Redid my dash panel. Check it out.
 

Thought i'd share this with some do-it-yourselfers.

Last winter i sent my panel out, to get powdercoated. The guy jerked me around for months, and when i finally got it back, it looked like crap. Had a ton of orange peel in the finish, and honestly, the color didnt come out like i wanted it to.

So, I decided to rip it all apart again, and this time try it myself. I stripped it, primed with self etching primer, shot it with metallic black, and cleared it. Lots of wetsanding. Then, i had oso member 502SS, make the labeling out of vinyl for me. He was awesome to work with. We emailed some files back and forth. He sent me a file with the lettering sized to what they would be. I was able to print them on my home computer on plain paper. The lettering was sized, so i just had to cut it out with scissors and lay it all out, to be sure it fit in the margins. Within a week of my first email, I had the decals in my mailbox. Pricing was very fair! He walked me thru how to install them, and I think it came out pretty good considering my first little decal project.

Alot cheaper than a new panel, and, I like the "glossy" painted finish, over powdercoat. I know powdercoat is more durable, but hopefully nobody will be walking on my dash panel!

If you need any vinyl boat stuff, definitly get with Jim (502SS)! Super cool guy to work with..

:ernaehrung004:Nice work! Looks sharp!

nice

Nice job. It always feels better when you do it yourself.

Thanks for the kudos joe! Dash looks awesome and it was a pleasure working with you on this project, glad it turned out to your liking :D

Can't wait to see it all done and back in the boat!

Thanks again
Jim

Thanks guys!. :thankyouthankyou:

Looks good!

I can see that red orange peel from here 100 miles away! I do like the red though. Post the dash once finished.

Yes, I think i could have done a better job with a roller and a brush and some dutch boy. :lolhit:

Looks great MT!!!

nice dash there

Your work looks as good or better than any I have seen...gives me some ideas.

Looks good MT!

Are those trim switches on your steering wheel?

Yes those are trim switches on the wheel. Factory fountain setup

Looks great! I saw 502's dash in another thread and kinda inquired about some decals for mine. I think I need to get my a$$ in gear and maybe hit him up. From the pics of his own stuff and yours apparently he does great work.

Please tell me you painted the outer ring of your steering wheel.

Yep, its vinyl dyed. Held up great so far!! Well, only one summer on it, but figured it's worth a shot. Worse case i pop it off and put a new wheel on.

looks GREAT Joe:bunnydance:

Nice job! Looks like a new wheel!

Any close UPS of the vinyl lettering?

How did you whiten the fiberglass around the dash area?

you have the stickers on top of the clear? wouldnt it be better to put the stickers on the paint, then clear them so its less likly to peel? I seem to remember Dan Swanson did that with his dash....

Looks Good! Can't wait to redo my dash in the 311! As for clearing over the vinyl wouldn't the reducer in the clear cause the vinyl to peel up on the edges? Just a thought ...