How to Paint Plastic Car Trim: A Step-by-Step Guide

[@Chase_Schrader]

What car are you doing this on?!

[@andreidumitrache3834]

great tutorial, i’m waiting for some time off to do this on my mk4 golf, the interior is atrocious and needs some touching up 😅

[@Chase_Schrader]

Happy to hear that! Sweet, this will definitely help clean up that interior!

[@Ziemniak638]

Toyota Celica 7

[@YasapYaakov018]

One step I highly recommend, whip off the paint nozzle with lacquer thinner between coats to avoid splotches.

[@Chase_Schrader]

Ah yeah, I didn't have any issues with splotching but that would be good to do if I did!

[@TangoCharlieAlpha]

SEM makes a soap that has a fine grit to it that gets down in the grain. I have done a complete color change in a Corvette, and I used NO sandpaper.....only scotchbrite and the SEM. You then use a wax and grease remover. Let it dry, then spray a plastic adhesion promoter. Light coats is the key. Then after the color is achieved, use a clear to seal in the color and help protect the parts from being scuffed and scratched. I SWEAR by SEM. Used in the body shops for professional results. Great work.

[@Chase_Schrader]

Nice, I will have to try the that SEM stuff some time! Yeah that trim paint has an adhesion promoter in it, but with other stuff you would for sure need that! I haven’t had any issues with the trim on the STi getting scuffed but if I did a coat of clear would definitely help!! Thanks!

[@misssummersalt]

@@Chase_Schrader IF you pop some clear on top just be sure to go for a matte or semi-matte option to stay true to OEM finish, but based on what what you've done in your trim-painting videos I really don't think you'd need a clear at all. Dupli-color know what they're doing, and so long as you use their products correctly, it's pretty hard to go wrong. Get out there and enjoy what's left of your Summer!

[@oh8wingman]

Glad you mentioned adhesion promoter. There are so many of these videos that don't use it yet they make no mention of the fact that the paint will eventually lose the bond to the surface and start flaking off.

[@TangoCharlieAlpha]

@@oh8wingman Yes indeed. So many....SO many never use it, and they will most likely regret that over time. If it won't stick, then it won't stick around.

[@TheRealKozyy]

Light coats with the adhesive?

[@J1I9M7M4Y]

Good job!! A tip if it is a bit cold. Keep the cans in a bucket of warm (not boiling. Like 35-40 degrees celsius) water. It will generate a bit higher pressure in tha cans and the result will be smoother spraying.

[@Chase_Schrader]

Ahh good point, that would help the spray when its a bit cold!

[@misssummersalt]

Awesome job Chase! You can totally do your sun visors with Duplicolor Vinyl and Fabric Paint. I've used it on mine as well as my fabric-trimmed A-pillars and rear parcel shelf and it's held up really well for about 2 years now. Highly recommend 👌

[@Chase_Schrader]

Sweet! I will have to try it out, thanks for the tip!

[@miltiadesmiltiadous8355]

That's cool i wanna do it too but what's the aftermath is the pain still good did you have any problems when cleaning the car with the chemicals on the products?

[@Chase_Schrader]

Thanks! I haven't had any issues, even when use interior detailing cleaner

[@tanveernaeem1157]

Great informative video especially when the trim color is changed. One question though: is it not necessary to apply two or three coats of clear coat after the base paint to give trim a glossy look?

[@Chase_Schrader]

It’s not necessary unless you are wanting glossy trim. The stock trim is not glossy so I didn’t want to make the recoloured trim glossy since it is textured.

[@tanveernaeem1157]

@@Chase_Schrader Thank you Chase. I think I will go with the clear coat since rest of the car and other similar trims on the rear doors are glossy black.

[@Chase_Schrader]

No worries!

[@HondaKid845]

Does it leave smell in the car like a paint smell I’ve done it once but it left the car smelling like spray paint lol unless I may have used different spray paint Ik I didn’t use duplicolor trim paint

[@Chase_Schrader]

Nope, mine does not smell, but I did leave it to gas for a day!

