shoptek

I want to refinish my console plate.
Can anyone suggest any tips or tricks?

Can I use a chemical stripper? Someone repainted it before poorly, and needs to be taked down to bare metal.
What paint should I use?
How would I remove the new paint on the raised chrome border areas highlighted in the pic, or do they make SUPER THIN masking tape?


Replacements are approx. $200, so for me, refinishing mine is the only option.
As always...I appreciate the help








[Modified by shoptek, 6:08 PM 6/27/2004]

checklst

I used a chemical striper gel used for furniture it took the paint off vary easily in about 5 min. I then washed the parts in soap and water and used a vary fine steel wool with the soap and it really shined up the chrome.

I use thin masking tape bought at a local hobby store(R/C cars an Air Planes)the tape was 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 wide, it only took me about 5 min to mask it off. I then used a hardware store primer and finished it off with Mar-Hyde Satin black looks like new.

Maybe someone will chime in about a etching primer because my only gripe is the paint does not hold to the chrome as well as the orgional black (It's ok not great) maybe a etching primer will get a better hold on the slick chrome.

Good Luck and get her done.



[Modified by checklst, 12:42 AM 6/28/2004]

lostpatrolman

For the letters... you can just spray over them and use a razor blade to scrape off the paint once it is dry. Same thing with any of the chrome edges. If you are really tricky, you might want to try rubbing some chap stick on your fingertip then dab the raised letters. The paint will not hold on to the chap stick and once the paint is all dry you should be able to just wipe it all off. Im not sure about etchers. I just primed the chrome first, seems to be holding fine so far. I have not tried scratchign to though to see how durable it truely is.

Tom73

I just used lacquer thinner on mine, took the old paint right off. Then I sprayed it with Kryon paint. For the chrome accents I used a cloth dipped in thinner and wiped the paint off. For detail areas I used a razorblade.

tom...

shoptek

ALL EXCELLENT TIPS!!!!!


Thank you all, and keep 'em coming

litevette

Once stripped, you can also apply vasoline to all the lettering with a modelers brush. Once thouroughly dry, you can just wipe the paint off.

On smaller items (badges & such) you don't even need to block the letters. Once you strip the peice, place it upright (area to be painted flat & level), dip a modelers brush into the desired color of modelers enamel and let it drip off the brush into the area to be painted. As you apply more enamel it will form around the letters & such on its own. The enamel is good stuff and won't chip as easily.
Good Luck with it!

80TexasC3

I recently read an article on doing this and getting like new results. Do a search from GOOGLE.com and see if it is on the web. I'll take a look through my recent magazines.

LemansBlue68

SEM trim black is just the right amount of gloss. Paint the whole thing. Don't bother masking. Use a razor blade to scrape the paint off the chrome and the letters. The razor blade will give you the sharpest lines between the chrome and the black.

ddecart

I did mine a few years ago. Looks great now. Used a chemical spray-on stripper. Came in an orange&white can. From either lowes or Home Depot.

Anyhow, strip, clean the stripper off, prime, srape the chrome with a razor, paint, scrape the chrome with a razor. Works great. I used a satin black. Looks good enough for me. I don;t think anyone other than an NCRS judge is going to question the color.

shoptek

Thanks everyone

I'll get started with stripping it today!!

Skipple

Agree with all said on stripping .... and topcoat. My "trick" on the chrome bits was to wipe them afterwards with a Q-tip dipped in Laq. thinner. You'll go thru a bunch of them ... but it gives you great control and allows for sharp edges without worrying about scraping the chrome. Use the side of the swab for best results.

Chuck Harmon

I cleaned/prepped the plate as described above using very thin masking tape too. For the letters and any other place where the paint shouldn't have been I found that my finger nails worked very well. Once the plate looked like it should, I fired up my wife's oven to about 300 degrees and baked the paint on for about 45 minutes. Smells Great and makes the paint stick very tight.

Chuck

Tom73

You like to live dangerously Was she home while this was going on? Or is she totaly unaware of what is happening in her kitchen?