chrisingrassia

Hey everyone -
I didn't quite know where to post this, but I could really use some guidance and help from anyone out there that may have experience with doing custom paint work.
I have a '15 Platinum, and I want to do a custom paint project on my Platinum grille as well as the silver Platinum tailgate panel. I have the grille and panel both removed off the truck. They have been de-badged, cleaned with alcohol, and are in wonderful shape. I called some auto paint shops around here and they all want around $700 to paint these two items. Completely asburd.
I plan to buy several cans of the Tuxedo Black aerosols from automotivetouchup.com as well as a couple cans of the 2K spraymax clearcoat.

What I'm trying to figure out from some of you pros is what kind of prep work should I be doing? Should I wet sand the whole thing? How do I prep inside the letters of the panel?
Any help you could offer would be immensely appreciated.

Matt'sdrag95

I've done my fair share of paint over the years (https://www.bosharracing.com/gallery...int-portfolio/) to hope any of this helps.

What exactly are you doing? Painting the whole thing, or just accent areas? Typically suggest a quick scuff with 220-440 grit DRY paper for adhesion of paint. Same with inside the emblems.
-Pick up lint free cloths, pre paint preclean to wipe the parts down with before painting, and tack cloths to gently wipe the parts with before and inbetween each coat.
-If you need to tape off any areas you are painting inside of pick up a good roll of outline tape (none of that blue painters tape from home depot made of paper).
-Lastly, pay attention to flash and cure times. 15 minutes in between coats is typical, and you may have to wait 30-60minutes in between base and clears. You have a window to work in so leave yourself plenty of time. If you can't get everything done at one time you will have to lightly sand before continuing which isn't preferred.

Do you have a Robbins/Federal Auto near you? They often have great paint departments and can mix you any color you want and can put it into an aerosol if that works best for you.

Good luck, and have fun!
-Matt

chrisingrassia

Matt'sdrag95

Too coarse sandpaper will indeed be too much, but GOOD paint and clear are as smooth as glass with 220-400grit paper. If you were just using off the shelf rattlecan a coarser grit might be a problem. Brillo pads are for shining up metal, not sanding paint IMHO.
-Matt

digitaltrucker

I think you may want a coat of etching primer.

RLXXI

I'm also about to undertake some custom painting on plastic, and from what I've read from numerous websites on the subject is having a plastic adhesion promoter is key to making the paint stick, a couple other factors are temperature and humidity which is a HUGE factor where I am.

I'm told less than 50% humidity is ideal and a warm temp say in the upper 70's low 80's will allow the paint to cure in decent time between coats. Please correct any info I have posted as I am no expert by any stretch of imagination where painting is concerned. Just some stuff I picked up in the past few weeks of researching this very type of project.
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RLXXI

Have a link or brand name I can look up for such tape? I googled outline tape and came up with nothing. Thanks.
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BadBoy4fun_wa

There are a bunch of others but products like these are what you need for tape.

RLXXI

Excellent! Thanks. Back in the day, (think start up days of Earl Sheib's) we used regular masking tape for cars. I got good enough to do a full size Cadillac Sedan DeVille in 45 mins. They didn't care much about a little overspray
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digitaltrucker

Remember, especially if you are going to use rattle cans, light coats.