[@williamtheobald2229]

Do you have to use primer before u put the black on or no just clean in paint in do u need a clean coat so it don't scratch off trying to do the interior of my Tahoe black it's tan now want it black in gray or just all black

[@Chase_Schrader]

With the trim paint you don't need to use primer or a clear coat! It is made for putting right on to the plastic trim

[@lukefleming2058]

I wanna do this but did it smell like paint on the inside after? And does it faded when cleaned?

[@Chase_Schrader]

I usually leave the painted pieces out of the car for a couple days and I haven’t had any smell inside after installing! Also, as long as you cleaning with trim cleaner or a damp cloth it will not fade

[@DenilSivi]

Always great watching your vids

[@Chase_Schrader]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them!

[@mikeyboombotz]

Dude, my roof rail on my 2001 Subaru Forester cracked in half lol…. Do you think you can make a video showing how to take the rails off? I know it’s literally a ton of work. But your the only guy who likes his forester as much as I love mine lol. Anyway. Cheers bud.

[@Chase_Schrader]

Damn, how did you do that haha, I don't have the roof rails on my car because of the ARB rack but I did film the removal of them. We started it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apSyZpx8bsyZeqM and finished removing it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYnUaoN3dsSEqck. Let me know if you have any questions!

[@mikeyboombotz]

@@Chase_Schrader so I just drove like an hour to this taco place that’s really good… and my friend in the back seat was just taking forever to get out of my car. So I decided to go King Kong on him and shake the car around. (Which normally I would do with the car frame more than the roof rack)…. But not this time. I grabbed the roof rack and basically cracked half of my roof rack off of my car haha. Sorry for the late response. Idk why I didn’t get a notification for your comment. Thanks for the reply with video 🤙

[@Chase_Schrader]

Ahahahaha that might do it! No problem

[@mikeyboombotz]

@@Chase_Schrader lmao it did “it” alright. Thanks Chase. When I do start taking things apart I’ll deff reach out if I have any questions . While I’m replying- just wanted to say your forester is insane. Great job. I have a custom interior in mine with reclining back seats one day if it’s as clean as yours I’ll post it

[@Chase_Schrader]

Sounds great! Thank you, that means a lot

[@tezz2205]

What was the name of the spray can that you used?

[@Chase_Schrader]

Dupli-Color Trim & Bumper Paint

[@AR-nn6fn]

Hi bro. What color is that? Black or flat black?

[@Chase_Schrader]

It is just black

[@LK-fz7vr]

Don't these spray paint coated dashboard scratch easily???

[@Chase_Schrader]

If it was the full dash it might, but the pillars stay pretty scratch free

[@williammason8592]

Does it start to flake or anything thinking of doing this but don’t want it to look terrible 3 months in ya know?

[@Chase_Schrader]

I did it in my STi in 2016 and it is still holding on strong! Just make sure to prep it good!

[@richlininger4349]

Adhesion promoter works wonders

[@Chase_Schrader]

Oh yeah, but the trim paint didn’t need it

[@richlininger4349]

@@Chase_SchraderI still use it even with real $15 per can SEM trim paint especially on flexible parts

[@Chase_Schrader]

Maybe I will give it a go next time but these parts are still holding up great!

[@kykrazy6050]

​@@Chase_SchraderI second and third on using adhesion promoter.

[@heikokohler6488]

nice and very good work! A question: which paint you used for the headlining? The same a for the plastic parts? Thanks in advance… ;-)

[@Chase_Schrader]

The headliner was wrapped with black suede, it wasn’t painted. There should be a card linking that video in the top right!

[@kykrazy6050]

Another great cleaner is dawn spray .

[@Chase_Schrader]

Good to know, maybe I will try it next time!

[@mustarimusz9957]

Sanding with 1000 sand paper?

[@Chase_Schrader]

Just for the places that are rough

[@SpencerHogg]

nice work buddy

[@Chase_Schrader]

Ayyy thanks!

[@jpautospray]

Nice

[@Chase_Schrader]

Thanks!

[@theaceforyou]

I am so tired of seeing these videos using fucking rattle cans.

[@Chase_Schrader]

Oh really? Well, what do you want to see then? I'm all ears!