Anyone paint their engine cover??
09-03-2012, 02:01 PM
#121
Looks very nice JayVee.
Just a tip though, there is a MUCH easier way to paint the raised lettering.
Step 1: Paint the whole piece with your lettering color (in your case teal)
Step 2: Cover the face of the lettering with masking tape:
Step 3: Use an xacto knife to cut the tape around the lettering (pretty easy).
Step 4: spray your base color (in your case black).
Step 5: remove masking.
Just a tip though, there is a MUCH easier way to paint the raised lettering.
Step 1: Paint the whole piece with your lettering color (in your case teal)
Step 2: Cover the face of the lettering with masking tape:
Step 3: Use an xacto knife to cut the tape around the lettering (pretty easy).
Step 4: spray your base color (in your case black).
Step 5: remove masking.
This isn't easy when I plasti'd my grill I tried it and it is nearly impossible to get it 100% perfect with an xacto and painters tape you will ALWAYS miss the one small piece that ruins the look up close.
But of course from 5 feet away it looks like it came from the factory.
09-03-2012, 02:58 PM
#122
Racer
This isn't easy when I plasti'd my grill I tried it and it is nearly impossible to get it 100% perfect with an xacto and painters tape you will ALWAYS miss the one small piece that ruins the look up close.
But of course from 5 feet away it looks like it came from the factory.
But of course from 5 feet away it looks like it came from the factory.
I can imagine it wouldn't work well with plastidip, since that requires some different masking techniques than paint in order to get a clean edge. Also, what part of the grill were you trying to mask, the emblem?
09-03-2012, 06:21 PM
#123
Yeah, I've done this myself. I find the easiest way to do lettering is to spray the lettering color first and the base color last.
I don't have any pics of doing the process myself, but here's some pics of how it works. It's pretty well known in the Civic community. It works very well for making the small raised lettering on valve covers a different color than the cover itself.
Step 1, you start with the whole piece in whatever color you want your lettering color to be, in this case it's bare metal. In your case the whole thing would be painted teal. (Not my pics, but the same process)
Step 2, tape up the areas you don't want the base color to cover, like your lettering. This is actually pretty easy, you just lay the tape over the whole thing and use a knife to cut in the relief around the edges.
Step 3: Spray base color.
Remove masking:
By the way, I'm not trying to criticize your technique or expertise. I have some experience with painting engine parts and I've even a few full paint jobs on 1:1 cars, including custom work and color changes. In doing so I've learned a few tricks and I though I would share one.
I don't have any pics of doing the process myself, but here's some pics of how it works. It's pretty well known in the Civic community. It works very well for making the small raised lettering on valve covers a different color than the cover itself.
Step 1, you start with the whole piece in whatever color you want your lettering color to be, in this case it's bare metal. In your case the whole thing would be painted teal. (Not my pics, but the same process)
Step 2, tape up the areas you don't want the base color to cover, like your lettering. This is actually pretty easy, you just lay the tape over the whole thing and use a knife to cut in the relief around the edges.
Step 3: Spray base color.
Remove masking:
By the way, I'm not trying to criticize your technique or expertise. I have some experience with painting engine parts and I've even a few full paint jobs on 1:1 cars, including custom work and color changes. In doing so I've learned a few tricks and I though I would share one.
But... Apples and Oranges compared to the ACURA TL cover. As I was saying before, it would NOT work. For example, cutting the double edged circle on the ACURA logo. When cutting one side is fine, when it comes time to cut the other side would cause the problem of the tape possibly being pulled from the cut side ruining the edge. I honestly believe your technique would require quite some skill. Def not for the avg Joe and tackling this project
09-04-2012, 11:23 AM
#130
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
09-04-2012, 12:31 PM
#131
Looks good. Very clean. But I am leaning with STEVE on this one... 
I thought when u were texting me for tips and advice, I thought u were going to do something a lil more to POP! Any color would have done...But black on black on black... 
MAN UP! 
I thought when u were texting me for tips and advice, I thought u were going to do something a lil more to POP! Any color would have done...But black on black on black... MAN UP!
09-04-2012, 02:10 PM
#134
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
Why didn't you leave the engine cover Teal?
Now you have to change your Avatar.....
Now you have to change your Avatar.....
I am lost...
09-04-2012, 02:28 PM
#137
IDK...But I think the TEAL is already "Yellowing" from my hood liner. Perhaps from Oil, dirt and grime. There is one button tab missing from my liner, who just so happen to be immediately above the right side of the engine cover raised hump near the TB. Both sides of that hump seem to be getting stained. Although, light...very noticeable to me. This also strikes a concern when doing my brake calipers. Is this color and paint that sensitive? I thought this was to withstand being applied on a engine block and all that comes with that. Idk? 
09-04-2012, 02:28 PM
#138
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
09-04-2012, 03:21 PM
#139
Chapter Leader (Midwest Region)
IDK...But I think the TEAL is already "Yellowing" from my hood liner. Perhaps from Oil, dirt and grime. There is one button tab missing from my liner, who just so happen to be immediately above the right side of the engine cover raised hump near the TB. Both sides of that hump seem to be getting stained. Although, light...very noticeable to me. This also strikes a concern when doing my brake calipers. Is this color and paint that sensitive? I thought this was to withstand being applied on a engine block and all that comes with that. Idk?
I used High Temp white paint and High Temp clear. at first I thought it was from the heat but I did my little brembo covers the same way and they started to turn. I thought it might have been an issue with the paint, so I tried Krylon fusion and it did the same thing, even before I introduced them to heat. I have no Idea what to do now short of doing a different color, or Hydro-dipping them.
Any thoughts or suggestions anyone? I thought someone here suggested real automotive paint and clear, but that can be a little pricey
09-04-2012, 03:31 PM
#140
BANNED
iTrader: (33)
^www.automotivetouchup.com
that is what i use on anything with high heat and it's been great. pricey, but it lasts and looks spectacular.
that is what i use on anything with high heat and it's been great. pricey, but it lasts and looks spectacular.
09-04-2012, 05:16 PM
#144
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
The following users liked this post:
Undying Dreams (01-11-2013)
09-04-2012, 06:57 PM
#147
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
The following users liked this post:
Undying Dreams (04-12-2013)
09-04-2012, 07:59 PM
#150
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
mmmmmmmm
09-04-2012, 08:46 PM
#153
Team Owner
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO (Overland Park, KS)
Posts: 36,545
Received 6,470 Likes
on
5,162 Posts
Wow, very nice. Well done sir!
09-04-2012, 08:59 PM
#155
I Like turtles
iTrader: (4)
Like jay said
Used a q tip and put vasoline on all the letters then painted and cleared over it. Used an exacto knife and cut the outlines and the black came right up perfectly
Used a q tip and put vasoline on all the letters then painted and cleared over it. Used an exacto knife and cut the outlines and the black came right up perfectly
The following users liked this post:
Eros168 (10-14-2013)
The following users liked this post:
GeeteeDan (09-04-2012)
The following 2 users liked this post by McCollins23:
GeeteeDan (09-09-2012),
Undying Dreams (01-11-2013)
The following users liked this post:
JayVee (09-10-2012)