Refinishing the RV Grille
 

My 2-1/2 year old Coachmen Mirada grille finish is fading, its aluminum with aluminum brackets (checked with a magnet). I'm think of taking it out and have it re-anodized. If it is indeed anodized in the first place. Seems like 8 machine screws and it comes out pretty easily. $100 quote from the local guy I sent this picture to. Anodizing should last decades, not years. I think Coachmen put some crap black wash on it, not anodized. I could paint for next to nothing, but you have to strip the aluminum and prep it for paint, and that chips and I'm not the best painter with a rattle can. Any other thoughts, powder-coating can also chip. It looks much rattier than the picture shows. Its not a trophy RV, or anything, but the rest of it looks pretty nice.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1447366889.jpg

Cheap and quick fix that requires little talent Hugh is the plasti-dip line of products. Spray bomb but very forgiving to use, it settles itself into a decent smooth covering even when applied with a heavy hand. One can would do you I bet, little prep required when I did my jeep rims I just wiped them down with a damp cloth. And the finish is pretty durable, I have a season on the rims and not a mark on them. Easy to change later if you like as well, peels right off.

I was going to say, Plasti-Dip or spray on truck bed liner.

Another vote for Plasti Dip here.

Thanks, I'll look into Plasti-Dip.

$10 delivered by Amazon, I'll try it.

You could go to Home Depot or Lowes to pick it up.

Yeah, but with Amazon Prime it will be here tomorrow and no shipping charge.

Thanks for the tip on the Plasti Dip, simple clean up with windex until the black quit coming off of the aluminum grille. 5 light coats of spray.

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That looks good Hugh.
I think you'll be surprised how long that will last too.
My son has blacked out his RAM truck with it and I'm impressed with how well it has lasted on it.

OK trying to learn something here. Will the Plasti Dip hold up to bugs/stones and clean up well ? The grill looks good.

My son used it to black out the badge on the front of his truck and the wheels.
It has held up well on both IMO.
He had the tires changed and that did take some of it off the rims, but not as much as I would have expected. He's since changed out the grille, but the badge showed no signs of wear from washing/bugs etc last time I saw it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1448317134.jpg

I wouldn't hesitate to use it on something I wanted to see black, but didn't want to paint permanently, on the front of a car/truck.

I went with the flat black, I don't know if they have gloss or not. But the flat doesn't show dry lines. Very forgiving stuff.

Yes, very easy to work with according to him too.
Touch up is just a brush stroke away.

Plastidip has glossifiers and pearlizers to change the finish, if you decide to do so.

Good to know.

Do the whole RV now...

They also have metallizers. lol