My Black Grill
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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2006 C230 SS, 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1993 Ford F150 Lightning
My Black Grill
Finally, after about a year and a half, I got my black grill project completed. It took 2 grills to get it done. I tried EZ Off oven cleaner and Clorox bleach to remove the chrome on the first grill without any luck, so I took it to a local shop to get it media blasted. They said the chrome was too thick and ruined it in the process by pitting the plastic. So I bought a second used grill off Ebay, sanded the chrome to take the shine off, primed it with some self-etching primer, and then sprayed it with VHT epoxy paint. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out, even though I have a couple hundred dollars and a bunch of time invested in it. It sure makes the car look a lot different. 
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
A year and half jeez! took me an afternoon lol you really don't have to remove the chrome, you just have to have it sanded down so the paint can affix to the surface. start with a coarse wet sand with around 500-800 grit then work your way to a 1000 then finally a wet sand of 1500. Then you can primer and paint and clear coat. After that you can wet sand with 1500 then buff and polish.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
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From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
A year and half jeez! took me an afternoon lol you really don't have to remove the chrome, you just have to have it sanded down so the paint can affix to the surface. start with a coarse wet sand with around 500-800 grit then work your way to a 1000 then finally a wet sand of 1500. Then you can primer and paint and clear coat. After that you can wet sand with 1500 then buff and polish.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 110
From: WNY
2005 w203 C230
For these types of jobs SEM and a few others make really great self etching primers, plastic promoters and other tools do get the job done.
Jimmer - Glad you were able to get it painted...it was well worth the wait and energy!
Jimmer - Glad you were able to get it painted...it was well worth the wait and energy!
Last edited by BF_JC230; Mar 5, 2012 at 08:56 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
ya i use bulldog adhesive promoter...i live by that stuff...used it on my calipers before i painted them with vht engine enamel and havent chipped yet going on 2 years strong!
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