painting new black doorhandles to match body?

300k_CB7 · Post by **300k_CB7** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 3:54 am

I just bought 4 new outside doorhandles for our 94 EX sdn. The front two were broken from 14 yrs of use.

Good price on them ($30 eBay) but they are black not white (body color). I could only find replacement body color ones from the dealer $$$$.

Anyone paint their own and have them last?

Method?

v-tecivic · Post by **v-tecivic** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:06 am

when i put rear 96-00 door handles (no keyholes) on my 97 coupe. i disassembled them completely. i used rattle can duplicolor paint. it wasn't a perfect match, but close enough for me. i am not a professional at all. i've had them painted and installed for about a year or so, without chipping or flaking off.

scuffed them with a scotchbrite pad
wax & grease remover
sprayed adhesion promoter
3 coats primer
wet sanded with 400grit (be careful not to cut through to the plastic)
tack ragged the pieces
2 layers of color
3 coats clear

i let them dry for about a week before i started wet sanding the clear with 1000 and 2000 grit. then i used some 3m rubbing compound to buff them out.

again im not a pro. some people have to do with what they got.

300k_CB7 · Post by **300k_CB7** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:14 am

v-tecivic;169761 wrote:
again im not a pro. some people have to do with what they got.

Thanks! I'll take your advice and run with it.

Also, the prep work you did sounds like even MORE than what a Pro would do.

The only difference would probably that they use different paint!

Thanks again.