painting an instrument bezel

[Kurt Combs]

Anyone ever have good results from painting the instrument bezel on a bump. I am worried that the "chrome" part would not look good if painted with a rattle can.

[TNIceWolf]

Kurt

I have not tried this yet myself but have seen some others on here that have had some pretty good results with it. I have a plastic bezel here I have been thinking of refurbishing to sell and looking at it...it doesnt seem like it would be that difficult to accomplish if you take the time to prep it right. I was thinking of using the Argent Silver color.

[robroy]

Good day Kurt,

I tried this as a teenager with Custom (base trim) 1972 bezel, with a hardware-store black rattle-can. The results weren't good at all. It's not that the paint came off, although it ultimately began to--it was that the texture and glossiness of the finish looked funky; it looked cheap; it looked tacky.

A significant part of this may have been my paint and application (hardware-store rattle-can).

Have you considered reverting your bezel to an earlier, steel model? Those ought to look fabulous painted. That's the plan for my own truck.

If you're going to stick with the plan of painting your plastic bezel, did you know that automotive paint shops can make paint for you, and an additive, that makes the paint more flexible? This additive's used for painting bumpers and plastic exterior pieces on cars, and allows some flex before cracking. It's a separate bottle that you mix in right before shooting the paint. This said, going this route's expensive and a hassle compared to a rattle-can.

Robroy

[TNIceWolf]

Here is a pretty darned good looking one I found . Not so crazy about the upholstery work but the instrument panel is nice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... FAW2MzUFME

[wndsofchng06]

I do like that bezel! I am going to rattle can mine.... won't be my first, probably not my last either... I'll post photos through the process.

[jimmy828]

i tried the silver paint in areas on the bezel after i painted it gloss black but i thought it looked to odd so repainted it again taking the silver out. New paint and new lens. I'm satisfied.

[sargentrs]

Here is a pretty darned good looking one I found . Not so crazy about the upholstery work but the instrument panel is nice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... FAW2MzUFME

Wow, that looks nice! I really like how he painted it to match the dashboard.

[Ranchero50]

Considering how much time you are going to be looking at the cluster for $125 it's hard to go wrong with just buying a new repro.

Jamie

[red403]

I took 2 older bezels that the chrome wasn't good on, I left them to soak in castrol super clean for 24 hours(not in house) and it took all the paint and the chrome off. It won't hurt the plastic. I have primed both of them, both are now ready for paint. The thing is now I have decided to use the metel one like the picture above with new auto meter gauges it it. I can't wait to see it when it is done but that will be a bit before that happens.

[wndsofchng06]

I like the gloss black.... I want the "FORD" in the middle of mine to be silver

[Mach428]

Or you could have your original Ford part re-chromed. Nothing fits like the original. You will get it back with the entire piece chromed - then you can decide what parts are to be finished in a different color

[champdog]

Good day all. If you are going to rattle can may i suggest Rustolum Fusion. Made for plastics. I have had good really good results with it. It works great on pvc pipe and other plastics. Has really held up nice. Not sure of the colors available.

[aquartlow]

Try this product for the silver trim around the gauges and glove box, maybe even the A/C vents. I have used it in my '79 Ranchero and it matches the factory applied finish almost perfectly. It's called a Silver Leafing Pen made by Krylon, you can find it at a arts and crafts store, I purchased mine at a JoAnn's craft store. I hope this helps. Todd

[indytexan929]

I'll try to add some pics of mine later today. I 2-toned mine to try to look like factory. I first masked off the silver areas and sprayed the black parts with ”textured” black from a rattle can. Pulled masking while still wet and allowed to dry. Then remasked the newly painted black off and sprayed ”hammered” silver. It took a while to mask, but I'm happy with the results.

[indytexan929]

I'll try to add some pics of mine later today. I 2-toned mine to try to look like factory. I first masked off the silver areas and sprayed the black parts with ”textured” black from a rattle can. Pulled masking while still wet and allowed to dry. Then remasked the newly painted black off and sprayed ”hammered” silver. It took a while to mask, but I'm happy with the results.