Painting an 08 chrome grill?

Hey guys I wanted to color match my chrome grill white to match my truck. What's the best and easiest way to tape it off or whatever to paint it? Let me know. Thanks!!

 

People may knock it on here, but I did white plastidip with plastidip glossifier over the top of it on a buddies truck and the color matched near perfectly. You can tell it's a little less glossy but it looks way better then the chrome. Also put a coat of Turtle Wax Ice on top to give it a smoother finish for cleaning. Cost probably $15 for everything.

 

Did you just tape off everything? It seems like it would take forever

 

Just masked all of the black plastic, took like 20 minutes to mask it using an old magazine and painters tape. I've done a lot of dipping for people so it wasn't really anything new to me.

 

The grill is very easy to remove as well.

 

Just pull the grille off. I think it's a 10mm socket/PH2 phillips screw driver remove all the little plastic "rivets" and pull straight away from the front of the truck while holding the bumper skin where the license plate screws onto.

Viola. Paint and play away.

I used Krylon satin paint with (I think) satin clear... maybe matte clear.

 

You will find people here that are going to tell you they have scuffed and painted the chrome surround and that its holding up well. They are certain that its awesome. Could be but reality is that paint over chrome simply wont last long term no matter what you do. And the surround has a type of real chrome, it isn't a plastic faux chrome. They will misinform you there too. To top it off pretty much anything you buy in a aerosol can may match color and gloss correctly but since it isn't a hardened system (its all either lacquer or uncatalized/unhardened enamel) it will rock and bug chip quicker than a professionally applied coating system. Just buy a color matched grill, sell your chrome one, and never look back. I think Camelback is where folks have been getting a good deal.

 

Ah yes, I did take that grill off to paint it lol. My bad I assumed that was a given.

 

Yeah I wouldn't paint the grille on the truck, too much stuff to go wrong and too many corners to miss.

I did paint the A/C condenser straight on the truck, go figure. Wish I had taped off the headlights and hit the grey backings on those, though. Oh well.

 

Mine holds up quite fine. Has received a few compliments from members here not believing I just rattle canned it. The clear coat was the real final edge to make it look good.

Naysay all you'd like but it sounds like you've never done it.

 

Agreed ^
To be honest, the plastidip I have done has lasted really well, the only issue with it is keeping it clean..

 

Clear + wax to help there. Most folks are surprised at how much of a real maintenance tool a good wax is.

 

I know how to take the grill off I was just wondering if anyone too the actually chrome piece off deprecate from the black housing. I was planing on plasti dipping mine when I get the day off. What is a good gloss coat to cover it?

 

Once you have the full grille piece off flip it over and there's a few screws on the back then several tabs holding it on. Work slowly and deliberately and you'll get it loose without breaking any/too many tabs.

I would recommend a tube of http://eclecticproducts.com/downloads/art/ag-au-3_7floz-cardedtube-US-300dpi-Clear.jpg and spread it liberally around the bottom of all of the tabs as a reinforcement tool for the plastic once you have the chrome surround off. Let the goop dry fully before doing anything with it.

I sanded the chrome with like... 220?+ until the luster was fully gone. I used actual paint though not plastidip. I know with plastidip the technique is usually to keep it smooth so you can easily remove if need be. That's your call...

I painted several times, wet sanded once, painted again. Then after 15/20m on the last black coat hit it with clear paint of the same variety. A few coats of that at 10-15m intervals and she was goosed. Let her dry up, stick it all together, and bolt her back on.

 

I did it when I was in my teens and twenties and broke as fuk and didn't know any better. Eventually I painted cars professionally for several years. I have laid down everything from amazing custom show car quality laquer and urethane print jobs to cheap blast and go enamel on heavy equipment. And early in my current career I did nuclear and industrial coating inspection. I've forgotten more about the science of coating systems and their application than you will probably ever know.

 

Man you sound royally offended I disagree.

I still counter you haven't painted the grille on your truck. To that you cannot refute.

 

I would love to buy a professional painted grill and I have someone who paints but for now I guess this will have to do unless I can find a good deal on an already painted white one

 

It worked for a while, my buddy probably is just pretty lazy.

 

Wax comes off eventually, gotta reapply regularly!

 

Nothing at all wrong with that. Like digitalbravo you can make it look like factory and even better if you take your time. It will look great and be a satisfying project. Just know that it isn't a long term solution.