Faded black trim

[Dezert4Runner]

I just picked up a rear bumper step trim piece from COB that needed a little lovin'. It was faded grayish like most of the black plastic on our runners get over the years of being in the sun. I've tried Mother's Back to Black, but it wears off relatively quickly.

I remembered that I had seen a video on a TTORA member's signature (SafetyDang) about using a heat gun to turn faded fender flares back to their original color.

Here's the video (fast forward to 0:55)

SafetyDang Tv Ep 1 Faded Fender Flares - YouTube


Seeing as how I don't own a heat gun, I got creative and used a butane torch lighter that I had gotten as a gift a few years ago. With a bottle of butane for a couple of refills, I cleaned the trim piece up in maybe 15 mins. A heat gun would've turned this into a 5 min job tops.

My "tools"

And a few progress shots:

The last pic shows about halfway done, and the grayish part almost looks like it's just dirty fron a distance. You could use this technique on unpainted front bumper valences, fender flares, etc. Hope this helps some people!

:cheers:

Evan

 

[Stick Figure]

Very good tip

 

[tacosmasher]

yeah it definitely works, I used it on my civic and my 4runner.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Wanna meet me in Texas or Mississippi and do the cladding on my 03?

 

[Big John]

I had a friend that used black shoe polish on his Jeep flares and it worked well. I never tried it but it may be another cheap solution.

 

[RunninOnBlue]

I used a product that dyes the trim black. It worked great and is holding up to weather very well.
See thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/91622-faded-trim-roof-rack.html

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I painted my flares with a bumper coating and so far into this winter it's still looking great especially compared to the way they looked after 12 years of wear and tear. I'll be doing the valance and rear bumper step in spring but I'm also mulling just buying a new rear step.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I used a product that dyes the trim black. It worked great and is holding up to weather very well.
See thread:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/91622-faded-trim-roof-rack.html

That product looks good, although 2 of the 3 reviews were no good. If you had great results, I'd consider getting some at some point. I need to do all 4 of the mud flaps too, and that would be quite the project with that butane lighter :lmao:

 

[IanB]

That's a neat trick!

 

[RunninOnBlue]

That product looks good, although 2 of the 3 reviews were no good. If you had great results, I'd consider getting some at some point. I need to do all 4 of the mud flaps too, and that would be quite the project with that butane lighter :lmao:

Here are some more reviews:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Here are some more reviews:

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit

The 3rd review down in that link, the guy has a pretty good tip because it seems the applicator that it comes with sucks. Here's what he said he does.

"So, the best way I have found to use this product (I've done 3 trucks) is to pour the dye into a disposable plastic container and use a cheap disposable foam paint applicator. Works like a charm plus you can use the foam brush that best suits the area you are dying. Makes it easier, cleaner and faster than using the built in foam dabber especially for small trim, corners, tight areas, etc. "