bowlergt

Just picked up a Chrome Westin bull bar with built in LED light for $20. Only Issue is I have a black sport package truck as I hate chrome lol. Whats the best way to paint it black? Not sure yet if I want to just paint it or maybe hit it with undercoat/bed liner. Should I just scuff it up real good till theres no more shine then some self etching primer? Thanks!

zapperman

I’m with you on the chrome. Quickest, easiest and most reversible way is plasti dip. I do it to many things, most recently my exhaust tip. 3-4 coats, 30 min between coats and you’re done. No prep but cleaning it, and you can peel it off if you don’t like it. And easily touch up down the road if it chips. The stuff holds up extremely well. 4 years so far on my wheels with no peeling.

bowlergt

I have used that before, Ive done black on wheels and grills but always seems to fade to more of a dull grey even when Ive used the glossifier.

Ecks

I would use undercoating on it.
I did that on my brush guard on my 2012 and it looked the same 6 years later when I sold it as it did when I first put it on.

I scored one for free. Repaired it and good to go! If I remember right it was just some Rustoleum aerosol one.

Before:


After:

bowlergt

That looks exactly how I want

emerilnut

But it looks like it started out gloss black. Did you sand it down before applying the undercoating? (just trying to get the OP all the details)

Ecks

I scuffed it with scotch brite pads. No primer or anything. That rubberized stuff sticks pretty well and is extremely durable.

bowlergt

Well I sanded the whole bar down, put a couple coats of primer and followed with a couple coats of undercoat. Installed it friday, went to the store today and someone backed into it and dented it left without a note. Luckily someone else saw it and left a message with the person's license plate that the police tracked down. Will hear from their insurance Tuesday. Pushed it into my bumper too so Ill see what will all be replaced

emerilnut

Ouch! Sorry to hear that dude.