My First Experience With Plasti Dip

"Tripper" (tripe46) 07/16/2018 at 11:45 • Filed to: None

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It’s weird stuff! However, it worked great on the faded/yellowed grille on the Ranger. I also added a new Ford badge, the old one wasn’t in terrible shape but I like shiny new things. The grille came off of the truck really easily, but separating the inner grille from the painted piece was a huge pain. I could have just taped it, but I didn’t want to risk seeing an edge.

It does not seem very durable. I went 4-5 coats (an entire rattle can) but I guess we will see. No big deal if it starts to peel, I’ll just do it again with paint and a proper applicator. Anyway, here is the before and after. Happy Monday!

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 11:50

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How to make your car instantly look sporty:

Plastidip the chrome in flat black.

AestheticsInMotion > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 11:51

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That looks like aa million bucks . Your Ranger just keeps getting better and better

Mercedes Streeter > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 11:57

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I used Plasti-Dip on the factory wheels of my smart. I was cheap and only did one or two thin coats per wheel. The finish lasted about six months...That included brake dust and car washes that scrub wheels.

It seems flimsy but when applied correctly, it’ll last a long time. I “dipped” the badges of the same smart back in 2014 (4 coats each) and 4 years later they still look fantastic.

I think I’m going to use the stuff to paint the silver bits of my Rebel black.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 11:59

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Didn’t look bad before, but the results look great.

Most uses of plasti dip on cars are terrible; this one actually looks good and could potentially last a while.

Urambo Tauro > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:00

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Looks great! Pardon my ignorance, but what’s the benefit of using Plasti Dip here? I understand it’s got a rubberized texture, and can be peeled off, but neither of those features seem particularly advantageous for this sort of application. Are you intending to peel it back off at some point? Or is there something about it that makes it easier to apply than regular paint? Is it really good at resisting runs, or drying quickly, or something?

BigBlock440 > Urambo Tauro 07/16/2018 at 12:03

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Probably just something to try it on that he wanted black anyway.  I’ve got a can in my garage for years now that I intended to use on something, I just haven’t found what that something is yet.

Tripper > AestheticsInMotion 07/16/2018 at 12:05

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Thanks! I can’t quite explain my love affair with this truck.

crowmolly > Urambo Tauro 07/16/2018 at 12:05

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I was kind of wondering the same thing. Seems like dip would make sense if there was pitting that needed to be filled or if a future color change might be in order, but in this case it’s going to be a bear to peel off and won’t be the most durable on part of the car that smashes bugs.

Not knocking, just curious. Looks like it came out great!

Tripper > BigBlock440 07/16/2018 at 12:07

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You got it! T he can has been sitting in my workshop for months I have no other use for it and was looking for a low risk trial scenario.

Tripper > Urambo Tauro 07/16/2018 at 12:09

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There is none, haha. As soon as I finished the first coat I thought, “yup paint would have been better here.” BigBlock has me pegged. I was just looking for a low risk way to see what it was all about.

Tripper > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/16/2018 at 12:12

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Thanks, I’m honestly not that confident on the durability. If it ends up looking like shit in a few months I will take it off (or at least try to) and use paint. Worst case, a new grille is super cheap like everything else for the Ranger ($40).

LOREM IPSUM > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:19

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Looks great, but I hope that you  never have to scrape it. Helloooo hand cramps.

Urambo Tauro > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:19

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Yeah, I’ve never used the spray, but I have used th e regular dip to coat tools and stuff. Works pretty good.

I might try the spray stuff   on the rear of my M ustang- the paint on the plastic tail lamp housings has gotten all splotchy instead of fading to a “laser pink” like the rest of the car. The original Laser Red is said to be a finicky color to get right , so I might try just turning the housings  black instead. I really don’t need a rubberized texture back there, but Plasti Dip would allow me to change my mind later if I don ’t like it.

Tripper > LOREM IPSUM 07/16/2018 at 12:22

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Haha yea, I will be using a wire brush drill bit. If that does not work I will be spending $40 for a new grille.

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:25

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Firstly, I’m jealous you have a Ranger, but with that out of the way...it looks awesome! Well done! Have you considered getting smoked headlights to match the darkened grill? 

