Fuel door project

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 8, 2011

So I got this fuel door from one of our fellow members who couldn't get the paint how he wanted it. I've never painted anything before the projects on this truck, but the antenna base and tailgate handle have both turned out well and are still looking great...I guess I'll give this a shot now.

Here's how it looked when he had it:

This thing had a few coats of materia on it and I wanted a clean surface to start with. I used some mineral spirits and a few dremel attachments to take care of that.

The back isn't perfect, but it doesn't matter as you won't see it.

Hopefully I have enough color match paint to start painting soon, otherwise I'll have to order some for the ridiculous price the stealership gets for it.

Big Boi · Sep 8, 2011

quietpeen · Sep 8, 2011

sweet, can't wait to see your progress

wermbang · Sep 8, 2011

can't wait for the progress shots

0212353 · Sep 8, 2011

sweet

RubberFrog · Sep 8, 2011

Make sure to remove the door from the ring.

Big Boi · Sep 8, 2011

The silver Scotch Brite pads do an amazing job at sanding between coats. Make sure if you do use them, they read on the box that they ARE for sanding in between coats. they are the perfect grit, and when they get clogged, you can rinse them out.

And remember not to build up the paint to much around the door, or it will chip.

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 8, 2011

RubberFrog said:
Make sure to remove the door from the ring.

Look closely, they only set together for the pics...there is no hardware installed.

bigbadram1500 · Sep 8, 2011

Awesome. Looking forward to the pics.

KGBIGCOUNTRY · Sep 8, 2011

Hey Sanka ya done yet?

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 9, 2011

Here's my current status...I've already primered, sanded a bit, cleaned, and sprayed color...that's when I noticed an issue. I'm not sure if I did this when I sanded or should have sanded the primer more, but there are small grooves that are visible from the right angles.

I'm not sure if I should lightly wetsand the color or layer on a bunch of clear (which I'll do anyway) hoping that it will fill the grooves and then wetsand the clear...anyone?

zack · Sep 9, 2011

looks good hope it it sands out for you

quietpeen · Sep 9, 2011

i think you will need high build primer

LoadedLaramie · Sep 9, 2011

deal with those light scratches in the color layer, if you try and do it with the clear it will magnify them.

I had that same issue with a aluminum fuel door on my 06, that material they use is really soft and you really need to almost polish it up before you spray the primer so its smoother. those scratches are from the sanding you did to clean it but if you wet sand it well in the early color layers before the final color and clear then it will look perfect and glossy.

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 9, 2011

quietpeen said:
i think you will need high build primer

That's what I used.

LoadedLaramie said:
deal with those light scratches in the color layer, if you try and do it with the clear it will magnify them.

I had that same issue with a aluminum fuel door on my 06, that material they use is really soft and you really need to almost polish it up before you spray the primer so its smoother. those scratches are from the sanding you did to clean it but if you wet sand it well in the early color layers before the final color and clear then it will look perfect and glossy.

Thank you! I really appreciate someone with experience chiming in with a fix.

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 9, 2011

Here's where she stands now. I wetsanded the hell out of the door mainly and did some on trim ring as well. I have some more to do, but the ridges are almost completely gone. I have more paint coming in tomorrow morning so that I can get a few more color coats on it and then clear.

quietpeen · Sep 9, 2011

looking good. Hopefully a couple more coats of paint fix it for you

0212353 · Sep 9, 2011

spiffy!

Yeah, I think the dremel to the door caused some of the fun you are having right now. But, if its not fun, its not worth doing!

BMRbrnSNRbrd · Sep 9, 2011

It was definitely the dremel and some...over-eagerness to get the other material stripped off. Luckily the only imperfections now are those you can see and not feel...it's very smooth now. I'll shoot a couple light coats for an even look and then clear it with some nice even coats. Another round of wetsanding (if necessary) and bolt the biznatch up.

Now I'm trying to convince my wife to buy me some cans of PD so I can start that this weekend as well.

LoadedLaramie · Sep 10, 2011

i see you figured it out. looks alot better, sorry i couldnt reply to your pm yesterday but it looks alot better now.

Fuel door project

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