i've just finished talking to both body shops that i normall deal with, and they are both saying that there is no good way to paint the chrome handles to get proper adhesion.
i was able to get the chrome window trim painted with no isssues in a black. but i cant go about it the same way with the FPR paint.

i was wondering if anyone had done it with success to maybe give me some insight on how to go about it so i can pass it on to my painter.

any and all help is greatly appreciated. any steps closer to removing this cheap looking horrible chrome is a step in the right direction for me.

thanks azine
-matt-

 

I was thinking about doing that too but not sure how it'll look. Matching door handles would look weird with my color though...white.

However the bodyshop that I normally visit said they could do it but like you said the adhesion would be the thing to work around. Not sure how that'll work.

 

In the Lexan fog light DIY didn't Rajca use this airplane paint stripper that removed the chrome?

And he painted the housing silver or something

Maybe you can remove the chrome and have the shop paint the handles

 

ummmmmm have them sand down the chrome to tthe plastic..... im sure paint adhesion works on plastic

 

"ummmmmmm"

i appreciate the enthusiasm.. but this will create downtime on the car b/c we would then have to remove all of the handles to sand.. no handles = no driving the car.

we were going to do a surface spray with the handles lodged open. thus only taking the car out of commission for 6 hours or so.

i know there is a chemical to remove chrome plating but its rediculously priced.

 

if you want it done right youd think about doing it the right way and not "half assing" it

 

search gave me nothing.. link anyone?

 

well i wasnt aware there was a "right way" to do it considering paint shops normally just order plastic handles or suggest you get the (option) painted handles from the dealer... in which this case, there is neither...

and surface paint is all you need on door handles.. whats the point of painting the back of the handle?

this is not a half-ass attempt. the problem is removing chrome. and from what your saying, you can just sand it off. which i've never heard of anyone doing...
i think there is some risk when sanding metals as well.. some toxic respiratory issue..

 

 

Heres the DIY:

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/lexan-fog-light-fix-painted-fog-lights-diy-694354/

And I agree, sanding chrome may be dangerous if you're not careful.

 

And about the downtime, you could remove the chrome on your time. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours from the looks of the DIY. Then put the handles back on and let the shop spray it in place?

 

thanks for the link...

they found some solution like this to use that will work.. said sanding is unnecessarry, just some scrubbing.

btw.. the handles arent chromed all the way around from the factory Acura_TL_02, just surface.... but hey, i guess they half assed it too!

btw everyone.. i just read up a little on sanding metal surfaces such as chrome... anyone attempting to do so should proceed with extreme caution.. the dust created from sanding can be very harmful.

 

No problem. Good luck with it

I actually just looked at my car and I kinda like the chrome handles.
But...I might change my mind in a few years when they fade and shit

 

i dont know but when had my fogs opened up, the chrome was real easy to come off and flaky. if anything the chrome is prob plated the same way the front emblem is. try it and see how it goes, i plan on just sanding it and use a promoter to make it stick. my front grill wing is still holding up and thats getting hits from rocks

 

i wish ^

the plating on the grille wings you can basically peel off with your fingernails.. the coat on the door handles is built for key abuse among other things.. its laid on pretty thick...

 

I dont what why you guys are say there will be a problem sanding it down, I believe its not real chrome, its just chrome plating over steel. Like the inside door handles, thats typical honda plating which peels over time. I too have thought about doing this but cant decided how it would look, I dont want to make my car look cheaper.

 

^^ the inside handles peel very easily like the grille.. the outside have taken a few blows from a screwdriver to test its thickness.. it just scratches it.. we've been fooling with it all week.. the shop said the stripper crap works the best...

i'll probably end up painting the interior ones as well as the white plastic is showing on both passenger sides...

only thing i think looks cheap is when they put black plastic handles on the lower grade trims on like civics and accords... i've always like body matched.. its a shame they didnt give the option at the dealer for ours.. i definatly would bought them already

 

oh, and the decision was a little easier considering the A-Specs have color matched handles... they look great imo

 

care to share what steps you took to painting the chrome window lining? what paint did you use?

 

So the car can sit for 6 hours with them lodged open and cant sit the same time taking them out to sand properly?? How would you do it other wise? You still have to sand them normally for paint to adhere correctly. Take the time to do it right and take them off, sand them and paint them

 

ANd the stuff on the grill is weaker because sand and rocks arent as damaging

As for sanding it as long as you wear a face mask or do it outside there is nothing to worry about.

 

Oh and ill be painting mine in a few weeks when i paint my trunk and hood.

 

^feel better? lol

they are stripping the chrome off with some metal finish stuff similar to the link posted up above.. scuffing** accordingly after.. and painting.. did you read my post?

and as for removing them.. its just extra work.. the paint will hit the handles the same way open as it would sitting on a stand off of the car. i trust them to do a good job, always have.

as far as the grille.. have you seen how thin it is? i wasnt saying it was supposed to be weaker.. but the fact is... it is.. it peels like crazy at the first rock chip.. door handles on the other hand are not.. dont see what was confusing about that..

edit: they also are using the adhesive stuff for the paint on the handles once they are down to the plastic..

 

also post pics when yours are done. i wanna know if mine werent done "right" or up to par. b/c then i'll have reason to doubt my guys and ask they do it again with them off the car

 

a simple cleaning, primering, and gloss black ready mixed paint from dupont... the area doesnt see enough action to justify removing the chrome on it.

the handles on the other hand i would worry about them chipping, peeling etc.
so im letting my shop do it.

 

im painting mine soon and would like to know the exact process.

 

please post pics, both of you

 

triple post just to continue the trend

 

I've always hated the chrome around the window and the chrome door handles as well. But since I have an SSM and its not too noticeable, I've never bothered with it.

The '03 CL had color matching door handles. I read somewhere on here a while back that they're interchangeable with the '02/'03 TL door handles (not sure what the differences are b/w '99-'01 and '02/'03 door handles in terms of dimensions).

Maybe you can find some '03 CL door handles and paint those. Goodluck.

 

wow

 

they come painted wen you order them from acura. you can just buy the painted ones for the cl.

 

i was thing about doin the same.... i was thinkin of going to this sticker shop by my house and see if they have any vinyl to match ABP but i doubt it......... so if no vinyl then i guess im on the road to painting them with you my good man lol

 

im guessing they dont sell the a spec door handles anymore?

 

^i believe you have to be a canadian aspec owner to get ahold of any aspec parts from acura

 

well that sucks..

 

yea. they ask for vin number and everything.

 

Did the A-spec TL's have body matching handles?

 

^look at post 18..

 

Nope, not yet...

Id prefer to remove them, less taping and worrying about damaging the body during the prep.

Yep i have seen how thin it is, my chrome never peeled (sanded down at 150ish k to paint.

A additive is a good idea if its available (not always avail to the DIY'ers)

 

Ahh, reading pwned me there. I just looked at the pic