exterior door handle restoration?...

[jimtweet]

Previous owner had the entire car sandblasted,...they did not take the car apart, just taped everything off and did a really ****ty job...they hit alot of the window trim and door handles,...

i will be removing all glass and trim for a full repaint, but wanted to start with the handles since the door are apart now...

its a 1980 930 with all black trim and handles,...

wondering what route to take to get these back to satin black...can these be powder coated? what materior are these...aluminum or mag?

[McLovin]

They can be powdercoated, if you want.

[Wil Ferch]

You can also try trim paint or Rustoleum 7777.

I've found that paint useful and durable in a number of applications....including Fuchs centers refinishing. Holds up well although will admit not having tried the door handles.

[jimtweet]

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

You can also try trim paint or Rustoleum 7777.

I've found that paint useful and durable in a number of applications....including Fuchs centers refinishing. Holds up well although will admit not having tried the door handles.

my painter offered to paint them satin black, but i am a bit leery painting door handles with all the use they get...im worried how they would hold up

although, i have had some ****ty powder coating in the past that didnt hold up

[jimtweet]

what material are they?

[Wil Ferch]

777t is pretty tough if you apply properly per directions. Door handles are probably pot-metal zinc alloy.

[McLovin]

Paint doesn't hold up well on these door handles. The keys scratch them up, people wearing rings chip them, etc. If you have them off the car and are going to coat them, there's no reason to not powdercoat.

[JeremyD]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Paint doesn't hold up well on these door handles. The keys scratch them up, people wearing rings chip them, etc. If you have them off the car and are going to coat them, there's no reason to not powdercoat.

mine are powdercoated and have held up pretty good

[nesslar]

What about anodizing? "Can be" DIY....

[dtw]

Depends how far you are going with the restoration. If you are going all-out, then the only way to go to exactly replicate the factory finish is to get them re-anodized by a specialty shop like King of Trim. Not cheap. Otherwise powder coating or paint will look decent.

[porschenut]

They are pot metal. One of mine was powdercoated and it looked great.

[Wil Ferch]

I've seen both good ( hard durable) powder coat....and also poor ( wearable) powdercoat.

I can't imagine 7777 not holding up well....with all the caveats noted. Stock Fuch spokes get sandblasted on the edge/sides.....and wheels done up in 7777 have held up really well.

[drcoastline]

Jim,

Here is a link to a similar question I asked a few months back.

Annodised trim

While I am not 100% positive I believe the handles are brass and the trigger is pot metal. At least that is what the appear to be on a chromed set I have. How about SEM rust shield black? It is a 2 part epoxy so it should be pretty durable. Porsche962 states that if you mix it 4 parts rust shield to 1 part hardener it is a dead ringer for the Posche semi gloss. I do not recall he has posted anything about using it on the door handles so you may wish to post this in the paint and body forum and see what he has to say.

[ghost1001]

Hi Jim,

I had had all of my trim blasted a powder coated black....it came out really nice.

I think you may be in NJ, this is the place I used:

Foley Metal Finishing CoFoley Metal Finishing Co
Place page

40 Pier Ln W # 3
Fairfield, NJ 07004-2525
(973) 575-8338

I think it was $200 for everything....not including wheels.

[mikeferg75]

Every piece of trim on mine was done in powder, came out excellent.

It's not hard to remove the lock cores ect on the handles.

Pic of my trim ect during reassembly