After a lot of on-line research, trial and error using an ABS test piece, I have documented the following to remove the Soft-touch coating and repaint the
Porsche
ABS plastic. It worked well for me, but the process does take time.
The Soft touch is easily removed using DOT 3 brake fluid. Saturate a blue paper shop towel in the brake fluid and place it on the paint surface. Saturate all other soft touch areas with the brake fluid where the towel cannot be used. In many cases, I cut the towel to shape as needed. The towel will stick and the fluid will not evaporate.
After 24 hours, remove the towel and wet sand with a green Scotch brite pad and the brake fluid. Repeat the towel process again as needed to remove all residual coating. This is the easiest process and works better than all other alcohol/TSP processes out there (I tried many). Brake fluid will not damage ABS plastic no matter how long left on the surface. Don’t rush it, let time work its magic on the coating. The other option is to submerge the piece entirely if not too large. In any case, make sure to cover your work area with aluminum foil as an easy way to keep the brake fluid contained prior to any painting.
Once the Soft touch is completely removed, wet sand with a green Scotch brite pad, water and Dawn dishwashing soap. Ensure to properly scuff all paint surfaces. Dry completely and review all paint surfaces for proper scuffing. From that point forward,
Make sure at no point you touch the surface with your bare hands. Use gloves at all times.
Wash again with Dawn soap and water. Rinse completely. Blow dry. Repeat.
Put 91% alcohol in spray bottle and saturate all surfaces. Wipe in one direction. Repeat.
Using SEM 38353 Plastic Prep, saturate all surfaces. Wipe in one direction. Repeat.
The surfaces are now ready for paint.
Make sure to blow off all surfaces prior to any paint.
Overkill? Maybe, but effective.
SEM paint products
I’ve always been a fan of the SEM paint line. It goes on smooth and you can get a paint gun finish using reasonable care and effort. I love their black trim paint…..
SEM 38363 Sand Free is recommended by SEM for ABS. It “melts” the ABS surface as denoted, but did cause some lifting of the first coat of paint (during the wet application). Further, since the ABS base plastic is black, multiple color coats are needed to completely cover (since you are NOT using a real primer only a color coat).
I do not recommend the Sand Free. I saw the lifting of the first coat and it took 4 coats to complete cover the black plastic with a white base color used on my project. I also did not like the fact I didn’t have a primer coat to properly fill any surface scratches (needed for good adherence). You could see some of these small scratches from the green pad in the test piece using the Sand Free and Color Coat process. I also saw some lifting of residual soft touch in the corners of the test piece.
SEM 39133 flexible plastic primer worked much better. This primer adheres perfectly (upon full cure) and properly fills all of those small surface scratches. Make sure to apply two wet coats of the primer per label directions. Lightly sand and recoat as needed for any spot issues.
After a 24 hours cure, apply the SEM color coat paint per label directions. Apply 3 complete wet coats. Make sure to keep your finger out of the paint stream to eliminate any potential paint “drops” on the surface.
After another 24-72 hours cure, apply SEM 40913 1K HS clear coat. Apply at least 3 full wet coats. If the clear is not applied, the color coat can be easily marred with a fingernail (impacting the overall sheen). The color coat needs a clear protective coating for the expected interior abuse. The 1K SEM clear comes in matte, semi-gloss and high gloss. Just make sure you do not apply the clear in humidity over 50% to avoid potential blushing/clouding.
After waiting another 24-72 hours, lightly sand out any dust/bubbles/etc using a grey Scotch brite pad (if needed). Completely blow off all surfaces, then apply a 4th wet coat of clear coat (final coat).
Wait 72-96 hours for full cure. Hand polish out any imperfections using Meguiar’s #1 medium cut then #9 swirl remover prior to re-assembly. 1000-grit paper can be used as needed. Make sure to use care around all corners if sanding is needed.
All of the SEM products tend to level nicely and have a nice spray fan directly from the can. Don’t get overly carried away with any of the wet coats where a run could occur. Take your time. Less is usually better during application. You can always buff out those imperfections using the Meguiar’s line.
In any case, I was very pleased with the final result. Very nice surface with little if any paint issues. I'd argue that you couldn't tell it wasn't factory. Each can of material is around $20.
Time will tell how well it holds up, but I expect no problems with the durability 1K clear coat.
I hope this helps…….
Very nice job, super informative
As someone who's about to do this on a Gen1 - this is EXTREMELY helpful and informative.
Great job on yours and well-written Sir.....
Thanks. No sense in not consolidating all that I learned in the process and getting it documented. I still plan to do the Soft touch around the window switches and those silver plastic pieces on the hinges for the seats. Hence, I needed to get it written up in my notes before I forget........
A lot of work but I hate the
Porsche
soft touch interior so bad I'm considering it. Novel idea using the brake fluid as a paint remover. I guess there are no liquid fingernails - I know every time I touch a fingernail to my soft touch it comes off ...
Like you, I hate the stuff. It took me a while to finally decide to do it. Overall, it wasn't that bad knowing it would take a while. I can't really take credit for the brake fluid idea (read it somewhere), but it did seem a whole lot easier than everything else I tried. Realistically, it took longer to repaint than strip.
Kind of late in the conversation but agree. Thanks for the information. It seems that the "Soft touch" ages poorly. It is nice and low glare but wow, a simple fingernail scratches it off the surface making it look destroyed. Has anyone performed a semi-gloss or satin finish to be more like the "Soft touch" finish?
I just ordered some of that paint from Magic Mender. We’ll see how to turns out.
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Cant wait to find out the results!
I’ll upload some pictures before and after when I receive it.
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sorry to resurrect an old thread but did how did the Magic Mender paint work out?
Hey soft touch paint owners!
Like most likely all of you I have the scratched up, peeling softouch rubbery finish impacting parts of my
987.1
. I am presently reviewing this product from ALSA paints in L.A. They have some unique finishes including a chrome paint that actually looks like chrome. This is a sample they sent of their soft touch paint. It is a clear that you put over the base coat. They were claiming it is very scratch resistant. I received the sample and can say that short of a razor blade I can't scratch it. I have tried my fingernail, a key and a coin. Not even a scratch. Because I handled it a lot I had dust and specks on the sample so I washed it in the sink with
dish
soap. this is the result of 1 min effort to clean. Notice not even a scratch. It is even soft feeling very similar to our stock finish. I will say it is very satin, maybe a bit more flat than our factory finish. Later this summer I will be using the removal technique from here and re-spray and re-soft touch with this product. For simplicity I will most likely to the sills first. Anyone ever use this product?
ALSA Soft Tocuh
Looks like pictures did not post
This is an amazingly well documented process… we do a lot of ‘lift and shift’ of hydraulic assembly and test lines at my company and this write up rivals what our engineers put together for complex process moves! Thanks for sharing!
Believe it or not, I am one. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Not a surprise! If by chance you’re in the chicago
area, send me a private message.
For anyone needing to do touchups, I just used the sand beige from Magic Mender. Absolutely blown away by the results. Highly recommend.
Color Flex Finish Quick Pick | Magic Mender
www.leatherrepairkits.com
