Paint bubble on center console - can it be fixed?

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Dark Horse

Well-known member
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Nov 16, 2019
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Location
Tampa, FL
My Car
1972 Mustang 351 CJ w/ auto Q code convertible.
1971 Chevelle SS 454 4 speed
On many of the used consoles I see for sale, there is bubbling of the paint on the center console just below the shifter opening. I have attached a picture for reference. 

Is this fixable and if so how?

 
In answer to your question, yes. The "chrome" is actually aluminum and is applied by a process called Vacuum Metalizing. Not going into that right now, but by now most of the visible trim will be starting to peel or chip. You can sand that surface and see what you have underneath it, You may need to remove that area of "chrome" under the paint to get a good surface. Once cleaned up, my go-to paint is SEM Trim Black from your auto parts store. Mask off the strips and apply light coats until you get the surface you want. I would redo the whole thing if it were me.

There is not much out there that is good and easy to redo the "chrome". So called chrome paint sticks look like what they are, aluminum paint, but I think there might be a new product that might work better. There has been many post on this and if you do a search, you might find them or perhaps someone will add a link. On a console I have, I just painted the whole thing with Trim Black to match the center stack I built for my car, but I chose not to install it, just keeping the mini console in the 4 speed car.

Geoff.

 
I'm not so concerned with the chrome trim as I am with the black texture paint bubbling. If I scrape it off and repaint it wont have the texture any longer unless there's a paint out there that provides that texture.

 
The "chrome" is laid on top of the textured plastic body of the console. Careful removal of the delaminated aluminum/chrome should preserve the texture.

 
WOW! Deja vu!

i just went through the same thing.

i do know the plastic substrate has the texture. i took a blade and sliced through the paint next to the chrome ribs and peeled off the loose paint. Some i had to use a blade and scrape. Paint was not loose between narrow strip between chrome ribs so i did a slice in paint across that part in front of narrows. then to leave minimal line showing i used sharp blade to taper off the thickness of old paint and chrome layer. then i cleaned it up and repainted. it looks fine now and you have to look close to see the line.

Wayne

 
Happened to me also, We painted the console and it later

bubbled. I was informed this happened because a past owner

had used Armour All and now nothing will stick. Did a meticulous

job of cleaning and painting but apparently to no avail.

mike

 
Heat causes the deposited aluminum to pop loose from the ABS plastic. Like stated I take a razor blade or exacto knife and cut around the corner where the raised chrome is and across where it narrows on each side and peal it off. Clean it and then paint. 

It is cheaper to buy a new repo than to get the VD redone. Nobody ever looks close enough to even see it unless a judge and they are usually not allowed to sit in the car.

 
Happened to me also,  We painted the console and it later

bubbled.  I was informed this happened because a past owner

had used Armour All and now nothing will stick.  Did a meticulous

job of cleaning and painting but apparently to no avail.

mike
Has anyone tried trisodium phosphate to clean surfaces that have had Armor All applied to them?

I've read that it works but I haven't had a reason to try it yet.

Mike

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Got mine completely restored for $135.00

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That is what you normally use when washing the inside of your home before paint. I would not think it would hurt the ABS plastic but always test. Lacquer thinner does not attack ABS but Acetone will melt it. I mix up patch material using sanding dust from broken pieces and acetone. 

There are several places that do the Vacuum deposition to restore the chrome. The price above does sound great just the black paint does not look right, maybe a little shiny. Way better than home remedies.

 
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