1968 charger console painting in grooves

[willy]

I am getting my console pieces re-chromed. Does anyone know a trick to painting the grooves in the door and the shifter plate for the console black? And is it flat black, satin or gloss? Thanks,

[twodko]

Hey Willy,

Welcome to the site. I suspect the paint is a satin finish. I would mask off all the areas you don't want paint on using that green body shop tape, carefully rough up the grooves a bit and paint. I'd suggest using SEM paint.......so much better than Rustoleum etc. Ther are more knowledgable folks here so maybe they'll have better info for you. Good luck and post pix please of the finished pieces.

Tom

[BBKNARF]

I don't know if they still sell them but a few years ago I bought a ink refill kit for my printer and it came with 3 or 4 large syringes. Then you go to your auto parts store and buy 1 black touch up,
shake well  stick the syringe in the touch up bottle and slowly suck up the paint' place the needle in each grove and slowly squeeze the paint out while slowly moving back, good luck

[willy]

Thanks, That is a great idea and sounds a lot easier than masking those small grooves.
Thanks again Willy

[Troy]

I don't believe there's black paint between the grooves - although it can look like that but it's really just a reflection from the chrome on the next "fin. The outer ring on a 68 is silver. If you really want black paint between those then paint the whole thing black and lightly wipe the top with a lint free cloth before it dries. If it's stubborn put a little lacquer thinner on the rag. It will come off the chrome fairly easily.

Troy

[1968Dodge]

I sprayed the whole center area black, let it tack up and stretched a t-shirt over my hand that was damp with lacquer thinner and wiped the paint off the high areas. It takes a couple t-shirts and you have to keep it tight so the knap doesn't reach into the grooves, but keep at it and it will look perfect. I see these new repop consoles that are all chrome- maybe that's resto correct but I don't think it looks right. Try this method and see how it works for you!

[tylerk]

1968dodge,
will the thinner affect a freshly re-chromed piece?  Sorry for the lack of knowledge, this is my first rodeo with this stuff.

[4spdwing]

I taped mine up. It was tetious but I enjoyed doing it. I was a painter for 20 years. I used SEM trim black. The pieces came out nice. Tom

[4spdwing]

finished. all parts just cleaned and painted. new woodgrain and boot. Tom

[4spdwing]

one more

[willy]

From some of the comments posted maybe I didn't ask the right question. Are the grooves supposed to be painted black or are they left chrome? I am wanting it to be as it came from the factory in 1968.
Thanks Willy

[BBKNARF]

The deep groves are painted black and the raised groves are left chrome, I hope I answered that right.

[tylerk]

4spd, that looks awesome.  How did you do the grooves on the back plate, though?

[4spdwing]

It's hard to tell from the picture but I used a fine line tape and trimmed along the edge with a razor blade because the tape was a little wide. It took a while to do. Then I painted it with the SEM trim paint. Tom

[1968Dodge]

The above pictures look sweet, but that's a '69 console. For a 68, the center section is chrome. The thinner will not hurt the chrome. I'll get a picture of mine when I'm home next weekend.

[tan top]

I taped mine up. It was tetious but I enjoyed doing it. I was a painter for 20 years. I used SEM trim black. The pieces came out nice. Tom

yep done the same as  

The deep groves are painted black and the raised groves are left chrome, I hope I answered that right.

yep ,  i did not mask the raised  grooves on  mine ,  just sprayed it all black , then once dry  wiped  the black off the raised fins with a lint free cloth , with laqure thinner on it , not too much that it runs down to the black  soon as you start wiping !!   ...best cloth  to use for this is a waterbase tack rag ,  not the normal ones  

[willy]

I would love to see some pictures of somebodys console door and top plate in a 1968 charger that has been restored correctly with the grooves painted or not painted whichever is correct.
Thanks,
Willy

[tan top]

I would love to see some pictures of somebodys console door and top plate in a 1968 charger that has been restored correctly with the grooves painted or not painted whichever is correct.
Thanks,
Willy

 ok will take a picture tomorrow  

[Troy]

Maybe all of my console plates are old and crusty but I don't remember the originals coming with black between the fins. On the back, yeah, but not the top.

Troy

[tan top]

I would love to see some pictures of somebodys console door and top plate in a 1968 charger that has been restored correctly with the grooves painted or not painted whichever is correct.
Thanks,
Willy

 ok will take a picture tomorrow  

opps just realised you wanted 68 Doh
ok just taken these   pictures not that good    did not realise the interior was soo dusty & had so much grit in it ! damn flash of the camera showes up everything

i restored the console 8 years ago , but never got the pitted chrome re plated , sounds silly i know but did not want the interior looking too new !

[Tilar]

Maybe all of my console plates are old and crusty but I don't remember the originals coming with black between the fins. On the back, yeah, but not the top.

Troy

Same here. The back on mine looks like it might have black in there, Or it may just be the way the light is hitting it, but on my top there is no black.

[1969chargerrtse]

I sprayed the whole center area black, let it tack up and stretched a t-shirt over my hand that was damp with lacquer thinner and wiped the paint off the high areas. It takes a couple t-shirts and you have to keep it tight so the knap doesn't reach into the grooves, but keep at it and it will look perfect. I see these new repop consoles that are all chrome- maybe that's resto correct but I don't think it looks right. Try this method and see how it works for you!

  Nice looking car in the avatar.  How about a larger shot?

[1968Dodge]

Sure here's a link from when I first joined the site: http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,6.msg573154.html#msg573154 I have a bunch more I've been meaning to add... Spring can't get here soon enough these pictures are making me anxious!