Grille painting gone wrong, need help for fix!

Ok, dumb move on my part... I have been painting my grille all day and had a beautiful thing going on. Got to the last coat and figured since the sun was out I would let it cure in the sun room. Well Murphy got the best of me and it took a tumble. Face down. I took it back to the garage and covered the messed up areas but obviously they are really visible.

I know I can't do anything until the paint is fully cured and when it is there will be loads of sanding to do. What is the best grit to start with. I was using a gloss acrylic based spray.

 

Was this a chrome/metal grill?

 

Just the stock chrome plastic 2016 TRD grill

 

Jake!With the amount of physical labor you're going to have to put into that grill a suggestion is purchase a new one if funds permit!Plasti Dip would of been a better alternative on the chrome plastic instead of paint on the plastic without prepping it first(sanding)!Once again and good luck!

 

If I was back in the states I would definitely look at just buying a new one but with having to pay crazy shipping as it is for anything that comes in the mail I'm going to have to go the long route. Such a dumb move!

 

To answer your question, 300 grit or higher. Use water with it, don't dry sand this issue.

It will take much longer with the higher grit paper but you'll keep the integrity of the original plastic in check.

 

Thanks for the starting point, how far up the grit ladder should I go?

 

Looking at it a 360 is where I would start. I'd see what your local hardware store has and stay around those grit ranges. The water will be the biggest part of this whole thing, higher the grit with the water the more time and smoothness it creates.

Most folks are limited on fine grit paper like that but a Home Depot or the like 'should' carry around that 300 range.

 

You can recover it!Just patience and time!@Hondah posted good suggestions!

 

Ok cool, I'll have to see what I can find here. Don't really have a Home Depot or Lowes over here. Haha. Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah, that might hamstring this issue for you. Even a Scotch pad will probably do a good job for you. You can get those at a grocery store in the cleaning section. Same rules apply wet pad will keep it smooth but take longer.

 

That's what I suspected. The chrome finish doesn't hold paint. Gotta rough it up pretty good!

 

Please tell me you primered it with self etching prime before you painted it.

 

I think the picture is statement enough that the OP didn't.

 

Don't think the flaw has anything to do with primer. He said it tumbled and landed face down. Looks like the contact where it fell is the cause of the damage.

 

This is correct, with or without primer, it landed face down while still tacky... When I pulled it back off the paper it pulled most of the paint up and left some of the paper. This isn't my first rodeo here, just the first time I've had to extensively fix paint.

Regardless of what's been laid down I just need to level out the damage and go from there. I was just trying to figure out the best place to start.

Going on and on about what was or wasn't done doesn't really help at this point. Thanks for stopping by though.

 

Ive done the same, but with badges. Like you previously said, make sure it is thoroughly dry. I made that mistake. And the previous suggestions seem like a good place to start. Take your time, any edge/ripple will definitely show. I painted a badge in about 4 attempts once due to being impatient or thinking the sanding/prep was "good enough". Good luck with it. Should look great when finished.

 

Have you thought about paint thinner and removing all of the paint and starting over ?

 

Or let it cure and sad the area that looks like shit smooth and try to re painot to it

That's what I'd do before I'd rushare out and buy a new grill. And if you do buy a new grill get the tRd pro