The Wonders of Plasti-Dip!

20686 Views 36 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Ridgeline_DogMom, Jan 18, 2020

noside85

Discussion Starter · Dec 11, 2016 (Edited)

So...I went a little Plasti-Dip crazy since I got my RTL-T in October. Started off with the rear badges and a couple of weeks ago I dipped the side mirrors and front emblem. The process is pretty easy, the most time-consuming is prepping/taping. It is best to cover as much as possible, on Youtube videos they usually don't cover more than a foot for overspray. The more the better because, especially outside, the overspray travels far. It is easily removed but still takes time. I recommend making sure you spray a good layer past what you want to dip so you can easily remove the excess, instead of rubbing it out. I mostly used 8+ coats with 7-15 minutes in between. The process takes longer than you think.

I had the front hood, headlights, chrome, and side mirrors the first week I got it wrapped for protection. I just dipped over the wrap since I paid good money for it. So essentially the front chrome and side mirrors have two layers of protection lol.

What I dipped:
- front grill
- front emblem (went with Smoke color, didn't want too much black in the front and leaving it chrome would've been a bit weird since that would've been the only chrome left)
- chrome window trim (had to dip twice due to the first time still showing some chrome at some areas, this was the hardest one and it isn't perfect. I may end up wrapping it in vinyl)
- side mirrors
- back bumper chrome trim
- rear emblems

I may end up doing the antenna on the roof for funzies....also considered the door handles but don't know how long they will hold up

Here are some Before and After pics:

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noside85

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 11, 2016

After #1 - more to follow

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noside85

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 11, 2016

The last little bit I think

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Midnightsun

· #4 · Dec 12, 2016

If you want an honest opinion then here it is. It makes it look like someone went into a dealership and asked what is the most least expensive model you have available. You know, the one with optional wheels. :laugh: Really does not float my boat. Good news is Plastidip is easily removed without damage.

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stevem5215

· #5 · Dec 12, 2016

It looks good in a "Sport" mode kinda way. But I personally (due to my age probably) like the chrome look that they use to dress up the vehicle.

That Plastic dip isn't really a dip. It's more like a Rustoleum spray isn't it ?

Steve M

noside85

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 12, 2016 (Edited)

Midnightsun said:
If you want an honest opinion then here it is. It makes it look like someone went into a dealership and asked what is the most least expensive model you have available. You know, the one with optional wheels. :laugh: Really does not float my boat. Good news is Plastidip is easily removed without damage.

I rather hate the look of chrome, and the black emblems on the rear contrast better. I think chrome with silver is a bit boring and doesn't go well together, like the white and chrome look. Hard to even see what it is, might as well have no badges. No thanks.

I can see how some people wouldn't like it. But then again lots of those are probably the ones that try to chrome everything, even the rain guards lol.

I also don't want my vehicle to look like everyone else's. Honda thinks everyone likes chrome, this way I can have my cake and eat it too.

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noside85

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 12, 2016

stevem5215 said:
It looks good in a "Sport" mode kinda way. But I personally (due to my age probably) like the chrome look that they use to dress up the vehicle.

That Plastic dip isn't really a dip. It's more like a Rustoleum spray isn't it ?

Steve M

Yes, it's like rubber in a spray. Easy to apply and remove.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MrClam

· #8 · Dec 12, 2016

For the chrome window trim...any prep to the surface needed?

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noside85

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 12, 2016

MrClam said:
For the chrome window trim...any prep to the surface needed?

Wiped it with 50/50 alcohol/water. The hardest part for me was the back large trim and the black vertical strip at the end of the front door and beginning of back door. There is not much of a gap between the strip and chrome trim so it was hard ti get a clean peel. Perhaps removing the tape while wet would've helped.

The rubber trim at the top of the windows and bottom by the chrome all got dipped, I just left it there. Can't even tell it's dipped.

Be sure to spray from the top, that area and the spot close to the side mirrors tend to get lighter coats.

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bkp

· #10 · Dec 12, 2016

I don't mind the chrome, but didn't like the chrome badging on the tailgate... so, that was the only thing I dipped... Much happier w/ the black on white contrast...

