas of the dash that may have angles or corners around them, such as radio bezels.
  • Have an auto professional paint your dashboard or install your dash kit for you if you prefer.
  • Properly clean and dry a dashboard according to the dash kit's instructions before installing the kit's pieces.

Things You'll Need

  • Local custom auto shop
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Clean rags
  • Blue painter's tape
  • Aerosol paint for dashboard
  • Clear coat paint
  • Local hobby or craft shop
  • Small hobby/craft paintbrushes
  • Canned car paint for detail work
  • Dash kit and installation instructions
  • Primer
  • Auto professional

Sources and Citations