Tesla Model 3 plastidip door handles

[namesarehard]

I decided to plastic dip chrome delete my Tesla. Thought it would be an inexpensive experiment to try. If it doesn't work out then I can just remove it all and turn it back to stock. I searched the forums and couldn't find anyone that plasti dipped the inside of the door handles. So I came up with a way to do it the suited me. Not sure if it's the best way or the correct way since I have nothing to compare to but hopefully this helps someone else attempting the same thing.

I basically wadded up a paper towel and shoved it into the corner of the door handle to push it out and then taped over it to hold it in place. Then just masked off the rest of the area. I did this after I already plasti dipped the outside, which in retrospect was a bad idea since after doing the inside there was a faint line where the tape covers up the front of the door handle so I had to respray the front after I was done with the inside. TLDR: spray the inside before you spray the outside.

Not sure how long this will last or where there might be rubbing issues. Since I just did this a few weeks ago.

In case anyone was wondering I used Anthracite Grey for my chrome delete since I thought it would match the wheels

 

[Matt L]

Any pictures without all the paper and tape?

 

[namesarehard]

Yes, here you go. Looks like there's some rubbing on the bottom back half of the handle. I'll keep an eye on it to see how the overall handles hold hold up. I did do about 8 coats of dip as I wanted it to be durable

 

[dennisvab]

@namesarehard this looks so much better than my vinyl wrapped handles. I started wrapping the Driver’s side trim and managed to get the two handles complete as well. First time using vinyl, the trim came out ok, but it seems tough to get the handles covered so that they look and feel nice when you open them

 

[Mhycki]

Thanks for posting. I have been thinking if doing this as well. I have midnight silver and got red vinyl for the T on hood and trunk which looks great but starting to peel.

Wanted to try plasti dip on the badges but afraid of over spray on the car surface.

Does it damage the paint at all ? Does it clean off easily ?

Can you describe the “feel” of the handles with the plasti dip? I have vinyl there as well but same as badges. Peeling.

Thanks for any help or tips. I like the look but don’t want to sacrifice my paint.

Best

Mike

 

[bandwagon]

Does it clean off easily ?

Yes, it peels off easily -

Jeff Davis on Instagram: “Peeling off the #PlastiDip #mesmerizing #backtostocksunday #backtostock #rechromed #mommadidntlikeit #tesla #teslamodel3 #teslamotors…”

Like vinyl, good prep makes a difference, and several light layers to build it up. I had a section that peeled after washing with high pressure, but I didnt spend too much time on it.

 

[ftlum]

Do you think this would help at all in the heat? The handles can get really hot to touch normally in the summer sun.

It often gets into the triple digits where I live, so if plasti-dip would help even slightly, that’d be great.

 

[DWdrum]

I would recommend 7 layers with a minimum of 30 min drying time in between each coat.

but I would also recommend not plasti dipping the handles since it's a high-touch area.

 

[chowfun]

Thanks for posting. I have been thinking if doing this as well. I have midnight silver and got red vinyl for the T on hood and trunk which looks great but starting to peel.

Wanted to try plasti dip on the badges but afraid of over spray on the car surface.

Does it damage the paint at all ? Does it clean off easily ?

Can you describe the “feel” of the handles with the plasti dip? I have vinyl there as well but same as badges. Peeling.

Thanks for any help or tips. I like the look but don’t want to sacrifice my paint.

Best

Mike

You could also remove the emblems and then spray.

 

[Mhycki]

chowfun .. .I was thinking of that as well .. have seen how to remove the emblem .. but what adhesive is used to stick it back on ?

 

[Qbenjamin]

I would recommend 7 layers....

This is excessive.

I've been using Plasti-dip for years and never had to use more than 3 coats. Prep the surface well and ensure that you mask off everything (the overspray can go all over the car). I use brushes and pressure washers on my vehicles and the plasti-dip survives. The only time I have issues is when I go on road trips and the bugs get all over the car, this causes wear spots when I go to clean them off.

 

[TW14 9LF]

I decided to plastic dip chrome delete my Tesla. Thought it would be an inexpensive experiment to try. If it doesn't work out then I can just remove it all and turn it back to stock.

