Removing upholstery dye

[G B.]

As a continuation of my obsession with using worn-out factory parts, I'm trying to salvage some early '63 red dash pads that were dyed black in the sixties. I've read many times that aftermarket dye can't be chemically removed without harming the vinyl. My experiments with another dash pad seem to bear this out. I can easily rub the black dye off with lacquer thinner, but I've found that the thinner softens the vinyl and can remove the grain.

I'm now wondering if the "soda blasting" stripping method might work. However, I don't have access to that process here in the sticks. Has anyone tried stripping dye from a Corvette dash pad by using any kind of blasting media? I do not believe the black dye actually soaked into the vinyl. In fact, I doubt it even adhered well to the surface.

I'm really trying to get down to the factory red color. Yes, I know I could easily spray some red dye over the black but somehow that just seems so wrong.

[Joseph T.]

Re: Removing upholstery dye

Jerry

If you find the solution..please share it with me...as the original red interior in the 57 Nassau/Daytona car was dyed black..which I would like to remove...without damaging the original red underneath.

Joe Trybulec

[G B.]

Okay

I never bother to keep my mouth shut anyway.

[Terry F.]

Re: Removing upholstery dye

I have had success with parts that can have water put on them, ie plastic backed type stuff. I had a dash pad out of a 68 corvette that was dark blue and dyed black. I cranked my hot water heater up and blasted it with very hot water. So hot that my hands could barely work with it. What I found was that the vinyl dye would start to peal off. If you looked at it, the edges of the dye would start to lift. I would grab the edges and pull it off in little pieces. I would get pretty excited if something as big as a quarter came off. Sometimes I would use the pen cap off a bic pen to scrape at it or something similar. Eventually, I got it all off. The vinyl under the dye was dull though and I had to put a light coat dark blue dye over it to bring the color back. I still have the dash pad and it looks great but I have since found an original dark blue pad.

I believe the person that dyed it did a poor prep job and that assisted in my success. I am not sure I would call it success considering the time involved and the amount of hot water I used. But, if there is a will, there is a way.

The places that had the thinest coating of dye were the most difficult and I sort of gently scrapped at them. I seem to recall I used a stiff plastic brush.

I think you could media blast it and get results. But, I would experiment with putting the pad in the freezer or something like that to make it real stiff and hard. That might make the vinyl dye hard enough to chip off. Your goal would be to stop just as you went through the dye and move on to other areas. I am sure it would probably result in dulling of the original dye. But, I CAN'T STAND THE LOOK OF VINYL THAT HAS A THICK COATING OF VINYL DYE OVER IT.

You might even try pulling the pad in the freezer and then immediately transfering it over to hot water. I seemed that my method worked best when I initially put the piece in hot water. The dye pulled off in bigger pieces.

Steam might work! They make those little steam guns for cleaning stuff around the house. You might get it to start pealing that way.

Laqure thinner never worked for me. It just smears the dye into the grain of the piece. The results suck.

I have since collected 90% of my original interior in the original color and all of it in beautiful condition. Talk about having OCD but I love the original stuff. There should be a special NCRS award for going the extreme extra mile to bring a corvette back to original condition. I should get another award called, "If the parts are out there, he will find them!"

Here's one for you...I found the original vinyl for my seats on roles in Oregon dated 1967 with the TEXHIDE lable on the back side. I sent it to Al knock and he made it into seat covers for my car. I have since found a set of original seat covers that were taken out of a 68 corvette after 3 years that are mint condition. I must say, Al sewed them the exactly same way as originals.

Next time, I will buy a survivor. But, I love messing with my corvette. I hope to be done with it next summer. Terry

[Michael H.]

Re: Removing upholstery dye

Jerry, try brake fluid. I've done this a few times and it works extremely well and seems to have no effect of the vinyl or it's original dye color. I'd try a hidden area first, just to make sure.

[Terry F.]

Re: Removing upholstery dye

One more idea...high pressure water with soap in it. I seem to recall using simple green in some areas and it helped lift the edges. If you use high presure hot water, you would have to anchor the piece down to keep it from flying away

Also, If you media blast it, you don't need to get every last bit of dye off. You might be able to stop and scrub it with a stiff plastic brush and some simple green. End result though is that you will have to brighten it up with some original color dye.

Some type of lubricant may cause the dye to slowly lift but I would never try that on a good piece. Soaking it in silicone type stuff might cause it to start lifting. I might have to experiment with this. You could make some good money if you found something that worked without killing the original vinyl. There must be something out there. Hmmmm.

Terry

[george romano]

Re: Removing upholstery dye

Try Castrol Super Clean in the purple bottle. Use it full strength and it will remove paint.
I used it to clean a set, a FILTHY set, of leather seats once and it didn't hurt the leather at all. I would assume that vinyl will be fine too, but try it on a scrap piece first.

George

[G B.]

Thanks for the suggestions

I wouldn't have thought of any of them by myself.

I'm going to try the liquids first before any media blasting: brake fluid, Castrol Purple, and hot water. I'll post the results on this Board.