SShink
New member
Got too bored and tired of waiting, so I removed the grill badge on my 2013 TE and blacked it out...
I started to sand it, but that was too tedious, as you have to apply a lot of pressure to mar the vacuum metalized surface.
I then bead blasted it. The beads hitting the surface create more heat than I'd ever have thought and the plating slightly blistered in a few spots (nothing that a little sanding and a few coats of primer didn't fix). Sorry, I was disturbed and forgot to take pics of teh bubbles.
After 2 coats of primer and a good wet sanding with 320, I painted the badge with Rustoleum plastic texture paint (even though I prefer not to use rattle can paint). The color is very slightly off (not really noticeable to the eye), and the texture matches the surrounding plastic almost exactly. With 3-4 coats on there, it;s pretty permanent and I am very happy with the results. Not sure what my plan of attack for the back badge/letters is (may actually try plasti-dip because I am certainly not removing the letters). May try and remove the rear trim entire panel, and do the same as above (except take more time as to not allow heat to build).
I started to sand it, but that was too tedious, as you have to apply a lot of pressure to mar the vacuum metalized surface.
I then bead blasted it. The beads hitting the surface create more heat than I'd ever have thought and the plating slightly blistered in a few spots (nothing that a little sanding and a few coats of primer didn't fix). Sorry, I was disturbed and forgot to take pics of teh bubbles.
After 2 coats of primer and a good wet sanding with 320, I painted the badge with Rustoleum plastic texture paint (even though I prefer not to use rattle can paint). The color is very slightly off (not really noticeable to the eye), and the texture matches the surrounding plastic almost exactly. With 3-4 coats on there, it;s pretty permanent and I am very happy with the results. Not sure what my plan of attack for the back badge/letters is (may actually try plasti-dip because I am certainly not removing the letters). May try and remove the rear trim entire panel, and do the same as above (except take more time as to not allow heat to build).