I've been thinking about doing this to my car (use Plasti-dip to chrome delete my car), but was stumped on how to do the mirrors so that the chrome didn't show when the mirrors were folded, or vice versa. Can you describe how you did that? And, are you seeing any wear in that area with the repeated folding and unfolding of the mirrors?

Thanks in advance!

Keith

 

[Qbenjamin]

I've been thinking about doing this to my car (use Plasti-dip to chrome delete my car), but was stumped on how to do the mirrors so that the chrome didn't show when the mirrors were folded, or vice versa. Can you describe how you did that? And, are you seeing any wear in that area with the repeated folding and unfolding of the mirrors?

Thanks in advance!

Keith

The chrome is at the bottom of the mirror, which is stationary...The mirror sits in a housing and pivots/turns when it needs to do so.

Long story short, when it's plasti-dipped, there shouldn't be any issue with it coming off of the area around the pivot point (after the initial separation).

Plasti-dip is really inexpensive, along with newspaper and about an hour of your time. Try it out and see how you like it. Worst case scenario is that you don't like it and decide to spend 2 mins peeling it off.

I'd also recommend buying a cheap "trigger gun," which can be obtained at any hardware store in the paint section. Makes using the plasti-dip, or any other spray paint type relatively easy on the hand.

 

[pete8314]

Would be interested to see how these hold up against fake nails and rings (asking for a friend )

 

[TW14 9LF]

The chrome is at the bottom of the mirror, which is stationary...The mirror sits in a housing and pivots/turns when it needs to do so.

Long story short, when it's plasti-dipped, there shouldn't be any issue with it coming off of the area around the pivot point (after the initial separation).

Plasti-dip is really inexpensive, along with newspaper and about an hour of your time. Try it out and see how you like it. Worst case scenario is that you don't like it and decide to spend 2 mins peeling it off.

I'd also recommend buying a cheap "trigger gun," which can be obtained at any hardware store in the paint section. Makes using the plasti-dip, or any other spray paint type relatively easy on the hand.

Thanks for the quick reply.....I've done plasti-dip before, with excellent results, so understand how all that works. Good idea on the "trigger gun", never thought about that.

So, no issues with the dip wearing off, which is good. I guess my question was more, should I plasti-dip with the mirrors folded, or not folded? Don't those two scenarios leave different pieces of the chrome exposed? So, if you did it one way, then touched up the other way, there would be a line.

Maybe I need to spend a bit of "me-time" with my car, folding and unfolding the mirrors.

 

[Qbenjamin]

Thanks for the quick reply.....I've done plasti-dip before, with excellent results, so understand how all that works. Good idea on the "trigger gun", never thought about that.

So, no issues with the dip wearing off, which is good. I guess my question was more, should I plasti-dip with the mirrors folded, or not folded? Don't those two scenarios leave different pieces of the chrome exposed? So, if you did it one way, then touched up the other way, there would be a line.

Maybe I need to spend a bit of "me-time" with my car, folding and unfolding the mirrors.

I would do it with the mirrors in the extended position (out).

 

[namesarehard]

Thanks for the quick reply.....I've done plasti-dip before, with excellent results, so understand how all that works. Good idea on the "trigger gun", never thought about that.

So, no issues with the dip wearing off, which is good. I guess my question was more, should I plasti-dip with the mirrors folded, or not folded? Don't those two scenarios leave different pieces of the chrome exposed? So, if you did it one way, then touched up the other way, there would be a line.

Maybe I need to spend a bit of "me-time" with my car, folding and unfolding the mirrors.

I did it twice. The first time I did it I did it with mirrors unfolded and then a second time with mirrors folded to hit the hidden spots. There's no visible line that I can see and so far it's held up pretty good.

 

[Neon001]

Interesting. I have a few cans of plastidip left over from when I blacked out the chrome on my S4, but I figured I wouldn't like the tactile feel of it on the door handle. I like the look of the chrome on my black 3, but damn if they don't attract smudges. I'm leaning toward vinyl wrapping. Is there plastidip with a smooth finish?

 

[TW14 9LF]

I did it twice. The first time I did it I did it with mirrors unfolded and then a second time with mirrors folded to hit the hidden spots. There's no visible line that I can see and so far it's held up pretty good.View attachment 416691 View attachment 416693

Thanks. Now, to find the time to go do this.

Keith

 

[mtapes]

My Chrome delete with Vinyl, professionally done: