Tailgate painting on my 69 c10

[Adrianjc]

Good evening ,Can someone give me some tips on painting the “Chevrolet”
On my tailgate . What’s the best way and also the best paint.
Thank you
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[jimijam00]

does it have to be paint? i think you can get some decals for that.

[Adrianjc]

Originally Posted by jimijam00

does it have to be paint? i think you can get some decals for that.

The Chevrolet logo is raised already I want to paint the lettering
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[Andy4639]

Tape it off around the letters and cover it with newspaper then paint the letters. It will take some time to tape up but will be worth it when done.

Are find a local hand painter to paint it for you.

[jocko]

before taping it off yourself, recommend asking for a few closeups of folks' stock GM letter paint on the board so you can see exactly where the mask lines are. I'd also make sure to use thin pinstriping tape to outline the letters, and THEN mask the larger voids with wider tape. Makes it a lot easier to make smooth curves around the perimeter. Make sure that you have a continuous laydown of the pinstripe tape, i.e. not just around the curves with wider tape over-lapped for the long straights of the letters - avoiding overlaps on the inner painted edge will help prevent paint from bleeding under. Use light coats. Good luck and show us pics!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqDome8JPM4

If painting the whole tailgate, you can also paint the letters first and then just mask them off, and then paint the rest of the gate. Makes for slightly easier masking work - but only applies if you're painting everything. If letters only, then gotta mask the rest of the gate.

[jimijam00]

Originally Posted by Adrianjc

The Chevrolet logo is raised already I want to paint the lettering
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If this guy put decals on his raised letters, why can't you?

[Rick Bollinger]

I have had good luck painting anything raised like that by using a ridged piece of foam or piece of wood with rubber on it. Just use a roller and apply the paint on the foam or rubber then blot the paint on. Use paint sparingly and do many coats. I have done things as small as raised letters on pinewood derby wheels with excellent results.

[randy500]

For the best and most professional results....

Paint the letters the desired color, at least one extra coat of paint, lets say 4 wet coats.
Let it dry and while still in the paint recoat window paint the entire tailgate body color, avoid excess paint on the letters, use lighter coats, lets say one medium coat snd one wet coat.

Let it all dry.
Wet sand the letters with a sanding block, 800 or 1000 grit to reveal letter color then 1200 or 1500, polish to perfection.

[old51sedan]

I just got my truck painted. I wanted the letters white, bought white letters with the thought of painting them white and using them to cover the letters while painting the rest of it. They looked so nice we left them on. I wanted to shadow the letters with a darker color, but this is what we did.

[Abomb]

If you want them hand painted, use one shot brand lettering and striping paint, and a good sign lettering brush...I freshened mine up in about 3 minutes, not 100% perfect, but neither is the truck...

[IMG]

[OregonNed]

A different scenario - but on my '68, the previous owner painted the CHEVROLET letters white in contrast, but did a horrible job masking it off. I took the gate to a local pinstriper who outlined with black and gray to make a shadowed look, and I was really happy with the results.

[Jim Boy]

Originally Posted by OregonNed

A different scenario - but on my '68, the previous owner painted the CHEVROLET letters white in contrast, but did a horrible job masking it off. I took the gate to a local pinstriper who outlined with black and gray to make a shadowed look, and I was really happy with the results.

Real nice touch. Because of you I now have another project. It never ends!! Have a good one eh.

[OregonNed]

Originally Posted by Jim Boy

Real nice touch. Because of you I now have another project. It never ends!! Have a good one eh.

Glad to help, sir! And I know exactly what you mean..

[Rick Bollinger]

That tailgate looks great. I love the contrast makes it stand out.

[Adrianjc]

Awesome thank you ! I’ll post pictures of the end result !
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[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by jimijam00

If this guy put decals on his raised letters, why can't you?

My '80 stepper came that way (with decals on the raised letters).

BTW - I used to paint the tailgate and the tail lamp brackets every spring to control the rust.

K

[special-K]

Originally Posted by jimijam00

does it have to be paint? i think you can get some decals for that.

Originally Posted by jimijam00

If this guy put decals on his raised letters, why can't you?

They sell the vinyl letters, so a whole lot of guys have done it. The reason some want paint is because vinyl is a modern way of doing it that was never used back on these trucks and the other reason is vinyl letters suck. Hate to be so harsh, but that's how I feel. The edges will eventually lift and peel if not buried in clear or they get a border painted over them.

I think you could get away with using a foam roller with a light amount of paint and light pressure. Might take a few times to get solid color

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by special-K

They sell the vinyl letters, so a whole lot of guys have done it. The reason some want paint is because vinyl is a modern way of doing it that was never used back on these trucks and the other reason is vinyl letters suck. Hate to be so harsh, but that's how I feel. The edges will eventually lift and peel if not buried in clear of they get a border painted over them.

I think you could get away with using a foan roller with a light amount of paint and light pressure. Might take a few times to get solid color

The vinyl letters work great . If you paint the white first then use the vinyl to tape off the letters and do your overall color . Done it a few times.

Just not the way they were intended to be used. Peel the letters prior to clear and add extra to the letter area to make it a super smooth transition.

[Tommyups]

How about wet sanding the letters to reveal primer and leave it at that!!

[weim55]

Originally Posted by randy500

For the best and most professional results....

Paint the letters the desired color, at least one extra coat of paint, lets say 4 wet coats.
Let it dry and while still in the paint recoat window paint the entire tailgate body color, avoid excess paint on the letters, use lighter coats, lets say one medium coat snd one wet coat.

Let it all dry.
Wet sand the letters with a sanding block, 800 or 1000 grit to reveal letter color then 1200 or 1500, polish to perfection.

This. I’ve seen all variety to do raised areas. While this method is labor intensive, produces perfect ‘soft’ edges with zero tape lines.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Tommyups

How about wet sanding the letters to reveal primer and leave it at that!!

I did this sort of...My 65 was originally green and was painted white at some point. My wife and I sanded through the white to reveal either the original green or bare metal. I still need to clear coat over it, but I think it looks great...especially if the truck isn't having a fresh repaint.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

I did this sort of...

This I like! Very nice.

-klb

[Tommyups]

That looks great, I plan on doing that also.
I have a similar situation, my truck was a darker blue, I’m also seriously thinking about painting my bed side panels by myself, I have no painting experience🤔

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by weq92f

This I like! Very nice.

-klb

Thanks...I really like it. I think it is unique for sure...

Originally Posted by Tommyups

That looks great, I plan on doing that also.
I have a similar situation, my truck was a darker blue, I’m also seriously thinking about painting my bed side panels by myself, I have no painting experience��

We did it by accident...we were sanding the dead paint and found the green...and decided to have fun with it. I have clear coated my truck and never done it before...just be patient and do the prep work.

[guyryan100]

Just not the way they were intended to be used. Peel the letters prior to clear and add extra to the letter area to make it a super smooth transition.

Mark, just making sure, I think you mean to add extra clear to the letter area, correct?