Painting the Grille

I see where a few others have painted their grille rather than buy the oem or knockoff model. I would like to totally black mine out. I am curious about how to prep the grill for painting, and the best paint. I know it can be touched up later but "right" the first time would be far better. Is anyone roughing the surface with steel wool to improve adhesion? Also, what about getting the surface really clean? Washing it in gas? Last thing is what paint? Some spray paint cans are marked that they are good for plastic.

 

Search for plastidip or derping

 

+1 on plastidip. Wash the grille with soap and water, dry it real good, 4 or 5 coats of dip should be fine. If it chips later on, just touch up, the dip will blend in with itself. Helpful tip: keep can of plastidip in bucket of hot water between coats and shake can well.

 

Don't paint it, it,'s a waste of time and money. It will get chipped up easily and you won't be happy. Need to scuff it up with gray piece of pad use Bulldog adhesive reactor ,denatured alcohol and paint about $50 and your time 3 hours, get Line-X done, one time about a$150. I painted mine first ,was a happy when go all chipped up,then ended up getting Lennox

 

Thanks for the tip. I can see where the plastidip would be less prone to chipping than paint. What about that spray on bed liner you can get in a can at the auto parts store or wally-world?

 

I'm not sure what kind of prep would be needed for the bedliner to hold. Pretty sure some scuffing would need to be done. Plastidip is reversible, if you decide you dont like it, peel it off, no damage to the grille.

 

Plastdip has held on just fine after a year on my truck. No chips, no peeling. 1 can and all I did was wash the grill down soap and water no sanding or what not.

 

If you liked it then you should have put a derp on it

 

That sounds pretty good. Perhaps better than using the spray on bed liner.

 

Why not just buy the grill off of a lowly, unappreciated Tacoma SR?

 

I assume it would be cost prohibitive. Recently I needed a mudflap for my 2003 TRD and it was about $100. Got one from NAPA auto parts for $13 and cut it to fit.

 

Plasti-dip for the win...!!!!

Did mine 1 1/2 yrs ago..... No signs of chipping or anything.... and it's REVERSIBLE....!!

 

One other possibility. The parts store and wally world sell a rubberized spray that is designed to go in wheel wells and on the undercarriage as a sound dampener. It hardens but not hard enough to chip easily. I have used it on the bottom half of my canoe paddles to protect and seal them and it holds up pretty well. A plus is that it is matte black/dull satin with a little texture and would look good. Any chance anyone has tried this stuff on a grille?

 

Never heard of it.... post a link to it...ok?

 

I am a bit of a geezer and do not know how to do a link. However if you google "rust-oleum undercoating" or 3M pro grade undercoating you should find it. [Add a link] It is good stuff.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Oleum-Rubberized-Undercoating/16816070
Ok, I think this should take you to the product

 

Do they make Plasti dip in multiple colors? paint the grill black and do the Toyota logo in White or what ever color you choose?

 

I agree with plastidip. I did my emblems and it looks great. The best part about it is that you can undo it later on with no effect on the original material.

 

I've seen multiple colors at Walmart.

 

I dipped my grille...
Real Pro Grille HYDRODIPPED in Multicam Black