Weekend Project - Painted Calipers with Lexus Logo
#1
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Had to get the calipers spruced up a bit as there isn't a reason why they need to look plan jane.
In order to get the right sized decal dialed in, I contacted Matt from MotoGFX. Here is a pic of the test fit.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/276780BB-E984-42C7-A227-ABDD42FBA3B8-5981-000003CCDA16CA68_zps6bc1755d.jpg)
After I received the decals, it was time to get dirty. Here is a pic of all the materials I needed. Sandpaper, primer, silver, black, clear coat, and the decals of course.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/5F42684D-7644-4596-B19B-1B87B43A34F6-11823-000008C7EE9BFA00_zps48048a36.jpg)
After a good scrubbing and clean the calipers and ready for the primer coat.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/478E9385-40FF-45A0-981B-C06167B62B16-11823-000008C7F61DE79E_zps98977efe.jpg)
Time to tape up the car, don't want any spray going where it shouldn't be!
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/A681F002-D69B-4493-BD4E-8C71B657ED61-11823-000008C7FAE5B7A4_zpsd83e8e95.jpg)
Primer layer going on, nice and easy strokes. 2 coats worked for me.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/0D111CDC-037D-43FE-A5B0-6779F1762CCF-11823-000008C7FF0FC9BF_zps5a52e5e3.jpg)
After the primer coat was workable I added the silver coats. After it dried up I went ahead and applied the decals. Some folks at the point would go ahead and apply the clear coat afterwards. I did not, read on.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/4BC688AC-65EA-4C2B-8AE0-EEB3CD9521EF-11823-000008C803AA3203_zps0290b416.jpg)
I then painted the caliper the final color, black. As you see here, the decal is also being painted over. I went 3 coats here until you could barely see the decal.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/AA3E437A-B5D7-41B0-A99C-3FFA6187FBE1-11823-000008C807BB6E55_zps5fdd9da6.jpg)
Now you're asking, how did you remove the decal? Very carefully. I used a pin to remove the decals, You need to be very delicate here in order to not ruin the work you already did.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/E190995B-30E0-48E8-AD6D-A99B82EF6E45-11823-000008C80B0F9D6E_zps54c071eb.jpg)
Now the clear coat, another 3 coats was used here. For some reason the silver looks more white, could be just the lighting, cell phone combo.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/C5A4E43C-4496-45C5-A4C9-D61CDADDA1E4-11823-000008C811CA5B14_zps4dc3cfca.jpg)
Another finished pic
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/921CB687-38DD-4F10-861A-8CFE0DA860FD-11823-000008C81970562C_zps1957b626.jpg)
And a final pic with the wheel back on:
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/83C95783-8746-4B9B-AF9F-3BEBD1A9DBC3-11823-000008C81E4DEB42_zps5fb42626.jpg)
So now the fronts look better - what do you guys think?
In order to get the right sized decal dialed in, I contacted Matt from MotoGFX. Here is a pic of the test fit.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/276780BB-E984-42C7-A227-ABDD42FBA3B8-5981-000003CCDA16CA68_zps6bc1755d.jpg)
After I received the decals, it was time to get dirty. Here is a pic of all the materials I needed. Sandpaper, primer, silver, black, clear coat, and the decals of course.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/5F42684D-7644-4596-B19B-1B87B43A34F6-11823-000008C7EE9BFA00_zps48048a36.jpg)
After a good scrubbing and clean the calipers and ready for the primer coat.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/478E9385-40FF-45A0-981B-C06167B62B16-11823-000008C7F61DE79E_zps98977efe.jpg)
Time to tape up the car, don't want any spray going where it shouldn't be!
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/A681F002-D69B-4493-BD4E-8C71B657ED61-11823-000008C7FAE5B7A4_zpsd83e8e95.jpg)
Primer layer going on, nice and easy strokes. 2 coats worked for me.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/0D111CDC-037D-43FE-A5B0-6779F1762CCF-11823-000008C7FF0FC9BF_zps5a52e5e3.jpg)
After the primer coat was workable I added the silver coats. After it dried up I went ahead and applied the decals. Some folks at the point would go ahead and apply the clear coat afterwards. I did not, read on.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/4BC688AC-65EA-4C2B-8AE0-EEB3CD9521EF-11823-000008C803AA3203_zps0290b416.jpg)
I then painted the caliper the final color, black. As you see here, the decal is also being painted over. I went 3 coats here until you could barely see the decal.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/AA3E437A-B5D7-41B0-A99C-3FFA6187FBE1-11823-000008C807BB6E55_zps5fdd9da6.jpg)
Now you're asking, how did you remove the decal? Very carefully. I used a pin to remove the decals, You need to be very delicate here in order to not ruin the work you already did.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/E190995B-30E0-48E8-AD6D-A99B82EF6E45-11823-000008C80B0F9D6E_zps54c071eb.jpg)
Now the clear coat, another 3 coats was used here. For some reason the silver looks more white, could be just the lighting, cell phone combo.
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/C5A4E43C-4496-45C5-A4C9-D61CDADDA1E4-11823-000008C811CA5B14_zps4dc3cfca.jpg)
Another finished pic
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/921CB687-38DD-4F10-861A-8CFE0DA860FD-11823-000008C81970562C_zps1957b626.jpg)
And a final pic with the wheel back on:
![](http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm279/allb18c/83C95783-8746-4B9B-AF9F-3BEBD1A9DBC3-11823-000008C81E4DEB42_zps5fb42626.jpg)
So now the fronts look better - what do you guys think?
Last edited by Allb18c; 09-23-12 at 03:58 PM.
Trending Topics
#9
Pole Position
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My best compliment : It looks like it was painted on straight from the Lexus factory!
Last edited by natnut; 09-24-12 at 06:20 AM.
#11
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So how much time did it take you to complete the project from start to finish. Very professsional results. Wish I could, but know my limitations. I'll have to find me a place to do that for me.
#15