Help spray painting XM7 grills

[mikenehrkorn]

I used Rustoleum too. Did you use the same can on both sprays?

Yep -- the only thing I can think of is that the first coat wasn't completely cured, because the first coat didn't really have any cracking just a few thin spots that I didn't thoroughly cover.

If you want to start from scratch you can douse the grills with oven cleaner and put them in a zip lock bag - after a few hours the old paint should lift off with some light scrubbing.

I've also read that Pine Sol (similar product ingredients to oven cleaner?) also work pretty well for removing spray paint. I will give that a try and then make sure I get a good cover with the first coat this time!!

[MLA]

How did you actually prep the plastic chrome dipped grills? You need to take that chrome off, clean the grill, then prime with a primer thats intended for plastic. Once primed and cured, lightly scuff and then coat with a quality gloss thats intended for plastic. I would suggest the SEM automotive brand.

[bergermaister]

I second that. SEM is good chit. Spendy but good.

[mikenehrkorn]

How did you actually prep the plastic chrome dipped grills? You need to take that chrome off, clean the grill, then prime with a primer thats intended for plastic. Once primed and cured, lightly scuff and then coat with a quality gloss thats intended for plastic. I would suggest the SEM automotive brand.

All I did was clean the grills, I didn't attempt to remove the chrome.

[jmvotto]

How did you actually prep the plastic chrome dipped grills? You need to take that chrome off, clean the grill, then prime with a primer thats intended for plastic. Once primed and cured, lightly scuff and then coat with a quality gloss thats intended for plastic. I would suggest the SEM automotive brand.

if you take the chrome off wont they be Black ???

[mikenehrkorn]

if you take the chrome off wont they be Black ???

LOL......very good point, maybe all my problems will be solved!!!

[MLA]

I think they are an opaque/cream colored plastic. Ive never taken the chrome off, but seen a few that had worn/faded. Thats chrome is way t slick to stick.

[Brianinpdx]

I skimmed through this thread and everyone has given the proper advice. It's very simple to paint.

1 - scuff the chrome surface
2 - pick a paint thats good (SEM coat is a great paint and 20 bucks a can).
3 - spray two coats.

done!

I have a hunch that you used a paint that had a funky reaction to the finished surface. Or the paint might not have been shaken enough and had issues out of the spray bottle. Either way - just scuff the grills and hit them with SEM coat and you'll be golden.

-Brian / Exile

[mikenehrkorn]

I realized last night what probably went wrong....I painted them in the garage and left them there overnight to dry -- our temps are now getting down into the low 40s at night and I'm guessing that is what caused the cracking.

[beat taco]

I like all of these. I always wipe down withe sem solve and on plastic I always use adhesion promoter.
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My quad grill that was once blue painted a few years ago and eaten lots of sand:
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