911 chipped door handles

[jgurnari]

What is best for painting door handles on a 1985 911? Seem to chip quickly... Powder Coating?
Thanks

[962porsche]

painting door handles is something that can be done successfully.
if your trying to paint a chromed handle then you will need to have a chrome refinishing place remove the chrome for you in order for the handles to be repainted. nothing will stick to chrome!

we have had some handles powder coated and found it's hit or miss being successful.

a guy that used to work for me bought one of a anodizing kit's I think he said it was about 2500$.
I had him do a bunch of different parts for us including some door handles and they came out looking like factory. this was the best way to go as the finish looked good and was very durable.
you could look for a CO that does anodizing and get them done that way.

we have also painted a large number of door handles with success. we would do this on cars what either had color matched handles to the body color or if a customer wanted there handles a specific color not offered by anodizing.
the attention to the prep is very important!
the handles have to start with the bare metal in most cases it's aluminum.
from that point they get sanded with 180 grit paper than primed with 2 to 3 coats of an epoxy primer.
for the prepping of the primer you have to sand ever little nook and cranny if the handles you miss one little spot and all your work will be worthless because the handle will chip and peal.
after the primer is dry you sand the handle again this time with 320 paper and a red scuff pad. and again you must sand every little spot not missing any area.
if you sand thru the primer even in the smallest spot you will need to re primer the handle and start over.
once your finished sand the handle for it's top coating wipe it down really well with a pre paint cleaner the tack it off and spray a coat of sealer then going wet on wet go right to your top coats either single stage or base clear.
before the handles get put back into uses they need to be 100% cured this could take up to a full week depending on what paint you decide to use.
back in the 90's color matching things like door handles to the cars body color was a big thing and I color matched the handles on one of my 944's and hand painted in the little Porsche engraving in the handle black. to this day the handles have no chips or problems with them . I do only drive that car about 1500 miles a year and keep saying once the handles get a chip I will redo them back to the way the factory had them but they still look in perfect shape.

[jgurnari]

I believe mine are aluminum.. which primer and paint do you recommend? I had done this once and didn’t last at all. I can’t remember what I used but I’m sure I simple didn’t do it right. Thanks

[962porsche]

most all Porsche handles are aluminum unless for some reason at some point someone bought aftermarket handles because some of the aftermarket ones are plastic.

I did state in my 1st reply on how to paint them if you want to go that route.
no paint will stick to the factory anodizing so it has to get removed even if you painted over it in the past all the anodizing still need to be totally removed. you have to start with bare aluminum. from that point go thru the steps I wrote for if you want to paint them.
another thing is the handles really should be broken down AKA taken all apart. so things like the opening lever and lock cylinder should be taken off the handles to prep it properly.

[jgurnari]

Yes, I did understand your directions.. thanks .. but Maybe you didn’t read my question... what type of paint and primer would you recommend? Thank you!

[962porsche]

you use an epoxy primer and the top coat could be just about any paint from a single stage to a base clear. acrylic , urethane ,
you want a primer and top coat that uses a hardener. spray can type paints will not hold up at all.

[jgurnari]

thank you 962porsche..may attempt it this spring

[Shaun @ Tru6]

The best way to refinish black door handles is with Cerakote. Porsche used die cast zinc to produce them and then plated them black zinc chromate with specific temp and pH to get a uniform black. Not only can you not get them replated (for a variety of reasons), all door handles being a low quality casting medium, have pits in them of some type or another. You can fill the pits in, sand smooth and then shoot.

As catalyzed heat cured ceramic paint, Cerakote is much more durable than paint used for the body.

[jgurnari]

Shaun @ tru6,
Does “Cerakote“ provide a service to restore the handles or are you say they sell a product to “paint” t
with? Did you paint yours yourself? What is the painting procedure?
I looked at Cerakote site, looks like it’s not a paint at all(?)

Yours Looks great! Thanks

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Cerakote makes and sells the paint. I do a lot of Cerakote work, mostly fans and housings, engine sheet metal but also door handles, suspension, etc. in addition to door frame anodizing and plating. Cerakote is a far superior coating to powder.

You can do them yourself if you are good with a gun. Just follow Cerakote's instructions.

https://www.cerakote.com/

[3 pedals]

That stuff is gorgeous!!!!! Beats the hell out of painting them, eh?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks, yes, for a lot of applications though certainly now all, Cerakote is easily the only choice when doing a top quality job.

I will say that nothing Porsche related should ever be powder coated.