Painting a Dash, Gloss or Satin

Shoebox

Shoebox

Well-known member
I have the dash out of the '51, stripped and primed, currently wet sanding. I am using a slight variation of the original grey color. Was talking to my buddy who is going to shoot it and he asked, shiny or satin or semi gloss? I said I like shiny and he commented I might have an issue with sun reflections. My new windshield glass has a light grey tint, although I know not all light comes through the windshield. Would appreciate any opinions or personal experience. Thanks!
 
19Fordy said:
I'd go with gloss as it will eventually fade.
Are you desiring to paint it to OEM specs.?
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Fading, yes that had not come into the discussion. I have already refinished the garnish moldings. At Body Shop Supply I was looking at colors and found a grey that was almost a dead match to OEM but with just a little fine metalic which I really liked, it is a base/clear cote paint. Thanks!
 
Glosses reflect more, smudge less. Satins reflect less, smudge more. Greys don't fade much in either. So what's more important to you? Eliminating blinding reflections or unsightly smudges?:D
 
Jack E/NJ said:
Glosses reflect more, smudge less. Satins reflect less, smudge more. Greys don't fade much in either. So what's more important to you? Eliminating blinding reflections or unsightly smudges?:D
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I'm most interested in a great looking finished product, the instrument cluster has been refurbished, have an NOS 2 pc grille/mesh that covers much of the '51 dash, all bezels and knobs shined up. So if I can accomplish the above while avoiding blinding reflections and minimizing those darn unsightly smudges:), I'll be a happy camper.
 
I was thinking about a leather or vinyl covered dash for my ‘39 standard. Paint wise I think a semi gloss would be best. Flat is not going to clean well?
 
Shoebox said:
I have the dash out of the '51, stripped and primed, currently wet sanding. I am using a slight variation of the original grey color. Was talking to my buddy who is going to shoot it and he asked, shiny or satin or semi gloss? I said I like shiny and he commented I might have an issue with sun reflections. My new windshield glass has a light grey tint, although I know not all light comes through the windshield. Would appreciate any opinions or personal experience. Thanks!
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What was it authentically?

As far as fading... why would it fade? High quality paint lasts for years upon years on the fenders without fading, why wouldn't it hold up as well on an instrument panel?
 
It's your car, if it were mine, I would use satin. I don't know why fading or smudges should be a problem with a good paint.
 
Don't use either gloss or satin. Semi-gloss is what you'll want to use.

The paint isn't going to fade regardless of which you use unless you leave it out in the sun for years, which I doubt you'd be doing.
 
You know, the more I think about it, the more I agree with with "itslow" - semi-gloss - of high quality is the way to go. WI summer heat won't cook your dash and make it fade away in your lifetime. Easy to clean and won't reflect blinding light.
 
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Guys, as always, I really appreciate the valuable input and viewpoints provided. My paint buddy (retired body shop owner) agrees that high quality paint will not have a fade issue as such, and does recommend a semi-gloss, but has said " I'll shoot whatever ya want." So I'll see if I can get side by side samples of gloss and semi. I'll post pics of the end result. Thanks!
 
Keep in mind that high gloss may give you light reflections off the dashboard that could be annoying depending on the configuration of your dashboard.
 
19Fordy said:
Keep in mind that high gloss may give you light reflections off the dashboard that could be annoying depending on the configuration of your dashboard.
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I knew a guy years ago who had his dashboard chromed. It turned out to be a very bad idea.
 
We have a gloss dash in our 49 , it has had a gloss dash since 85 with a colour change in there also. Never even thought about any glare. The speaker grill is chromed and no issue there either. Do not over think things to get too complicated. Gloss is a finished colour.
 
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