painting a dash bezel

[brucef250]

i am restoreing a 1972 f250... i am working on the dash bezel now...i have sprayed the silver .now i have to do the black..i dont think i can mask it off well enough to spray it ..so we tried black one shot with a small brush..but it leaves alot of brush strokes..that can been seen real well..any ideas on how to get it as smooth as possible.?? i know it will show some brush marks but i would like to get as many out as i can ..thanks for the help bruce

[70_F100]

If you're really patient and have a steady hand, use 3M Fine Line Tape for masking. It will follow the contours quite well. Then you can use regular 3M Painter's Tape to finish taping out.

No substitute for spray paint if you're trying to get a smooth finish!!

[michael69]

It is easier if you spray the black first and let it dry then tape off the black and spray the silver,but pull tape off black before the silver dries so there won't be any rough edges to start pilling later on.

[knightfire83]

If you are doing the black by brush you can thin out the paint, so it will self level before drying. It may takes more time and thin coats to cover, but at least you wont see the brush strokes.

As I recall, I had to do touch up on both colors too.... Using model paint for both colors will allow you to use a matching paint marker pen to do detailed work which is really easy.

After all the painting was complete, I sprayed a clear coat over it all to protect it. It's been about 4 years now, and it still looks like new.

[fordman]

i actually tried do this myself a few years ago. i took the bezel off the cluster. i then took 00 steel wool and used it like sand paper to scuff up the entire bezel. i then bought some of that chrome paint. and i painted the entire bezel with it. when i did i got a single run in the paint. so i let it dry. i then took the steel wool to the run and sanded it back down. when i got it sanded back down i realized the factory argent silver was shinier than the chrome paint i used. so i didnt repaint it because i knew i had to paint the black in there first. before the silver in order to not get brush strokes. since the bezel has more black on it than just the two center spots. some day i will figure out how to get some argent silver in a spray can and redo it over again.

[michael69]

You can buy argent silver in a spray can.

[fordman]

locally i mean.

[michael69]

You can get it at any parts store. All it is ralley wheel and trim paint. If you can't find it just ask for chevy ralley wheel paint. They even sell it at the ford and chevy dealers around here and it is the same shade.

[fordman]

i'll look into that ford dealer thing.

[DGrant09]

Does anyone have a picture of their instrument cluster after painting it??

[fordman]

where would you get the chrome to put back on the bezel? or i mean have the plastic rechromed?

[tnbumper]

where would you get the chrome to put back on the bezel? or i mean have the plastic rechromed?

There are several vendors that offer plastic chrome replating, its called vacuum metalization. I did a search for 'plastic rechroming service' and came up with this company http://www.advancedplating.com/ I've never dealt with them, but this could be a starting point to see if the process is affordable to you. tnbumper

[Joe Kriston]

I'm a little confused here...My '72 dash bezel has three different shades of coloring...There's a matte black, plastichrome and a dull silver...When you say argent silver are you talking about the shiny chrome part or the duller silver part?...I have never seen anything that comes out of a can duplicate the brilliant chrome finish on a plastic dash bezel...The dull silver you can get anywhere---just use bumper or steel wheel silver....It's the plastichrome that's really expensive to duplicate...Those places like in tnbumper's link charge so much because there are alot of environmental issues with the "metallization" process...What kills me is you can buy a whole set of plastic silverware with the chrome finish for like five bucks at Boutique Le Walmartte---probably because it's imported from one of those less environmentally friendly countries....

[fordman]

the dull silver is argent silver. it is shinier than you think it is compared to spray paint chrome silver.

[1971ford]

the cluster in my '71 has been painted and it looks pretty darn good for being painted!
You'll have to wait until im on my other computer though