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alevenso

· #11 · Dec 12, 2016

I think it looks 1000 times better dipped - I think chrome is an awful look on the Ridge - any year or model - on other cars and trucks it looks great - but the Ridgeline not so much - you can check out some of my posts - I dipped my wheels and grill and it makes my 2011 look much better than the chrome -

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trainman605

· #12 · Dec 13, 2016

As a retired body shop mgr. for over 30 years at a large DFW auto dealer I hope the product works well and holds up over the years and the outside elements. The only reason I say this is from past experiences with spray can paint products their life span is very short and does not hold up under the elements. This product could be different, but I guess time will tell. My other concern is that paint does not stick well to a slick surface without being sanded and these emblems are about as slick as it comes, another concern. I do like the black look of the emblems, but I would do a different process and it would be at a much higher expense, probably most wouldn't take that approach.

trainman

noside85

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 13, 2016

trainman605 said:
As a retired body shop mgr. for over 30 years at a large DFW auto dealer I hope the product works well and holds up over the years and the outside elements. The only reason I say this is from past experiences with spray can paint products their life span is very short and does not hold up under the elements. This product could be different, but I guess time will tell. My other concern is that paint does not stick well to a slick surface without being sanded and these emblems are about as slick as it comes, another concern. I do like the black look of the emblems, but I would do a different process and it would be at a much higher expense, probably most wouldn't take that approach.

trainman

Thanks for the input. I did some research about Plasti-Dip, it usually lasts quite a while. I have seen some reports of a couple years or so. People even dip their whole cars. It does stick quite well, I have had no issues regarding that. It is alike but so different to paint in several ways, so some things apply to both and some don't

Midnightsun

· #14 · Dec 13, 2016

I repainted the entire hood of my daughters Yaris due to hundreds of paint chips and it looking really bad. Did it in black with the car being white. Looked killer for a teens car and in fact was quite the thing to do back then. No prep except for cleaning. She no longer has the car but the Plastidip held up very well for the 3 years she had it through our harsh, salty terrible winters. Big difference with Plastidip is it becomes a rubberized uniform coating so to say and holds itself together therefor no real adhesion is required such as paint. Assuming you applied it properly, you simply peel Plastidip off unlike paint. It is almost as if you covered it in saran wrap once it cures. This video shows it quite well.

Robert Ruiz

· #15 · Dec 13, 2016

Noside85, the trucks looks great. Especially the grill and door trim. I have to do mine now (Grill and door trim.)

orAaron

· #16 · Dec 14, 2016

noside85 said:
The black emblems on the rear contrast better. I think chrome with silver is a bit boring and doesn't go well together, like the white and chrome look. Hard to even see what it is, might as well have no badges.

I've got a Lunar Silver RT with black roof rails and I hadn't owned it long before I dipped the badges on the tailgate too. I think the contrast looks significantly better from a decent distance but you don't have to get very close before even I agree - I got what I paid for. I was originally interested in blacking out the grille and the window trim too but, even with the Plasti-dip Glossifier, I'm still disappointed enough with the results on the emblems that I've decided to hold off.

For my next act, I'll be removing the emblems from the tailgate, sanding off the chrome, and having someone paint them black professionally so they retain that nice, glossy reflection. Assuming that goes well, I'll reconsider the window trim and the grille - I suspect the matte finish is the main reason I (and others) think Plasti-dip looks cheap.

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noside85

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 15, 2016

Yeah, I was contemplating whether or not to use Glossifier on it. I was going for the matte black look though to match the black trim on the lower parts of the truck. Next go around I think I'll try Glossifer. I think I will ultimately go vinyl for the window trim, matte black I think.

BBQracer

· #18 · Mar 15, 2017

Did you tape around the badges then use an razor to trim the tape?

jfpenkala

· #19 · Mar 15, 2017

noside85,
I think it looks pretty good. I would prefer a bit of a satin or semi-gloss finish instead of matte black. I don't know how hard that would be to achieve. Nonetheless, you've done a good job on customizing your truck. The best part is that your mod is non-permanent. You can get the truck back to factory original if your tastes change or want to trade it in, etc. The worst case is that you've put a layer of protection from pits, chips etc. on your chrome parts, especially the grill. And, that's a good thing!

-JP

noside85

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 15, 2017

BBQracer said:
Did you tape around the badges then use an razor to trim the tape?

Not sure exactly what you mean but I taped around the badges about an inch or so away from the borders of the badges. Newspaper/plastic on the parts fanning out, there will be overspray (more than you think)

The tape I used was not very sticky, like painter's tape. I just used my fingers to rip off the pieces, very easy.

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