Styling Front Grille Vinyl & Paint

1zer0 · Jul 1, 2009

I know it's been done to hell, but after a search and looking on the 'guides' section i haven't found a difinitive answer.

I want to spray my top and bottom grille gloss/satin black and vinyl the middle bit gloss/satin black again.

I have no idea what is involved with the painting i.e. primer or whatever. can i just get a spray can of black and spray the grilles? also, where can i get the vinyl and is there a specific type? I thought maybe signmakers or car decal places? I also saw someone used Halfords windscreen sun visor thing (i forget the name)? does it need to be 'weatherproof' or anything?

Thanks in advance,

sh4dow · Jul 1, 2009

1zer0 said:
I know it's been done to hell, but after a search and looking on the 'guides' section i haven't found a difinitive answer.

I want to spray my top and bottom grille gloss/satin black and vinyl the middle bit gloss/satin black again.

I have no idea what is involved with the painting i.e. primer or whatever. can i just get a spray can of black and spray the grilles? also, where can i get the vinyl and is there a specific type? I thought maybe signmakers or car decal places? I also saw someone used Halfords windscreen sun visor thing (i forget the name)? does it need to be 'weatherproof' or anything?

Thanks in advance,

I did my grilles by getting stuff from Halfrauds.

1x can of plastic primer
1x can of gloss black (can get matt or gloss - whichever you prefer)
1x can of laquer

I put about 6 coats of primer on (leave about 10-15 mins between layers), 8 coats of gloss black, and then 3--5 (I lost count) of laquer.

Careful not to spray it too thick though, or the paint will run - and if you leave it so it's only just dry and tacky, the next coat will stick better.

Good luck!!

(I know nothing about the vinyls though due to having a black GP in the first place!!)

1zer0 · Jul 1, 2009

Is there no other prep needed to the grill? just start with the primer straight away after removing from the bumper?

I take it i just need to wash it down with soap and water then prime on top of original paint?

Obrooks · Jul 1, 2009

wash them first obviously. but to be honest you dont need so many layers, i didnt use primer. just sprayed with gloss black after cleaning, did about 4 or 5 coats with 10 mins to dry inbetween. and they look fine, did them about 2 months back and they stil look fine now.

spraying the centre i have no idea, as like shadow, my gp is black!

1zer0 · Jul 1, 2009

im going to vinyl the middle bit. just need to find out what i need to get or where to get it from.

punto_matt · Jul 1, 2009

obrooks way is the bodge way tbh.

Ideally you want go get some wet and dry paper and sand the grill down to give the paint something to adhere to. They 4-5 layers of primer. 6-8 layers of paint then 2-4 layers of laquer if you really want it.

Obrooks · Jul 1, 2009

its the bodge way but looks fine and doesnt fall off so meh, all is good lol.

1zer0 · Jul 1, 2009

thanks all,

regarding the vinyl, anyone know a website i can get it from or is a Halfords Sun visor ok to use?

Tris Harris · Jul 1, 2009

have a look online or check the yellow pages for local signwriting places, will probably charge you about a fiver.

punto_matt · Jul 1, 2009

Just go to a local sign writer and ask if he will do it cash in hand so he can just pocket it straight off.

nickkk · Jul 2, 2009

wilkinsons do a vinyl called fablon in matt black, with enough on a roll to do it twice, its called fablon and its 4pound

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Tea-To...e-Sticky-Back-Plastic-Black-150m/invt/0176874

dansmitts · Jul 2, 2009

Yh fablon is the best thing i found, i got it from b&q though an it was 5.35.

1steamon1 · Jul 4, 2009

I used fablon from b&Q as well,

I just cleaned the top grill with very hot soapy water and a scouring sponge, and did several coats of satin black which I got from halfords, I dont think primer is nessesary because its allready painted, i mean paint sticks on paint. I left the bottom grill as its already black, If you do paint it you will need to prime first.
A tip for the vinyl- dont run it right up to where the grill clip holes are. Because its important that the edges are stuck realy well, as this is where later problems come from.
Good luck.
Ste..

1zer0 · Jul 6, 2009

I'm not sure whether to go for gloss or matt finish? whats your opinions? Not sure whether it depends on car colour, some may look good with gloss, some with matt.

i'm leaning towards gloss but not 100% really. Would love it if some clever bugger could photoshop this pic with both.

Tris Harris · Jul 6, 2009

do it to match your grills, ie, if you have gloss black grills, wrap it in gloss black vinyl

1zer0 · Jul 6, 2009

Tris Harris said:
do it to match your grills, ie, if you have gloss black grills, wrap it in gloss black vinyl

i've not done the grills yet though thats what i mean. its starting from fresh so do i go all gloss or all matt?

Tris Harris · Jul 6, 2009

I did my grills gloss black and i think they looked better than the matt black ones, but i didnt vinyl inbetween them...

1zer0 · Jul 6, 2009

yeah i was siding with gloss. as all the rest of the black on the car is gloss (door pillars and window surrounds)

Tris Harris · Jul 6, 2009

do it to match then

amar17 · Jul 8, 2009

does the vinyl damage the paint or body work....say if i want to sell the car at a later date and take the vinyl of?? also i have a grey GP...im thinkin matte black would lookd good?

1zer0 have you done the grilles now? il love to see how they turned out

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