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I used satin vinyl (the kind used in sign making) to black out my grille and beltline trim, and it's lasted years. Eventually it will need to be replaced, but sign vinyl (available online or at any local sign shop) is made to endure sunlight and heat/cold outside.
Someone local to me used PLastidip to do his headlight rings and other bits, but he didn't even want us to touch it with a fingertip because he was scared it would chip. Me, I'm to lazy to re-do the job every few weeks (or even every few months) to even out the color - I'd rather spend a little more and not have to redo it for 2-3 years. Can't argue with the price though, that's for sure.
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~Matt Cook | Dublin, Ohio | '92 Classic Mini Sprite: "Fiona" + Purple Haze 2005 MCS Cabrio: "Dawn". See old MODs from "Nano" HERE - post #166 - many with How-to links!
I did my grille surrounds at one point.... You can pretty much wash it normally and everything...wont come off. Had mine dont for about 8 months...then just decided to peel it off one day. Came right off.
Do you need to do any prep work to get it to endure? I have to do AMy's new car's grille - I was about to order the vinyl for the project but I might just try this....
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~Matt Cook | Dublin, Ohio | '92 Classic Mini Sprite: "Fiona" + Purple Haze 2005 MCS Cabrio: "Dawn". See old MODs from "Nano" HERE - post #166 - many with How-to links!
no prep...just clean. Also like on a grille surround i put big nails in some foam board to set them on....you dont want it "glueing" itself to wherever your painting....because when you go to lift it up itll peel by being stuck to the surface
i also used coats...just like regular paint. if you mess up dont worry...just peel and redo
You did the slats AND the surround or just the surround? Do you have pics of how it came out? Thanks!
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~Matt Cook | Dublin, Ohio | '92 Classic Mini Sprite: "Fiona" + Purple Haze 2005 MCS Cabrio: "Dawn". See old MODs from "Nano" HERE - post #166 - many with How-to links!
Sorry for the delay everyone. Been very busy with work. Anyway, here it is. I decided to keep my badges silver, because they aren't the ugly 'chrome' color I hate. I also didn't get around to the door handle yet. So the list so far is:
Beltline
Gas cap
Rear hatch handle
Headlight rings
Grill surrounds
Grill (stock grill)
Side marker vents
Tints (came on the car)
Can't argue with any of it as my blackout project will run just about the same. I've got a roll of 3M super 88 tape and a roll of Super 33+ tape on my desk waiting for another club member to come over on Wednesday and we are going to knock out the beltline on his. I like the Super 88 as it's nearly 2x the thickness of the Super 33 and the semi-gloss finish looks awesome.
If the surface is clean and you allow it to "wrap" around the edge/corner of the object, Plasti-dip is indeed durable. I've run my grill surround and headlight rings through the car wash (self wash with the power washer) several times with no problem. No, I don't get the spray nozzle right down onto it as I am sure it'll give up and peel off. I have no problems with it being touched though. Be careful of taping areas off as the junction between the masked off area and the painted area will dry to become one. When you pull the tape off, you'll probably pull off all of the work you just did.
Enjoy, it's a pretty easy project and the results are very much worth it.
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Current: 2012 MB/CR JCW MCCS "Merlin"
Former: 2009 LB/LB MCS "Archi". It's just an innocent little car...
Not difficult at all.
Clean the part and put several lite coats on. That is about it. Any mistakes are easy to cover/correct with more layers. Worst case you peel the stuff off and start over.
Here's my blackout project that's nearly complete. Tape on the Beltliine, Plasti-Dip on the grill surround/grill, headlight ring and side scuttles. AC's molded MINI badge cover (opted for no decal on it) and the Joey Mod using flat black Hi Temp exhaust paint to minimize the chance of bubbling.
The only thing I have left to do is get the door handle covers, gas cap cover and rear tail light surrounds and the project will be done. I opted for the AC covers on the rest of it for better durability.
For those worried about the durability of the Plasti-Dip, I used the buffer on the car today and I intentionally got it over on the headlight rings and the grill surround with the cleaner. No harm at all. When I was done, I went over all of the tape and PD parts with a good vinyl protectant and it looked great.
Now I have to wonder if black viper strips would be over kill?
Ya gotta love these things!
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Current: 2012 MB/CR JCW MCCS "Merlin"
Former: 2009 LB/LB MCS "Archi". It's just an innocent little car...
