How Do You Paint Hilux Grills?!

[alexchen86]

I have always wondered what would be the cleanest and easiest way to paint the outside of any hilux grill chrome or silver while keeping the inside mesh area black?

I'd assume first you paint the entire assembly black...let it dry...maybe another coat if necessary....then dry again. Do you guys do any masking before painting that chrome/silver outer grill or just go over it really carefully with a tiny brush?

Same thing with trim pieces such as around the windshield where there's that ridge that runs around it....

Thanks for yalls help!!

[TNT1]

A piece of fabric glued on to a flat piece of wood or something then spread some paint on that and press grille onto that.Still needs a little masking tape and you might have to do it a few times but still makes it easier.For the windshield just masking tape.

[Hoosierdady]

for the trim, a sharpie marker works wonders, just be careful when you clear it (if you do) As for the grill, the easiest thing would be to paint the whole thing silver adn then do the mesh in black. Or cut out the mesh area and replace it with real mesh.

[alexchen86]

Originally Posted by Hoosierdady

for the trim, a sharpie marker works wonders, just be careful when you clear it (if you do) As for the grill, the easiest thing would be to paint the whole thing silver adn then do the mesh in black. Or cut out the mesh area and replace it with real mesh.

Ahhh you are the man why didn't I think of that?! What would you recommend using to cut out those grill mesh areas? Sometimes I get a little too dremel happy lol.

[Hoosierdady]

What I do for small work, is use the thin cut off wheel on a dremel on the BACK of the grill. Then take a x-acto knife and heat it up to finish off cutting the corners. Just take your time and remember, its easy to cut more off, its hard to add it back on. Or you could just flat black the inside of the grill, and ShooGoo the pre-cut mesh into place on the face of the grill. I used that method on a Hilux I did for a guy in CA and it looked great.

[alexchen86]

Cool thanks for the tips Hoosierdady! Now to get crackin on my other 4 project rigs I have going on at the moment lol.

[rangercat23]

Originally Posted by Hoosierdady

for the trim, a sharpie marker works wonders

I like using paint pens

[OllllO Fanatic]

For cutting ABS plastic use thread. Not real thin, make sure its a little thicker. And be patient, it'll break a lot especially if your not use to it. Using thread is the most controlled way to cut. Drill a small hole near the edge put the thread through, the slide thread back and forth(kinda quickly) feeding from the spool slowly so as to use new thread at all times. It will give you a great cut, not to mention you don't have to worry about slicing anything you don't want to.

[redjones]

Tamiya paint, a brush, and a steady hand.