i picked up a Varad Racerboy shift knob for my car. For those who don't know what that is, it's a shift knob that has 4 buttons inlaid to control any sorta electronic gizmos you can think of.

here's the problem. the interior of my car is orange and black. the only colors available are red, yellow, 2 blues, and "fake" carbon fiber. well, i went CF. when i got it, their rendition of carbon fiber is painted silver checkers on a black piece of plastic. :roll: a far cry from the real thing. so i think to myself, i'll paint it orange. i just need something to hold up to wear and tear of my hand on it a lot.

1st i try sanding, primer, orange spray, and Epoxy Laquer. This is the stuff you see on Bar-tops. "40 times thicker than normal laquer." after a week of drying, it starts to peel at the primer level. I don't think the laquer reacted well to the paint.

2nd i try sanding to plastic again, primer, orange spray, engine clear coat. agian, it chips away with a little bit of aggresion.

3rd (and my best guess) sanding, NO primer, 6 very thin coats of orange spray (6 hours dry time between coats), and i air-brushed automotive clear coat. I figured, if a car can handle salt, tar and bugs, it can handle my hand.

i get it installed, and i can't get it to work, even with a relay installed via the directions. and it sits VERY tall on the stock shifter. 2 weeks later, it starts to chip away. I don't even wear rings and it's chipping.




So here's my question to you all. It's far from returnable, so i'm stuck with it. in your opinions, what would be the best way to make this thing stay orange? I'm pretty sure you can't powdercoat plastic. so any ideas?

 

maybe layer it with contact paper [/ghetto]

 

Get the duplicolor wheel paint. You can use regular paint and then spray on a couple of final coats of the clearcoat wheel paint. It should hold up to your hands since it is meant to hold up to rocks, curbs, whatever.

 

hmmm.. i'll give that a try. thanks!

 

I would say get some gel coat. The same stuff used for fiberglass, and carbon fiber. It might be a little pricey, but it will honestly hold up to everything. Plus it will give the shift knob a stock glossy look. wink.gif

 

gel coat is probably your best choice.. it will be tricky to get it JUST right.. but the results should hold up.

 

Sorry this may seem elimentary, but isn't there that paint that fuzes with plastic? would that chip if it is fused and everything???

 

are you talking vinyl dye? the stuff that some people use on their dashs? if so, i don't think that would work, i used that on a friend's car, and it could be scratched off...

 

I have also seen the enamal paint you use on high heat parts.. you need to "bake" it. If your shift knob is not too soft a plastic, you might be able to use that.

 

Dude, I can't think for the life of me of what to use.