How to Paint Car Emblems
by William Zane
When most cars leave the factory, they come with either painted or chromed emblems. Often, owners want to paint the emblems for a different look or black out the badges for a more subtle appearance. Painting an emblem is a straightforward process with the right approach.
Step 1
Remove the emblem. While it is possible to paint a car’s emblem while it is still installed on the vehicle, results will be much better if the emblem is painted off the car. Emblems are installed in a couple of different ways. They can be bolted on or held on with clips, in which case you need to remove the nuts or the clips on the inside of the bodywork that fasten to the emblems studs. Most modern cars however have a glue-on emblem. Use a hair dryer to soften the rubber. Slide a length of dental floss or fishing line behind the emblem and pull the string toward you to remove it.
Step 2
Sand the emblem with 220-grit sandpaper if it is a smooth chrome or painted emblem. This will give the paint something to adhere to.
Step 3
Clean the emblem with mineral spirits. Use a clean, lint-free rag to clean and dry the emblem.
Step 4
Spray on a light coat of primer. Let the primer dry for a minute or so and then apply two to three solid coats of primer. Let the primer dry for at least an hour.
Step 5
Apply a light coating of color. Let the paint dry for a minute or so. Apply two to three coats of color. Let the paint dry for several hours or even overnight for the best results before reinstalling the emblem.
Step 6
Clean the bodywork where the emblem is going to be installed with alcohol or mineral spirits to provide a clean surface to apply the emblem to.
Step 7
Place a small amount of emblem glue onto the back of the emblem. Place the emblem onto the bodywork and hold in it place with your hands for a few minutes until it is fastened firmly to the car.
References
Things You'll Need
- Hair dryer or heat gun
- Dental floss or fishing line
- Mineral spirits
- Lint-free rags
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Primer
- Spray paint
- Emblem adhesive
Writer Bio
William Zane has been a freelance writer and photographer for over six years and specializes primarily in automotive-related subject matter among many other topics. He has attended the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, where he studied automotive design, and the University of New Mexico, where he studied journalism.
