Painting in the Tailgate "CHEVROLET"

[DT1]

I'm looking for some advice on how to apply the white paint on my 72 C10 tailgate embossed lettering.
Is it only the flat area that gets the paint or does the paint go on the angled area of the lettering too?
Any advice on the painting technique would be greatly appreciated too.

[OregonNed]

I'm pretty sure it was the flat area only - I know there are stickers that can be applied to that area too. Mine was poorly masked by the original owner, so I did something a little different, and had the lettering outlined and shaded. It matches the glovebox door to a degree, but it is lettered in old Chevrolet font from back in the day.

[Already Gone]

I like the tailgate lettering, it looks great. Original looking but with a touch of class.

[Orange Crate]

Paint that area white first then apply the stickers, then paint your tailgate the color of your truck and then remove the stickers. Guess what...your letters are now white, they are the right shape and no masking issues!

[Stocker]

OregonNed, that looks great with outlining & shading! Very nice!

DT1, to your original question -- yes, flat area only.

[Orange Crate]

Here is what it looks like when done that way.

[midniteblues]

Paint the white first.
I had gotten masking letters and when it came time to put them on that's when I noticed they gave me fleetside masks for my stepper.

I used tape too mask and a xacto blade too cut them out on the kids fleetside gate.

So I did the same for the stepper.
The outward stamping of the stepper letters seemed much more difficult too trace with the blade than the inward stamping of the Fleetsides.

I also painted the inside of the stepper gate black and masked them off.
Backwards Chevrolet on the inside of the bed just to be differnt.

[73737373]

I've used a decal kit before, but that was like, 30 years ago.

[B. W.]

Originally Posted by Orange Crate

Here is what it looks like when done that way.

Hey Orange Crate, two questions:

How (and when) do you remove the vinyl letters without damaging the paint?
What color red is your truck?

OK, that's three questions!

[DT1]

Originally Posted by b. W.

hey orange crate, two questions:

How (and when) do you remove the vinyl letters without damaging the paint?
What color red is your truck?

Ok, that's three questions!

X2 ??
and where do I get the lettering?

[projectking]

A LITTLE bit of heat from a heat gun and the adhesive will release.

[kcsa75]

Originally Posted by 73737373

I've used a decal kit before, but that was like, 30 years ago.

Is there a reason not to use the decals? I've used them several times and always had good luck. If you take your time, they look pretty good. And are a heck of a lot easier than paint.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by kcsa75

Is there a reason not to use the decals?

Mine was done with decals many, many years ago. Looked good for years but are now badly weathered & checked. Paint *may* have held up better over the long haul.

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by Orange Crate

Paint that area white first then apply the stickers, then paint your tailgate the color of your truck and then remove the stickers. Guess what...your letters are now white, they are the right shape and no masking issues!

Brillian! I'm so doing that when I get around to finally painting mine.

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by OregonNed

I'm pretty sure it was the flat area only - I know there are stickers that can be applied to that area too. Mine was poorly masked by the original owner, so I did something a little different, and had the lettering outlined and shaded. It matches the glovebox door to a degree, but it is lettered in old Chevrolet font from back in the day.

Now that is neat, I'm thinking about painting my truck and had been wondering about how I would do that. Did you just go to a striper?

[otsenre]

I did my argent silver to match the ralleys, outlined them w/ black using artist brush

[OregonNed]

Yep, I did. There is a local striper who did it for a hundred dollar bill. Couldn't resist stepping outside just now to take a pic. That post above mine looks awesome. Beautiful color.

[Orange Crate]

Originally Posted by B. W.

Hey Orange Crate, two questions:

How (and when) do you remove the vinyl letters without damaging the paint?
What color red is your truck?

OK, that's three questions!

I don't know where my painter got the decals. The color of my truck was picked out from some painting chips my painter had, it just so happens to be a F*ord color, but don't tell anybody, K?

[notsolo]

All 3 of the one's outlined in black are awesome, it really pop's. Now I have another thing to add to my wish list.