Debadged the tailgate today

You know, i don't know, i just think the ones on the gate look way to overpowering, I have however decided that i really like the ones on the side, and might just paint them black.

 

i personally think it looks cleaner. it doesn't matter to me if people know my truck is a Toyota/Tacoma/SR5/PreRunner. plus i'm trying to de-chrome my truck...lol.

 

speaking of painting badges. how exactly do you do that?

 

i wouldn't do it the way i am gonna do it. But i'll tell you how ima do it anyway. i am gonna tape and line the heck around the badges, scuff up the badges, then i am gonna hit them up with spray on bed liner, so they can take a lil bit without losing the paint. Thats just how i would do it, i know there are better ways, like taking them off and plasti-dipping them, but if i take em off, they are never going back on, lol.

 

I have been waiting for a warm enough day to debadge and tried to rush it yesterday BAD mistake!
The side TRD stickers came off no problem.
I used a brand new plastic scraper, heat gun and 3M Adhesive remover, but I must have been too aggressive and scratched the paint.
Any tips to easily remove the scratches and swirls?
Do any of those polishes with black pigment in them work?