Not sure fuzzy is the correct term... Went to see a friend at Alsa paint yesterday here in LA. They have a "soft touch clear". This is the same stuff many OEM suppliers use and most likely your cell phone case is sprayed with it. I recently got a new OEM ash try and it has this same finish so lets try to match it The finish is "soft" to the touch So why not.. Took my console out stripped off the old finish, some adhesion promotor, black basecoat then some thinned out coats of this two part urethane clear. They feel almost like a leather. Think I will keep them BTW this stuff runs $200 a quart so it gets pricey to do, secondly sorry I dont do these on the side its an experiment on my 355 banana. I do not work for alsa. I'm retired from 30+ years in the auto segment. Hope you like and may consider trying it, if your feeling lucky LOL Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very interested in how the parts turned out... I just stripped all the sticky goo off mine and painted 'em black minus the soft touch.
They are soft LOL Came our really nice I will be doing all the other parts. maybe some highlight colors also
I used PlastiDip spray to get the soft touch feel back after stripping the parts. The trick with PlastiDip is that you have to use the PlastiDip primer. It doesn't come in a spray can, so you have to have an HPLV gun to use it. Pain in the ass to strip the parts. I had several parts that needed to be re-done because I didn't get all of the old stuff off. Most people use a combination of Easy-Off and rubbing alcohol (not at the same time) to strip the parts. Really takes some time and effort.
You are brave for taking those switches apart with their tiny springs and brittle little plastic pieces. Looks good so far. Sounds like they'll feel and look close to original...with your experience here, would you agree? Do you have confidence that the Alsa coating also won't get sticky/gooey over time?
Getting the switches apart is easy, getting them back together is a different ball game. One false move and the little plastic plungers are toast. When you take the switches apart it's best to do it in a plastic bag so that the bits don't ping away at invisible velocity. The only successful way I found to reassemble without ruining the plungers is to assemble the toggle, spring and plungers into the upper cover first and then assemble that to the switch base making sure you get the cover on right way around. Make sure you are not in a rush when you do it.
I made a little tool from thin spring steel that I put in from the top of the switch and "shoe horn" them in Worked like a charm The bag would have beena great idea I chased one all over the place
. Yes same as OEM feel, I have a new OEM ash tray and the finish / feel matches exactly The alsa is a twp part urethane, no way its getting sticky over time. Plus its hard as nails.
That bag idea is bloody brilliant. I will now stock a pack of zip-lok bags in the workshop. Thanks for the idea.
Heres the quick little tool I made Use stainless steel strapping You can see I just shoe horned it in. use a lubricant on the movng parts to allow it to slide. I used silicone for the little tabs to keep them free moving and easy to slide into place then wiggle the tool out from the top of the switch Sorry for the bad pics I did it alone with my cell phone Hope this helps someone Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for the write up Tim. Once question though, can the Alsa soft touch paint go over well-adhered interior paint? I refinished the trim in my 348 over a year ago (and started a thread about it). Used SEM products including the final topcoat paint. Can the Alsa paint go directly over existing paint, or would it need to be stripped and then Alsa products used? I wouldn't mind having the same soft touch feel as OEM (as long as the Alsa finish doesn't go sticky in a few years) but not enough to re-strip all the interior parts again.
Its made to go over any "base coat" It is urethane based so should not be an issue. As always test it first. Urethane does not have the properties to lift paint like old lacquer paint. I would sand them and give it a 1 coat of paint before clearing them for best adhesion / look
How does the color match to the new oem tray? New oem pieces are still in original "sticky" finish correct? I wonder why Ferrari is still in the sticky game if we can duplicate the same feel and texture witha more robust finish.
I know a lot more about the automotive finishing industry then they do. Simply not sure they can afford me or stand for my way telling it like it is.
