Refinish door bezel?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 653
Likes: 51
From: Beaver County PA
Refinish door bezel?
Anyone have any secrets or pointers on how to refinish the black inside this bezel and keep the lettering chrome?
Last edited by cabman72; Feb 11, 2018 at 08:56 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Remove all the old paint (stripper)
Clean it all extra well (laquer thinner, acetone etc)
Paint everything (light coats) with semi-gloss of your choice (krylon, JD-blitz black, etc)
Carefully wipe the dried paint off the tops of the letters off afterwards using a thin cloth (like an old t-shirt) pulled tightly around something like a popsicle stick and a little laquer thinner
M
Clean it all extra well (laquer thinner, acetone etc)
Paint everything (light coats) with semi-gloss of your choice (krylon, JD-blitz black, etc)
Carefully wipe the dried paint off the tops of the letters off afterwards using a thin cloth (like an old t-shirt) pulled tightly around something like a popsicle stick and a little laquer thinner
M
Last edited by Mooser; Feb 11, 2018 at 09:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 365
From: Tolland CT
Remove all the old paint (stripper)
Clean it all extra well (laquer thinner, acetone etc)
Paint everything (light coats) with semi-gloss of your choice (krylon, JD-blitz black, etc)
Carefully wipe the dried paint off the tops of the letters off afterwards using a thin cloth (like an old t-shirt) pulled tightly around something like a popsicle stick and a little laquer thinner
M
Clean it all extra well (laquer thinner, acetone etc)
Paint everything (light coats) with semi-gloss of your choice (krylon, JD-blitz black, etc)
Carefully wipe the dried paint off the tops of the letters off afterwards using a thin cloth (like an old t-shirt) pulled tightly around something like a popsicle stick and a little laquer thinner
M
My advice would also be once you strip/clean it that you put down a light coat of self-etching primer so that the paint will actually stick to that nice, shiny (slippery) metal.
You have to be VERY careful when cleaning off the paint. From the picture it doesn't look like there is much definition in the reliefs around the text/arrows.
I haven't refinished mine yet. Maybe I will take a walk down to the shop tonight and take a look. Maybe something else will come to me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I agree with the general process. Remove ALL old paint; clean part VERY well and make sure all detergent/cleaner is removed as well; black paint should be satin black or semi-FLAT type (different mfgrs use different titles for it)...I like John Deere Blitz black spray paint.
When paint is still uncured (15 minutes after spraying), use a sharp X-acto knife to shave the paint off the areas that are to be chrome. DO NOT try to wipe off shavings. Just let them harden...THEN blow/wipe them off.
When paint is still uncured (15 minutes after spraying), use a sharp X-acto knife to shave the paint off the areas that are to be chrome. DO NOT try to wipe off shavings. Just let them harden...THEN blow/wipe them off.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,213
Likes: 9,353
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
a new sharp razor blade does a great job
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 365
From: Tolland CT
For me, I intend on doing this stuff once and the car is not being judged so I feel better with some primer under there. Maybe it is overkill, who can say?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 653
Likes: 51
From: Beaver County PA
They're done! I removed all the old paint with lacquer thinner and thoroughly cleaned the surface. Then I masked off all the edges and painted the bezel flat black. After drying overnight, I took a 1/4" chisel and slowly and lightly pulled the chisel across the raised letters to remove the paint. I tried to post a pic but for some reason I can't.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
