My SS has chrome badges on it which i want to convert to a dark shadow chrome finish. I think it will look good against the silver body work and complement the matt black wheels. Found a Toyota badge in the garage which came off one of my old cars so practiced on it this weekend. Badge looks like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SSw%2BwYg9L._SS500_.jpg

Cleaned the badge and hit it with some VHT Nite Shades spray paint i had lying around. Looked good but the paint rubbed off easily.

Next i tried roughing up the surface of the badge with some sandpaper i had lying around. 100 grit so it wasn't as fine as i would have liked it to be. Took out the Dremel and roughed up the badge more with the sanding drum. Gave it a cool brushed aluminium look:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/mohit/SS/badgemod01.jpg

Cleaned up the badge and hit it with some VHT Nite Shades spray paint again. Came up like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/mohit/SS/badgemod02.jpg

Then baked it in the oven for 10 mins at 50 degrees. The finish is tougher than the first try but the paint still comes off with some persuation.

I have never done any painting before so advice is welcomed. Keep in mind i only used the items i had lying around. Will give it another shot next weekend :)

good work mate
are you going to seal it with a clear coat at all?

good work mate
are you going to seal it with a clear coat at all?
Was thinking about it as this could explain the paint rubbing off easily
Also does anyone know what grit sandpaper, type of paint and clear coat i should use to make sure it comes up even better? And is oven baking necessary?

Give the badge a good clean with degreaser, then sand stepping down from rough to fine.. hit it with some etch-prime, apply 2-3 coats of ur paint with rests in between as per instructions, then give it 2 coats of clear.. should come up a treat!

Edit: Ideally you'd wanna finish on 2000pp, with maybe a 1500 and 800 before.
Edit2: Oven baking not necessary, just make sure you let it settle between coats..

WHy didn't you powder coat them at the same time as when you did the wheels? Or is that not the look you like?

Well for a holden badge.....Rough up the surface with some scotchbrite to get in the corners, prime, and paint with satin black paint, what you have done sir confuses me :P

Give the badge a good clean with degreaser, then sand stepping down from rough to fine.. hit it with some etch-prime, apply 2-3 coats of ur paint with rests in between as per instructions, then give it 2 coats of clear.. should come up a treat!

Edit: Ideally you'd wanna finish on 2000pp, with maybe a 1500 and 800 before.
Ok will give that a shot
What type of paint should i use?




WHy didn't you powder coat them at the same time as when you did the wheels? Or is that not the look you like?
Powdercoating is for metal surfaces and is applied electrostatically
And yup the look i want for the badges is a dark grey more than a matt black like my wheels

;1111843']

Well for a holden badge.....Rough up the surface with some scotchbrite to get in the corners, prime, and paint with satin black paint, what you have done sir confuses me :P
Yeh what i did was a first try using whatever i found in my garage. Good way to stuff up and learn from :)

Errrr...I think everyone has assumed its metal badges based on the pics above...thats why the reference to "etch priming"...So if they are plastic chromed, then your only option is to night shade them over the existing chrome wihtout sanding, or at least very find sanding 2000 grit.

Ok will give that a shot
What type of paint should i use?


You want an acrylic. Any paint shop will mix some up for you + just ask for an exterior grade clear coat.

Errrr...I think everyone has assumed its metal badges based on the pics above...thats why the reference to "etch priming"...So if they are plastic chromed, then your only option is to night shade them over the existing chrome wihtout sanding, or at least very find sanding 2000 grit.

Wow, he's completely right, it's a metal badge ain't it?

Wow, he's completely right, it's a metal badge ain't it?

It's a toyota. i cant think of one thing on toyotas that ISNT plastic.

Tis a plastic badge

It's a plastic badge. When's the last time anyone used a metal badge on a car lol

It's a plastic badge. When's the last time anyone used a metal badge on a car lol

In that case, light sand, 2-3 coats of acryllic, 2 coats clear.

Why not just buy a factory VE SS badge?

http://www.cartype.com/pics/1620/full/ss_emblem_holden_ve_ss_v_06.jpg

Mohit, try Tamiya model paint, they have a huge selection of colours and available from most model shops or you can go with a gun metal greay in acrylic, you may need to remove the plastic chrome or give it a real good sand, say 400-600 grit and plastic prime. Shadow chrome paint is available but $$$$$.

In that case, light sand, 2-3 coats of acryllic, 2 coats clear.
So no need for primer then?
And the same grits you mentioned before?




Why not just buy a factory VE SS badge?
I like the SS badges on the VY, plus i want to do the front and rear lion badges too

Mohit, try Tamiya model paint, they have a huge selection of colours and available from most model shops or you can go with a gun metal greay in acrylic, you may need to remove the plastic chrome or give it a real good sand, say 400-600 grit and plastic prime. Shadow chrome paint is available but $$$$$.
Cool will check out this option too

Plastic primer is a must.

Definitely plastic prime...I've always done it when painting on plastic...but you do need to sand them first, so that the primer has something to stick to, Then paint colour, then clear coat if you want gloss.