For all you paint guru's, how do I get my truck from the original glossy black paint to a flat black finish? Will I have to completely repaint or just strip the clear and re-clear with satin? I know nothing about paint and body so if someone could explain how to get a flat finish from a gloss finish I would greatly appreciate it.

Also...I know people on here have painted thier chrome grills, would love for someone to explain how that's done. Thank's in advance fellas!

I believe you have to strip the clear, then you'd have mix in a matting agent w/ a new clear coat and then spray. The matting agent is what gives you the flat finish, but you can get the flat finish back to a shiny finish without having to reshoot anything. You just have to polish or buff out the flat.

You don't need to strip the clear. Just wet sand the whole truck with 800 grit. Just don't sand through the existing clear. Then reclear it with a flat clear.

Wow, are you thinking of doing the whole truck that way?
It is possible to sand lightly then shoot a clear with flattening agent mixed in.

you could also just sand your existing clear with a very fine Abralon sandpaper with a 2000 and 4000 grit and get an almost satin finish also. This procedure should be practiced first. - The worse could be to re-clear it anyway. you never polish that satin finish when it gets done. just use dawn detergent to keep it clean.

I want to have the whole truck flat black, no emblems, no chrome, blacked out head and tail lights, black wheels, etc. I've seen a few vehicles done like this and really like the way it looks, real mean looking. Sounds like I need to just take it to a body shop and shell out the $$ to have the clear sanded and re-shot.

Good Luck on the body shop search... make sure you see a vehicle that they already had done for an owner

Just dropped my truck off at my paint shop for the satin black treatment.....will be done in two weeks.

I have agonized over which route to take...2 stage with flattened clear or single stage satin....I have decided to try Hot Hues Hot Rod Black which is a satin black single stage because I have only seen good things about it online.

Also, just installed a set of Glassworks Unlimited fenders and bedsides and they need some bodywork, so I can't take the "spray a flat clear over the black" approach.

Here are a few pics of it b4 going to the shop...will post after photos when I get it back....

anotherpic

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrHemi,

one more

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almost forgot...R&H Longtravel are building me one of these custom for the '05 1500....

another bumper pic

gonna be sweet!
Not trying to be negative.... it IS YOUR truck. But doing a flat black paint job will limit your chances of finding a buyer in a few years (if you ever wanted to sell it) Color, and quality of paint are among the top things buyers initially look at when buying used cars. Not trying to change your mind, i love the look of primer'd black hot rods.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MrHemi,

hey, Good Luck on the new paint job.
don't forget the pics !!!

It'll look great!

I will post progress pics as i take them...going to shop this week to see body work...

MADCAT....I here ya, but I think I crossed that line when I cut the fenders off...LMAO...see pic....and anyway, my son is now 11 so I figure I will be ready for a 2013 RAM and he will get this one...

another

I think it is going to mean like this one.

quote:

I think I crossed that line when I cut the fenders off...LMAO...see pic....and anyway, my son is now 11 so I figure I will be ready for a 2013 RAM and he will get this one...

yup, line crossed.
honestly, i think it will look awesome.... Def. unique

crushram did you have to lose the front wheelwell liners with those fenders too?