Thanks for the reply Jonce,
  I thought others might have had this problem, but I
found little in the archives.  Everything you said
makes total sense.  My Van doesn't need to be 100%
perfect, just look better than it does.
-Dawn

--- Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@WHISPLLC.COM> wrote:

> Hi Dawn
> repair is fine but ONLY use paint that is only for
> Vinyl. all others will get gooey and make a big big
> big mess and stay sticky forever. the trick for
> painting vinyl
> is PREP. it will only hold as well as the prep you
> do. i have used the SEM line of product with very
> good success. i would recommend a product used for
> vinyl tops since it is a brush on application or put
> into a preval or small spray gun and shoot it. but
> there are usually 3 cleaning/ prep steps to get a
> good
> bond and look. what vinyl paint does is gently melt
> the vinyl and then bond to the vinyl staying
> flexable and plyable.
>
> as for the small repairs it is best to look at the
> seams and and where it tucks under all the seals and
> edges and determine what and how you can lay in a
> patch. also if you repair one side you should put a
> patch on the other to make it look like it belongs
> there. as long as it looks planned you can get away
> with
> murder.  only use a glue intended for vinyl and i
> have a product called VLP vinyl liquid patch.  that
> comes in a tube that you can lay over the vinyl glue
> it on.
> the edges of the vinyl can be feathered with a razor
> blade to give a more clean soft edge. if you paint
> the headliner you can can mask at seams or best to
> paint the whole thing just to make it look good. if
> i can find some scrap headliner vinyl at the shop i
> will try and put together a little demo of pictures.
> as for
> the painting part SEM sells full line of colors that
> can work for the headliner if you dont want to do
> the brush think. still you need to prep it.
> Prep consists of basically cleaning the darn thing
> and here is what i usually will do at the shop:
> 1) green or red abrasive scrub pad sold most
> anywhere, scrub the area to repair or paint with
> this and a small amount of sem vinyl prep. or if you
> have
> fantastik or 409 or similar that is fine also.
> 2) now that you have cleaned it make sure you clean
> the cleaner off. so do it all over again with a new
> scrub pad and just water. do not soak the headliner.
> 3) let it dry good ( arizona dry ) must be 100% dry
> if not sure do not continue
> 4) do your repairs as needed after repairs you can
> clean the repair area like step 1-2-3 again must be
> dry
> if you headliner is dry and brittle your waisting
> your time since the vinyl paint will not soften dead
> vinyl.
> 5) there is a primer that can also be used as well
> as a graining compound and heat and all that type of
> thing that is very expensive to get into and without
> experiance you shouldnt try to do more damage.
> 6) after masking and taping and putting a drop cloth
> down you can now look into painting the top. i still
> recommend foam brush not aerosol for this but its
> your time and effort. if you want a custom color for
> the headliner i can custom mix colors and send them
> to you at a cost of course. but i can get you most
> of
> the basic stuff if you need it.
> this can also be done with door panels and seat
> backs any no stress area is fine. if under stress
> like seat face surface then no since the repair is
> cosmetic
> not structural. hope this helps or confuses you.
> c-ya Jonce

=====
1985 Vanagon GL

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