Painting external plastic bits

[96mn12]

Any suggestions on what type/brand/etc paint to use? I need to paint the fog surround from a turbo-x (dark chrome, gunmetal) to the regular chrome/silver.

I only get one shot at it, so I need to be absolutely sure of it.

Any ideas suggestion are appreciated.

thanks

[Nijee]

Interesting, I have been thinking of going the other way, painting my grille surrounds etc the same as a TX but could never get an exact colour match. I have also tried to get "chrome" paint and it is just not available that is a good match for the standard finish on the OEM parts. I have a TX foglight surround at home that I tested with some chrome paint and it comes out like the rear valance trim on the boot - fairly flat, no shine.

In the US you may have some more choices as my research showed from just googling "chrome paint" heaps of options. Good luck as I gave up in frustration. Even went to smash repairer's supplier of automotive paints - no luck. They did have something that was like $200 for 100mls.

[9-3gotboostAERO]

I use rustoleum paint for plastic. works great and easy

[zmccoy777]

I used rostoleum on my rims I prepped them and everything and they came out looking like I took them and had them pro painted.

[96mn12]

Thanks guys, any particular type? I checked the rustoleum site and they have a "rustoleum for plastic" and "paint for plastic spray"...

Did you use the clear or primer? Or just paint over the color area?

[Gs04aero]

Paint can always be removed and repainted so why do you only get one shot at it?

Paint brand doesn't matter. Your prep work is what matters. You can buy the best paint you can find but if you just take the surround off and spray it with paint it won't look good or last at all. Need to prep the plastic and you should be fine with any paint you buy.

[96mn12]

Originally Posted by Gs04aero

Paint can always be removed and repainted so why do you only get one shot at it?

Paint brand doesn't matter. Your prep work is what matters. You can buy the best paint you can find but if you just take the surround off and spray it with paint it won't look good or last at all. Need to prep the plastic and you should be fine with any paint you buy.

well of course i do plan on proper prep, but i dont want to get into a situation where i need to prep+paint+scrape and redo it if I screw up, certainly would not like to sand off too much material.

[zmccoy777]

The one I had gotten came with the primer. It made my rims really shinny but I threw a heavey coat at the end to get a good satin color out of it.

[Gs04aero]

Originally Posted by 96mn12

well of course i do plan on proper prep, but i dont want to get into a situation where i need to prep+paint+scrape and redo it if I screw up, certainly would not like to sand off too much material.

Well as long as you have good prep if you don't like the color you can just sand it and paint over the silver you don't like and redo. I think you'll be fine with whatever brand. Find the color you want and go for it.

[96mn12]

Originally Posted by Gs04aero

Well as long as you have good prep if you don't like the color you can just sand it and paint over the silver you don't like and redo. I think you'll be fine with whatever brand. Find the color you want and go for it.

what grit do you recommend?

[Gs04aero]

Originally Posted by 96mn12

what grit do you recommend?

I think most paints recommend 400grit for the paint to bite to

[Nijee]

Are you after the shiny chrome finish like on the std grille surrounds and Aero foglight surrounds? I am not sure you can get it with the existing paint products out there as I explained above.

Also are you wanting to change your grille surrounds to the chrome finish as well? If so, I would be willing to swap you mine if yours are already TX colour. I have a set of TX foglight surrounds as well but they have been painted satin black .

[96mn12]

Originally Posted by Nijee

Are you after the shiny chrome finish like on the std grille surrounds and Aero foglight surrounds? I am not sure you can get it with the existing paint products out there as I explained above.

Also are you wanting to change your grille surrounds to the chrome finish as well? If so, I would be willing to swap you mine if yours are already TX colour. I have a set of TX foglight surrounds as well but they have been painted satin black .

Nijee yes i am after the chrome finish standard on the aero. The left fog grille is the only one in the darker color for the TX. The rest are the standard chrome shiny silver color. Thanks for the offer, but i think shipping would be prohibitely expensive. Worse case i take it to a body shop and have them spray it since they can get the exact color match...

[katanamaster]

Have you thought about using plasti-dip?

[96mn12]

Originally Posted by katanamaster

Have you thought about using plasti-dip?

I'll look if they have it in the same color/finish as the OE aero silver chrome...

And strike 6... no silver color... I have no idea how to create the chrome out of 6 colors: black, white, yellow, red, clear and blue...

[9-3tea]

Originally Posted by 96mn12

I'll look if they have it in the same color/finish as the OE aero silver chrome...

And strike 6... no silver color... I have no idea how to create the chrome out of 6 colors: black, white, yellow, red, clear and blue...

I'm pretty sure rustoleum sells a chrome color spray

[96mn12]

Originally Posted by 9-3tea

I'm pretty sure rustoleum sells a chrome color spray

I did see a couple in silver, not sure how bright though. I think that a combination of primer+ silver and clear gloss should get pretty close to the OE finish.