Tripper > The Dummy Gummy 07/16/2018 at 12:36

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Thanks! I’m undecided on the headlights. I’m going to do an HID conversion (because the factory headlights are horrible!) but I have yet to find aftermarket housings that fit properly and also have real projector lenses. I think I might end up buying the lenses and taking the factory lights apart etc.

I have a few other projects ahead of that though. Last summer I started wood armrests to match the console lid that I made. I’m looking to get those finished up and installed before I take on another big project.

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:42

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Damn dude, you’re handy. That looks really good. That’s fair on the headlights. When I had an old Mustang, there was always a ton of options for replacing head and tail light, but none of them sat perfectly so I just kept the originals. I also found (friends owned Mustangs as well) that they did not hold up well and water would seep in. 

Tripper > The Dummy Gummy 07/16/2018 at 12:49

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Yeah, all of the reviews for the after market housings are 3 stars at best. I could just do the HID conversion without the lenses, but that is kind of a dick move to other drivers and I’m almost certain I’d be pulled over for it. It’s happened in the M3 and the lights are stock, I think they’re just aimed high.

If I do it the hard way and take the housings apart to install lenses, I would consider painting them to match the Grill (or the truck even) . The factory housings are cheap and I’d need a second pair anyway so that I can have headlights while I work on the new ones. I could just paint one pair and the decide which I like better before I put it all back together. Now I’m excited about this hah

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:51

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Good luck! Can’t see what you decide on. 

The Dummy Gummy > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:51

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Good luck! Can’t see what you decide on. 

450X_FTW > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 12:51

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I’m jealous of how well organized your tool bench is. 

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:08

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I’ve had plastidip on my grille of my s8 for over two years and no peeling. If you put it on thick enough, you’ll be fine. I have it on my wheels for multiple vehicles and it holds up very well. I’ve even had tires dismounted and mounted on two sets of wheels with very little issues on the rim edge. Good enough that I’m not touching them up in either case.

You should be fine.  

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:10

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Just buy some of the dip dissolver from dipyourcar.  It will turn it into goo that you can brush off.  It’s not fun, but can be done without too much risk to the grille.

punkgoose17 > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:12

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Spiffy

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Urambo Tauro 07/16/2018 at 13:13

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I know I used it on my grille so I could return it to OEM finish if desired. Mine has Chrome trim strips and all that fanciness, so I didn’t want to ruin it if I decide to resell someday.    

Urambo Tauro > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 07/16/2018 at 13:20

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How’s it holding up?

Tripper > 450X_FTW 07/16/2018 at 13:20

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I spend a lot of time doing that, it chills me out haha.

Tripper > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 07/16/2018 at 13:22

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Interesting. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that because I like the way that it looks. Good to know though as I’m sure it will be a huge bitch to get it off of something like that grill.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:23

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Wheels are a great place to use dip. When you peel it off, they look pristine. I did that on my S4 for the three years I owned it. Held up great. I could scrub them with wheel brushes and  car washes, no issues.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:24

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For what it’s worth, I dipped my wheels and the finish has taken longer to chip than whatever shit Ford put on in the factory. 

Tripper > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 07/16/2018 at 13:31

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I’m considering it. The wheels I wanted (and bought) only came in chrome or black. I’m not a big fan of chrome but that is what I got , I would love them to be a silver matte finish.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:37

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Dipyourcar has a bunch of different wheel kits and normally videos to show what they look like too. On YouTube. It’s good stuff, you can wait for a sale though, sign up for their email and then jump on it when they go on sale.

I’ve got a raw titanium kit that I was going to use on my S8 wheels after I swapped tires, but the dip held up well enough that I’m going to hold off for a bit before I recoat them.  

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 13:39

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Yeah I stripped my S4 grille before I sold it and it wasn’t a simple peel off deal, but the dissolver spray worked great.

That grille was the first time I used the stuff as well.  And I may have been a bit thin on the coats.  Still held up Great.  

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Tripper 07/16/2018 at 14:31

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You might be surprised with how well it holds up. I did a grill on an old car that baked in the sun all day and it only faded after 4 years. Drove something like 40 thousand miles in that time too.