Headlight Bezel R&R

[jae]

I would polish the edges first. For polishing plastic chrome, I have found that Meguiars Swirl X swirl mark remover works best. It is not very abrasive, if at all, and it cleans all the scum off of the "chrome" without leaving any scratches. If you need to remove any leftovers on the chrome after paint, use lacquer thinner, or try just rubbing it off the chrome with a terry cloth towel. I used a similar method when I painted the "LOCK" script in the switches.

Thanks. I usually use the dry terry cloth method, seem to have pretty good luck with that, but agree the lacquer thinner works great too. Was just wondering and making sure about clearing the bezels.

I'm hoping to be able to bring the car out by the middle of next month, just have a couple odds & ends to do. But with my everyday-driver truck and the house I'm plenty busy working on other things. If I was still in school I'd never have extra time to work on these things.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I would polish the edges first. For polishing plastic chrome, I have found that Meguiars Swirl X swirl mark remover works best. It is not very abrasive, if at all, and it cleans all the scum off of the "chrome" without leaving any scratches. If you need to remove any leftovers on the chrome after paint, use lacquer thinner, or try just rubbing it off the chrome with a terry cloth towel. I used a similar method when I painted the "LOCK" script in the switches.

Thanks. I usually use the dry terry cloth method, seem to have pretty good luck with that, but agree the lacquer thinner works great too. Was just wondering and making sure about clearing the bezels.

I'm hoping to be able to bring the car out by the middle of next month, just have a couple odds & ends to do. But with my everyday-driver truck and the house I'm plenty busy working on other things. If I was still in school I'd never have extra time to work on these things.

I am still in school and yeah, it's almost impossible to do everything. I am probably moving back home this fall so I can go to school full time, but I want to have the house and project cars squared away by then. I will have to either sell my house or rent it out, but in the end it will be worth it to be able to get a good job.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

No, I didn't do anything else to the duplicolor.

The steel wool didn't do anything to my chrome, it was #0000 I think, very very fine. From what I remember, it helped the shine??

 

[jae]

No, I didn't do anything else to the duplicolor.

The steel wool didn't do anything to my chrome, it was #0000 I think, very very fine. From what I remember, it helped the shine??

Thanks for the info. That's what I was thinking, if it was needed a very-very fine pad for a fine buff to make it pop. My prep was straight forward: I used a 3M red scuffing pad before primering, then the primer & paint. Both laid down very well- caught a warm period so it worked out great. I figure I'll get them installed in the next couple of weeks or so and box the originals.

I gotta get parts for the truck, am in the middle of yard / outside work for the house plus regular work. At least it isn't supposed to snow any more this week!!

 

[soba_03]

There is actually a black trim paint that is available at just about any auto paint store, comes in a rattle can. It's the same stuff that the OEM used to trim out your car. One can goes a long way. So the little extra $$ you put out for it would be worth it. I've used the same paint in spray gun for doing stripes on a hood once it's very nice stuff. It's a Matte Black color, its what I'm going to use on mine.