Painting Plenum Letters

[LGAFF]

I think my best one ever, I use an micro screwdriver, like the ones for eye glasses, I drop the paint in carefully then steer it with the blade, then come back and use the blade tip to dab in around the edges

Stressfull

Keep in mind when you do yours that the angle on the car covers most if any flaws...

[ghlkal]

Excellent work.

Originally Posted by LGAFF

Stressfull

yeah, I can only imagine ...

[XfireZ51]

Nicely done!

[Blue Flame Restorations]

I need a sedative.......my Parkinsons would be kicking in.

Good job!

[carter200]

Lee,
Clean job

[Schrade]

I used a toothpick (after a little 'housecleaning') on my LT1.

[XfireZ51]

Is your tire on backwards Schrade?

[Paul Workman]

Yeah, I fussed with that problem too. My Parkinson's was making me crazy!!

Believe me, I understand the frustration. Paint getting up the sides of the indentions w/o getting it up over the edge...!!

But, the key to my salvation was fingernail polish remover...of all things!

I found that getting the paint up over the edge of the lettering turned out to be a desireable thing, because it insured complete coverage of the sides of the indents, and didn't require the tedium of trying to avoid it!

With a supply of regular Q-Tips on hand, I found by first wetting the cotton with finger nail polish, and then rolling it on a paper towel to remove enough excess to keep it from spreading when touching the paint, I could touch the cotton tip to the top of the (plenum/cam cover, etc) with ever so slight amount of the swab over the edge of the indention. Then wiping along the edge of the letters while rolling the tip of the swab against the direction of the wipe was the key to getting the excess off and leaving clean edge at the top of the lettering indent (that and keep using a fresh swab so removed paint would not get reapplied to the top of the (plenum) with a "dirty" swab).

Note: The swab/fingernail polish remover has to be done while the lettering paint is almost tacky - almost still wet worked best for me.

I think it comes out great, was able to get a nice job in about 20 minutes for both of my cam covers, whereas I spent hours getting the plenum done.

I never tried the screwdriver "brush". Might have to give that a try.




Oh, I guess common sense would say the rest of the (silver or whatever) paint on the plenum/cam covers has to be completely cured/set before painting the letters, but most especally before touching it with the damp swab!!

[Schrade]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Yeah, I fussed with that problem too. My Parkinson's was making me crazy!!

Believe me, I understand the frustration. Paint getting up the sides of the indentions w/o getting it up over the edge...!!

But, the key to my salvation was fingernail polish remover...of all things!

I found that getting the paint up over the edge of the lettering turned out to be a desireable thing, because it insured complete coverage of the sides of the indents, and didn't require the tedium of trying to avoid it!

With a supply of regular Q-Tips on hand, I found by first wetting the cotton with finger nail polish, and then rolling it on a paper towel to remove enough excess to keep it from spreading when touching the paint, I could touch the cotton tip to the top of the (plenum/cam cover, etc) with ever so slight amount of the swab over the edge of the indention. Then wiping along the edge of the letters while rolling the tip of the swab against the direction of the wipe was the key to getting the excess off and leaving clean edge at the top of the lettering indent (that and keep using a fresh swab so removed paint would not get reapplied to the top of the (plenum) with a "dirty" swab).

Note: The swab/fingernail polish remover has to be done while the lettering paint is almost tacky - almost still wet worked best for me.

I think it comes out great, was able to get a nice job in about 20 minutes for both of my cam covers, whereas I spent hours getting the plenum done.

I never tried the screwdriver "brush". Might have to give that a try.




Oh, I guess common sense would say the rest of the (silver or whatever) paint on the plenum/cam covers has to be completely cured/set before painting the letters, but most especally before touching it with the damp swab!!

I am definitely glad others are painting the lettering. I want to do this when I yank mine, and I thought it might be a little obsessive here.

What's the finish there LGAFF?

Hardest part was how much paint to load on the toothpick, without fear of a stray drop hitting the plenum on the way



Yep - good eye there Mr. D - the shop got the fronts Sumis on backwards, and the first ride in the rain was a BIG surprise, when they channeled all the water to the MIDDLE!!!

[LGAFF]

That is Powdercoat, put painters tape across most of the plenum, that gives you a default drop zone if the paint droplet starts to come off too fast, just move it over the tape.

The trick is to take off most of the excess and wait for the second waive fo paint to flow down the screwdriver or toothpick...sometimes lightly tapping the screwdriver on letter surface