Need Dash Bezel Painting ideas
 

I got one of those polished aluminum inserts to put on my dash bezel. Now, I need to figure out what to do with the bezel itself. Should I paint it? If so, what color? I was thinking satin black. Any other ideas? My truck is dark green and the door panels, rear seat (and hopefully someday the front seats) are black.

The chrome areas of the bezel are mostly worn off. Should I sand the rest of it off before painting?

Scuff it up good and paint satin or flat black since you have the insert. But they are so cheap now a new bezel looks great too.

I would just paint it satin black as you can alway's change the color if you don't like it..

I figured that I already have the old bezel, if I don't like it, I can spend the $30 on a new one. I got the insert off e-bay for next to nothing so it won't be much of a loss.

We painted ours satin black and it looks great. Although you lose the chrome highlights - we don't miss them much. Clean it with soap and water and scuff it thoroughly with a fine scotch brite pad. Don't touch the surface with your hands, or anything with any oily content in it before you hit it with paint. I would use satin personally, not flat or gloss.

Did you use a plastic primer first? What type of paint will hold up the best?

Here's the bezel I did for Tim. I used Chevy orange enamel paint for the orange.

I did not use a primer. It has worked fine without it. Whether or not it would be any tougher with it I don't know. But I sure wouldn't put a different color primer on, and then go back with black - the slightest scratch or ding will then stand out like a sore thumb. Anytime you paint something that was originally colored all the way through you're not going to get the same durability. But it has been good enough, and easy to touch up if you have to. We used first quality satin Rustoleum. But I would guess Krylon would probably be comparable. I would hesitate to use cheaper brands. Be sure to prep it as I said above. Do you have some experience wielding a spray can? That can make all the difference. You have to move it right, keep it the right distance, and lay it on the right thickness for it to look its best. Follow the directions on the can and use 3 or four coats.