Turning the emblems black...

[ycart]

So you know how you see Camrys with black emblems?? I was wondering if there was a way to get my emblems black like that...

[Accordlover]

Wouldn't that look kind of dumb on a black Accord?

I've only seen white and red last gen Camry SE's with grey/black emblems.

I suppose spray paint would do the trick...

[ycart]

I've seen it on black Camrys... I like the way it looks :)

[Accordlover]

I've seen it on black Camrys... I like the way it looks :)

I'd go with a graphite color for some contrast so it doesn't just look like a body shop decided not to take off the emblems.

[VTECaddict]

if you're gonna paint the emblems black on a black car, just take them off and leave them off altogether (except the H...its has holes underneath).

and you'd have to take them off to paint it anyways...

[josh52382]

OK he was not asking what you thought, He was asking how to do it. I would look for and black spray paint that will stick to unprimed things. Good to lowes and tell them what you want to do or even take in the "H" and ask what paint will stick to it.

[Trip]

I used Krylon Fusion for plastics on my splash guards and it worked really well. Its held up to 20 degree temps and a number of high power touchless washes so far. I used white as a base/primer and painted over it to match the factory paint but there is gloss black that you could use to do the job.

[RDS]

if you're gonna paint the emblems black on a black car, just take them off and leave them off altogether (except the H...its has holes underneath).

and you'd have to take them off to paint it anyways...

This makes more sense to me. If it were some other color I would've said go for it, but I think this would be cleaner. Of course, it ain't my car. hehe :thmsup:

[abailey4]

I'm fortunate to work for a dealer with a body shop so they paint matched my grill and painted my emblems gloss black for $20. So I cant really tell you what paint to use but here's a shot of the finished product.



http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/421000-421999/421003_45_full.jpg

[BenjiBoy650]

You could send them out for powdercoating...then you'll get the black chrome look, not just flat black. If you spray them with paint you might as well leave them off.

[Aviography]

Powdercoating requires baking the paint powder hot enough to melt the powder, it maybe too hot to distort the plastic H emblem, unless the emblem is actually something like diecast metal.

[BenjiBoy650]

That's true, hadn't thought about that. Just take the freakin emblems off, they're not worth the trouble! They get dirt and crud trapped in the nooks too

[RDS]

There is a powdercoated process for plastics and wood and other non-metal objects, but I'm not sure most shops use it. I would just go with the Krylon Plastic paint as was already mentioned.

[ycart]

Hmmm... so I could take it to my dealership and they might be able to paint them? I'd much rather do that... why ruin a manicure?! You guys all think I'm a guy.... its rather funny.

[thesteve151]

it it were me, i would take them off, and lightly sand them with a high grit sand paper, say...1000 grit, then i would wipe them off with wax/grease remover, then lightly primer them, and sand them lightly again. then wipe them off with the wax/grease remover, then paint a few light coats of good quality (aka expensive rattle can) gloss black paint, let them dry overnight, and reinstall them.:thmsup:

or if i was lazy, or did not have the knowhow to paint them, i would take the emblems to a body shop, they won't charge you much to paint them. but the one thing i would not do is take it to a dealership. any body shop will work, it is not rocket science:dunno:

or maybe check out ebay for some black emblems:yes:

but in my opinion i would not paint them black if your car is black, i would go with a dark gray for some contrast, and so they can still be read.:thmsup:

[ycart]

I think I'll just take them somewhere... I don't have any of that stuff in my garage. I'm sticking with black though... I don't care if people can't read it. When they get up close they will be able to see it just fine I'm sure.

[ycart]

ok well... i'm over it.
the body shop that does my dealership's cars didn't recommend it since they're chrome and paint wouldn't really hold well. I stopped by earl scheib (insert laughs here) and the guy said he'd shoot them with flat black for free and that he didn't want to take the emblems off for fear he'd scratch the paint. uh no thank you.

[thesteve151]

goes to show you if you want it done right you just have to do it yourself.
i'm positive it would stick fine if you go by my process, or one similar, like using fine scoch pads or fine steel wool to rough up the chrome before primering them.:yes:

[mdnky]

I would look for and black spray paint that will stick to unprimed things. Good to lowes and tell them what you want to do or even take in the "H" and ask what paint will stick to it.
If you're going to paint it, especially over a slick surface such as these emblems, then do it right. Sandpaper, primer and paint (all good quality) are a necessity. Asking the stock boy/gal at a Lowes is definitely not the best source of information either.

As far as primer--try to find self-etching primer if possible.


it it were me, i would take them off, and lightly sand them with a high grit sand paper, say...1000 grit, then i would wipe them off with wax/grease remover, then lightly primer them, and sand them lightly again. then wipe them off with the wax/grease remover, then paint a few light coats of good quality (aka expensive rattle can) gloss black paint, let them dry overnight, and reinstall them.:thmsup:

or if i was lazy, or did not have the knowhow to paint them, i would take the emblems to a body shop, they won't charge you much to paint them. but the one thing i would not do is take it to a dealership. any body shop will work, it is not rocket science:dunno:
If you're doing it yourself, then this is the way to do it. It'll give you the best results. Don't forget to do multiple light coats of paint. It'll take quite a few coats to get full coverage, so be patient.

If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then go see a pro at a reputable auto paint shop. If you want it to last for a long time (>5 years), that powder-coating idea that others threw around is your best and most expensive bet.

[shaun1]

What about Black on Graphite? I started with the original chrome and went to the gold, now I'm thinking Black. But then I'd need Black exhaust tips and I haven't seen those either