The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Painting technique question

I want to paint the letters on the dash trim of my 52 Chevy. This is the strip that bolts to the dash board and says Chevrolet. I would like to spray them the color of the dash and then spray the strip a different color. How do you mask and paint them without doing it free hand?

If the letters are raised, you might try a technique I saw on TV. They were painting the background on chrome emblems. The letters were raised so they painted the whole thing black, gave it a few minutes to dry, then wiped it lightly with a cloth with thinner on it. It removed the paint from the letters but left it on the background.

1) Buy the letters from any of the vendors. They are cheap.
2) Paint the entire trim body color. Allow to cure.
3) Put the letters into position. (These letters will act as masking.)
4) Spray the trim whatever color you decide on.
5) Remove the letters.
6) Bask in the glory of your masterpiece.

Carl,
I used a similar technique to paint my faded hubcaps on my '51. I bought the red vinyl Chevrolet letters from Jim Carter and noticed they came as a strip with the letters pre-cut. I removed the letters, placed the surrounding vinyl over the individual letter depressions on the hubcap, masked everything off and sprayed a rattle can color that was an approximation of the proper color. At the 2015 Stovebolt reunion in KC I showed Jim what I did and he was impressed, never having seen that. It requires the vendor to send you the surrounding vinyl, not just the letters themselves. I had a pinstripe guy paint the hood ornament on my '50 COE (nobody makes those colored vinyl stickers like they do the 1/2 ton) and that doesn't look so good because of the brush marks. These items were spray painted originally and hand lettering doesn't look very good. Spray paint them and you will, indeed "bask in the glory of your masterpiece."
Kent

Two clever techniques , I am debating on wether I want to spend $10.00 shipping for $3.00 decals. Plus haven't had the time to do anything this week.

Decals ordered, I overcame my cheapness, more to follow

My habit of being cheap usually ends up costing me more in the long run in terms of both time and money. Biting the bullet sucks but it is usually more productive and time efficient. 😬

You got that right!

I hope it goes well for you with the decals. I tried that technique on my grille bar letters without success. Those little letters are really flimsy and really sticky. My fumble fingers could not make it work. I ended up painting the grille bar the white grille color with catalyzed acrylic enamel which has a fairly long window for clear coat, then spraying the letter area with the contrasting base coat color when the acrylic enamel was near the end of its time window. I used 1000 grit wet paper to sand off the unwanted base around the letters as it is very soft and easily removed with light pressure. Washed the whole thing then sprayed clear. Its been several years and no complaints yet. That is how I would do it again.

Thanks, waiting on the letters to arrive.