PlastiDip Removal

[Jonathan Spino]

The original owner of my truck sprayed most of the chrome with plastidip. I am going to sell the OEM grille so I wanted to remove the plasticdip first. I sprayed the grill down with WD40 and let it sit for a few minutes and then hit it with the pressure washer. That did a good job of getting it started but then I had to go back through and pick it off by hand. Once that was done I started on the wheels using the same method. With the wheels I did 2/3 rounds of WD40/wash/pick. It was a hell of a process and took most of the day but I am happy with the results. There are still some black spots that I will have to work on a little over time. Before and after pics below.

The Limited trim pieces running down the side and across the tailgate are still plastidipped but it appears to be holding up pretty well so I'm leaving it for now and debating on adding another coat or 2 on top of whats there.

I've got a cross-hairs grill that will be going back on the front once the paint is touched up. For the wheels I'm thinking about having them powder coated black or replacing them with a set of black aftermarkets. If I go with the powdercoat I think I'd like to get all the machined aluminum coated matte black and get the chrome areas in gloss black. I liked the look of the plastidip but it was starting to peel so it was time for something new.

Before:




After:

 

[CanadianNick]

Well the plastidip did keep those rims looks brand new so that’s a plus

 

[Jonathan Spino]

Well the plastidip did keep those rims looks brand new so that’s a plus

That was a nice surprise



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

May I ask why you took it off? Looked good without the chrome.

 

[CanadianNick]

May I ask why you took it off? Looked good without the chrome.

He did mention In his original post he is thinking of powder coating or getting black after market rims as the plastidip is peeling.
Also I think it’s getting a little overdone with everyone killing the chrome. I think both can look good and one might look better than others depending on the trucks color. Especially with black I think both chrome and black can look really good. I do however think that the all black out theme is getting a little played out.
For me personally I think his truck loooks better with the chrome accents then all blacked out, but that’s just me

 

[NCRaineman]

Also I think it’s getting a little overdone with everyone killing the chrome.

Completely agreed! I really hope the "murdered out" fad comes to an end soon. My truck has black rims, black badges and black step bars but its red so the combination works. The headlights are still chrome, as are the exhaust tips... so it's not excessive. Had I bought the rims new I wouldn't have painted them, but they don't bother me as is.

Vehicles that are black on black on black on black on black are so monochromatic... they lack depth and character. They stood out initially, but now that everyone has been doing it for ten years it's everywhere and so is nothing special. Go to any cars and coffee style meetup and you'll see a dozen blacked out rides, each as unoriginal as the one before it.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Haters! Lol

 

[chrisp2493]

We’ve had chrome on vehicles for decades. I think that’s played out IMO


I Bleed Ram Trucks

 

[Jonathan Spino]

Haters! Lol

I’m with you Vet, I I still plan on murdering out the truck. I do agree it’s overdone these days but I still can’t help that I love the look. The plastidip was faded and peeling or I would have left it. I’m debating reapplying the plastic dip every 2-3 yrs for $12 or getting them powercoated once and for all.
All that being said I was surprised how much I liked the look when I got the color off the wheels but I wish the wheels were all chome without the machined aluminum look.
Still leaning toward going all black but I’m trying to do a combo of matte and gloss black so that the truck has a little bit of a personal touch. I realize this has been done too but hey, there are only so many options


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Maligator]

Completely agreed! I really hope the "murdered out" fad comes to an end soon. My truck has black rims, black badges and black step bars but its red so the combination works. The headlights are still chrome, as are the exhaust tips... so it's not excessive. Had I bought the rims new I wouldn't have painted them, but they don't bother me as is.

Vehicles that are black on black on black on black on black are so monochromatic... they lack depth and character. They stood out initially, but now that everyone has been doing it for ten years it's everywhere and so is nothing special. Go to any cars and coffee style meetup and you'll see a dozen blacked out rides, each as unoriginal as the one before it.

I still dig the Blacked out look, to each his own.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Jonathan Spino]

I got the grills swapped out tonight and finished up the plastidip removal on the limited grill. For anyone following along the last step was to use rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth to clean off all the gunk and residue left by the plastidip.

 

[RAMVT]

Just for future reference. Skip the WD-40 and just use Goo-Gone. Cover whatever section of plasti dip you want to remove with goo-gone. Let it sit for a couple minutes and then cover it again with the goo-gone. Let that sit for a couple minutes and then take the pressure washer to it. I've done rims, bumpers and grills like that and its always taken everything off without having to scrub at it.

 

[Jonathan Spino]

Just for future reference. Skip the WD-40 and just use Goo-Gone. Cover whatever section of plasti dip you want to remove with goo-gone. Let it sit for a couple minutes and then cover it again with the goo-gone. Let that sit for a couple minutes and then take the pressure washer to it. I've done rims, bumpers and grills like that and its always taken everything off without having to scrub at it.

Thanks! Ive got a little plastidip left over in the creases of my wheels so I will try goo gone to get the rest of it.

 

[Bo Daggart]

I had to peel a rim off after patching a tire. Took 30 seconds to take the plastidip off. No wd40.

 

[RAMVT]

Yeah the removal also depends greatly on the initial application of plasti-dip. I did my rims with about 8 coats of black and 2 coats of glossifier. I could easily peel it all off by hand. The thin layered plasti-dip removal is a pain. Goo-gone helps big time in those situations.

 

[Jonathan Spino]

I had to peel a rim off after patching a tire. Took 30 seconds to take the plastidip off. No wd40.

There were areas where it was easy to peel off but the majority of the dip was too thin and that’s where it was a problem. When it’s too thin it’s like peeling dried paint and it just comes off in small chips. If I redip the wheels one day I will definitely be doing 8+ coats


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NCRaineman]

The plastidip was faded and peeling or I would have left it. I’m debating reapplying the plastic dip every 2-3 yrs for $12 or getting them powercoated once and for all.

IMO, stick with the plastidip. That way if you trade or sell the truck in a few years you can return it to factory stock appearance and appeal to a larger audience of potential buyers. Modded vehicles don't typically sell as well or for as much as stock ones, simply because the customer may not share the modder's exact sense of style.

 

[Jonathan Spino]

IMO, stick with the plastidip. That way if you trade or sell the truck in a few years you can return it to factory stock appearance and appeal to a larger audience of potential buyers. Modded vehicles don't typically sell as well or for as much as stock ones, simply because the customer may not share the modder's exact sense of style.

You just sold me on that, great point that I wasn’t really thinking of. I will redo the plastidip sometime soon and let you guys know how it goes. Anyone have some advanced experience with plastidip? I’ve heard some things about “hardening” and gloss spray that goes on as a final coat but I’d love to know someone’s opinion whose tried them.

All the chrome limited trim has also been plastidipped and I think I may just try to add a few layers on top of what’s there. it still looks pretty good and I just want to freshen up the color and make it easier to remove if I decide to one day.

Thanks Raineman!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NCRaineman]

Anyone have some advanced experience with plastidip?

You are most welcome... glad my advice could be helpful.

Check YouTube for videos on plastidip... lots of how-to vids there and people showing what NOT to do as well. YouTube has become my go-to for pretty much everything automotive related over the last few years, if you want to do it odds are someone out there has done it already and made a video showing how.