RynoSmellsDyno

i was thinking plasti dip for the trim would be fine but how well would the dip hold up on the handles being that it peels off so easily?
i already know im gonna black out the grille with the dip but just looking for any other strategies or ways to do the other chrome pieces that is cost friendly and durable.

also if anyone has pictues of their chrome covered that would be great to see!

i have the dark grey tl 2003 with black rims, tinted tail lights, tinted front turn signal with eyelids, black caliper and rotor, black grille, and the chrome trim and handles are just pissing me off.

3.2TLc

Powder coat.

RynoSmellsDyno

i do understand thats the most durrable solution but in fact the most costly.

i guess im just looking for confirmation that other applications can hold up. even if i have to redo a plastidip job every 3 months thats okay for me. but will it even last 3 months on a door handle?

or is there other paints more permanant i can use that i could also remove in the future? with say a pint thinner or something? will that damage anything?

this is after all a DIY project that im not looking for the out most best results. just something to black out the chrome.

cincinattlguy19

Well if you think about it, the only surface that you really use on a door handle is the back and underside! The whole front side remains untouched under normal circumstances! I would say plastidip would hold up just fine! I did my B pillars and window trim about 6 months ago and it has held up really well!

RynoSmellsDyno

Thanks for your input, I was looking to do the pillars also cause my car was egged about a year ago and the sun like baked on the egg and it stained the black on the pillars to make it look whitish. Dam kids!

fsttyms1

Plastidip will hold up just fine. If it holds up great on rims it will hold up well there. I would take the handles off so you can get the dip to wrap around to the back side so that its stronger.

That or i would wrap them in vinyl.

Nicks2001tl

Plasti dip will fail at some point especially on the door handles (keys in your hand etc.)


You can lightly sand them and put on a self etching primer and spray them whatever color you like.

RynoSmellsDyno

Taking the handles off would be ideal but how much work is that. I know how to take the door panel off cause of the speakers but never even looked at the door handle assembly. I know it just sounds like something I shouldn't mess with. But getting under the door handle without taking them off is something that continues to puzzle me. I'm not sure I want to sand the handles. But do u have pictures of how that turns out?

Nicks2001tl

I sanded down the pillars and sprayed them with a black gloss prime/paint combo and they turned out very nice.


My door handles are all scratched up and going to do the same thing with them. Sand them down and paint them silver. Tape off just the handle with a lot of newspaper and you should be good to go.

RynoSmellsDyno

i would use a black paint but may i ask what paint you would use for this? and also i assume getting completely under the handle isnt as necessary with paint as it would be plastidip. so like you said i can just leave the handles on the car right?

fsttyms1

With them being plastic plated chrome i would soak them in bleach to etch it/remove the chrome first. Even with lightly sanding, unless you get it all off self etching primer wont adhere properly

fsttyms1

Once the door panel is off its pretty straight forward and not hard to remove them.

fsttyms1

Its every bit as important. If you dont get the paint under as far as you can you will have a weak point where the paint will weaken and wear. As for what paint, any automotive paint will work. Personally i would get body color. You can get that on line or at local automotive paint stores.

Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

Carbon fiber wrap!

crustyneon

Stick on/carbon fiber wrap seems to be the cheapest and most durable solution IMHO. I'd sand the hell out of them, put several coats of primer, paint, clear coat and buff them, but that's just me.

2ndgentlMike

Hey guys just thought id give my input, i plastidipped all of the chrome trim, door handles, door trim, grille, etc. the only thing that hadnt really held up that well is the handles obviously due to the fact that they are a high touch area. Will post pics if you want

Nicks2001tl

Welcome 2ndgentlmike!


Post some pics of your plasti-dipped chrome. It would give a great example. Door handles are suspect to more wear and tear than the rest of the chrome on the car.

2ndgentlMike

2ndgentlMike

2ndgentlMike

RynoSmellsDyno

Thanks!

2ndgentlMike

the handles look good from a distance but when you're up close you can see the scratch marks, also i made the mistake while painting to not get a good coat underneath the handle and behind so it is peeling in some spots, nothing really major, thats probably the most important thing about the whole process. good luck with whatever you use to cover the chrome.

RynoSmellsDyno

i noticed that if you look under the handle, that there is a good inch on the side of the handle that has no indentation for your fingers. so i was going to hold that handle open utilizing that extra space on the side to get a couple good coats on the inside of the handle. once i actually looked under the handle to see what i was going to be dealing with i got really excited about that extra space that i saw to hold open the handle with out getting in the way of spraying the inside. i probably could have summed that up better now that i read it but ohh well lol!

2ndgentlMike

Yeah just make sure you pay extra extra attention to the handles and get good thick coats all around since they will be touched constantly

93ej1

Honestly, IMO I would use vinyl. It SUPER affordable and will last longer than you own the car. I make vinyl decals so I can attest to this. Plastidip looks cheap. No offense to anyone who has used it. But vinyl will adhere better,longer and look cleaner since it has a shine to it unlike plastidip which is matte. Hell, I'll sell you some vinyl to do that for $5. Use Oracal 651 outdoor 6+ years vinyl and it will come out great. I am going to try that out on my door handles and around the rim of the grille.