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Has any one painted there chrome grill

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Taconick, Mar 10, 2012.

  1. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:18 AM
    #1
    Taconick

    Taconick [OP] Member

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    Just want to know what you used for paint and how does it last.

    Thanks.
     
  2. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:21 AM
    #2
    PVT Pablo

    PVT Pablo

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    I would recommend not to do it. It's extremely hard to get it to look factory and more often than not, you'll end up spending 40 bucks on paint and it looking like crap.

    Just buy a paint matched grill.
     
  3. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:26 AM
    #3
    Pope953

    Pope953 That's a fact Jack!

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    Not necessarily.

    OP it has been done before. Several times on here. Just have to do the right preparations before painting. Here is what I found after a quick search of TW.

    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/195795-painting-chrome-grill-cover.html

    If you would like to see more just click the search button on the tool bar and search it! I found several when I searched it. This is just one to get you started. Don't get discouraged by the above post. It has, and can be done for much cheaper than just buying a new color matched grill.
     
  4. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:27 AM
    #4
    rdd11

    rdd11 Well-Known Member

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    I agree but if you do sand it good and prime it and get the right paint Chances are it won't stick
     
  5. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:30 AM
    #5
    Pope953

    Pope953 That's a fact Jack!

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    Read above post I posted.
     
  6. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:38 AM
    #6
    Bishop2Queens6

    Bishop2Queens6 Well-Known Member

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    Painting a chrome grill is doable, but whenever you paint something 90% of the work is prep.

    The most important part is finding an adhesion promoter to spray the surface before you apply the paint. When you actually apply the paint, do multiple coats, not one fat coat. The multiple coats is where you get your strength and where it doesn't flake. You lay a strong foundation that way.

    OP. It can be done. It's just that a lot of people don't take the correct steps to paint their grill.

    This thread will be most helpful:
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/117163-painting-grille.html#post2255957
     
  7. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:45 AM
    #7
    LUSETACO

    LUSETACO Here for the Taco Pron

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    Yes
    ^^^This. You can also look into getting a Partsgeek.com grill to paint. They're about $40 and come in unpainted plastic ready to paint.
     
  8. Mar 10, 2012 at 9:48 AM
    #8
    Fightnfire

    Fightnfire Recklessly tired

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    There - Over there
    Their - Ownership, "their chrome grill"
    They're - They are
     
  9. Mar 10, 2012 at 10:02 AM
    #9
    Stew

    Stew Well-Known Member

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    when I purchased my truck the previous owner had spray painted the chrome grille and bumper. It was flaking like hell and I couldn't stand it so I decided to redo it. I used spray in bed liner in a can for the metal on the bumper and plasti dip for the grille since its plastic. Also if you don't like the plasti dip you can peel it off. It has been about 2 months with no scratches or chips even after off road use the only thing about it I dislike is if you leave mud on it for any period of time (1 week for me) the plasti dip shows faint traces of the splatter. Also I could only find plasti dip in black. SO if you're going to paint it black you may be better off just buying an all black grille.

    Like this from rockauto.com
    VARIOUS MFR Part # TO1200250 {#5310004250C0}
    w/o S-Runner; matte-black; Assembly

    $30.79
    Add Part
     
  10. Mar 10, 2012 at 10:27 AM
    #10
    adrstout

    adrstout Well-Known Member

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    I used plasti dip on all the chrome pieces: grill, rear bumper, and the badges. Seemed to work well. I'd post a picture but it's too time consuming on my phone.
     
  11. Mar 10, 2012 at 10:43 AM
    #11
    07TaCo07

    07TaCo07 Well-Known Member

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    I did mine last year and now it's flaking off. Definitely use adhesion promoter. I couldn't find and the parts that didn't get sanded as good flake now. Also the paint that I got from napa was far off from factory color.
     
  12. Mar 10, 2012 at 10:47 AM
    #12
    bluefish

    bluefish overkill is underrated

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    or, redneck - as in "them thar hills"
     
  13. Mar 10, 2012 at 12:41 PM
    #13
    FoundOffRoadDead

    FoundOffRoadDead whiptastic handling

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    I just took mine off then primed it and sprayed it with the right kind of paint.
    Make sure you get off all the dirt road grime and every thing. Then use some thing like goof off. witch remove dead bug's and stuff. Make sure that it's warm out side when you do it also...
    At first your primer will run a little but let it dry try to even it out with a blow dryer. Then keep going. Mine came out grate!

    Photo0310.jpg
    Photo0319.jpg
     
  14. Mar 10, 2012 at 4:23 PM
    #14
    adrstout

    adrstout Well-Known Member

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    Here is my grill plasti dipped black.

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Mar 10, 2012 at 4:36 PM
    #15
    Spoonman

    Spoonman Granite Guru

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    depends on your color. i went to canadian tire and picked up some reguar white spray paint. a little prep work, and some primer, i think i turned out pretty well.

    also did my "T" logo black with plastidip.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Mar 10, 2012 at 10:25 PM
    #16
    deceitfulfate55

    deceitfulfate55 Well-Known Member

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    if you have access to a pressure washer you can fairly easily dechrome your grill and then you prep and paint it like you would paint any plastic part.

    check this thread out, not many people know of this trick yet, i have used this method with success. just takes a little time. Catch an edge of the chrome and it starts peeling off of the grill.

    MXscott14 gets credit for this one.
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/181148-grill-de-chroming.html
     
  17. Mar 11, 2012 at 8:37 PM
    #17
    MXscott14

    MXscott14 Bartle Do Member

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    use my method! lol works excellent DO NOT PAINT OVER CHROME idc how good of paint you use, it will flake, go to the link, thanks for the cred man.
     
  18. Mar 11, 2012 at 8:46 PM
    #18
    ETaco23

    ETaco23 Marshall offroad Fabrication

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    No! get a good rubbing compound like maguires, and go over it a few times until smooth, then do a good coat of wax...
    the rubbing compound will smooth out the surface and get rid of that rough orange peel feel to the paint.
     
  19. Mar 11, 2012 at 8:53 PM
    #19
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    +1...

    Find someone with a base model that wants chrome and sell your chrome grille to him.
    You can buy a paint-matched grille from Toyota of Dallas for under $220 shipped.

    Or trade grilles with someone local with a base model and have the base unpainted grilled matched.
     
  20. Mar 11, 2012 at 8:55 PM
    #20
    MXscott14

    MXscott14 Bartle Do Member

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