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Painting junkyard door sills

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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 12:26 PM
  #1  
OneBeast88's Avatar
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Painting junkyard door sills

I am not sure if I am calling it the right name, by door sills I mean the plastic pieces that are on the bottom of your door opening. They sort of cover the edges of the carpet.The door sills on my car are cracked and missing chunks.

I found two perfectly good ones at a junkyard today, but they are gray. I need black ones. I am afraid that if I buy them and paint them it will just come off when I accidentally hit them with my feet.

Has anyone had any luck with painting these interior trim pieces? What kind of paint should I use? Should I sand the pieces?

If this will work I am going to buy the parts on Wednesday and my interior will be one step closer to looking like new. I was searching for a good dash, found one that was close to perfect, but the corners were worn down real bad.

Thanks.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 12:42 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

do a search this has been covered before and there are steps outlined i believe. You need paint for plastic which can be bought from a parts store
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 04:32 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

You do not "need" plastic paint.

Clean them well with alcohol, then coat them with epoxy primer. Then use which ever color you want.

Epoxy primer is hard core and will make that paint more scratch resistant than anything else. I know this because it is the route I went.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 05:05 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

I painted mine and it's scratched off - due to the door sagging onto it. I think once I fix the door that'll help, but i'll still scratch it with my foot. I used a plastic DYE, rather than a paint, and it still scrapes off.
Epoxy primer eh? Can I buy that in spray bomb?
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 05:25 PM
  #5  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

I have read on this site that Krylon Fusion spray paint works well with the plastic trim pieces. I have not used it myself but plan on doing so shortly. Do as suggested and search this site for info about spray painting your plastic parts, there is a lot of good info.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 05:32 PM
  #6  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Krylon makes a spray paint called Fusion, it's specifically for plastics. Wal-mart's got it for about $3-$4 a can and it comes in alot of colors. You don't need to prime what you're painting, just clean it good and wipe it off with rubbing alcohol. I painted the grille ring of my 03 Chevy truck with it back in 03 right after I got it. I bought the cheap one with the grey grille ring, painted it white to match the truck. Going on over 4 years now and it hasn't chipped, or peeled off. That paint has stood up to bugs, rocks, and pressure washers on the front of my truck and I only put 2 coats of it on.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 06:41 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Originally Posted by Sonix
I painted mine and it's scratched off - due to the door sagging onto it. I think once I fix the door that'll help, but i'll still scratch it with my foot. I used a plastic DYE, rather than a paint, and it still scrapes off.
Epoxy primer eh? Can I buy that in spray bomb?
Krylon Fusion is okay but it will come off. I have had it come off my door sills before. I stripped it and coated the plastic piece with epoxy primer. (The strongest, best primer I know of) Epoxy primer can not be sanded. The primer has glue in it that adheres to the bare surface and is why it is exceptional.

Yes Sonix, you can buy rattle can epoxy primer. I used rattle can on mine. The stuff dries in 2 minutes.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to go the epoxy primer route. I will post pictures before/during/after. Thanks again.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 07:50 PM
  #9  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

it will look ok until you or a friend scratches it and its grey underneath

which probably wont take long, since your feet and door regularly beat it up
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 08:04 PM
  #10  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Originally Posted by OneBeastMalibu
Thanks for all the replies. I am going to go the epoxy primer route. I will post pictures before/during/after. Thanks again.
This is the best route. If you are "really" concerned you can use the krylon fusion with the epoxy primer.

Also, you can buy cans of what are called "Plastic primers" some of which are epoxy primers anyways.

As an aircraft mechanic I use the stuff daily. We have floor plates I use epoxy primer on and then shoot a coat of some polyurethane paint. We walk all over it daily, drag cargo etc.

Do a good job cleaning the plastic. A good couple coats of primer and a couple coats of paint and you will be golden.

I have use the primer on my valve covers to make them red. I do alot of wrenching and even put some dings in the covers with no flaking of paint.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 10:37 PM
  #11  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Dude, just go the right route and sell the ones you have and buy BLACK ones. In the long run you will be much happier and you won't be complaining in a month or so that they are scratched. You can find a great set here for cheap.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 10:57 PM
  #12  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Originally Posted by 82 Iron Duke
Dude, just go the right route and sell the ones you have and buy BLACK ones. In the long run you will be much happier and you won't be complaining in a month or so that they are scratched. You can find a great set here for cheap.
Getting black molded interior is usually the way to go. However, they still fade and scratch and look ugly after a while.

Ironduke, it would be safe to assume your comment is a little biased due to your salvage business though right?
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 11:04 PM
  #13  
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Originally Posted by jimdutro
I have read on this site that Krylon Fusion spray paint works well with the plastic trim pieces. I have not used it myself but plan on doing so shortly. Do as suggested and search this site for info about spray painting your plastic parts, there is a lot of good info.
I used the Krylon Fusion & I am not happy at all with it. Which I did not use the primer though (would have if I knew to at the time). That stuff alone scratches off very easy, I'm talking even the slightest bump. I took all the steps with cleaning them & it still does not hold up. I would suggest to anyone not to use it alone, ever.
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Old Jul 27, 2007 | 11:07 PM
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Re: Painting junkyard door sills

Originally Posted by nelapse
Getting black molded interior is usually the way to go. However, they still fade and scratch and look ugly after a while.

Ironduke, it would be safe to assume your comment is a little biased due to your salvage business though right?
The only business I am in is the electrical business. I no longer sale parts but have concentrated all my efforts into a 450 million dollar casino
----------
Originally Posted by 86-Iroc-Z
I used the Krylon Fusion & I am not happy at all with it. Which I did not use the primer though (would have if I knew to at the time). That stuff alone scratches off very easy, I'm talking even the slightest bump. I took all the steps with cleaning them & it still does not hold up. I would suggest to anyone not to use it alone, ever.
Spoken like a true user!

Last edited by 82 Iron Duke; Jul 27, 2007 at 11:09 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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