Steering wheel emblem

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

Since I have the exterior emblems on my '14 color matched I was thinking about the steering wheel emblem. Is there an easy way that also looks good to color match the steering wheel emblem? I would just do the gold insert portion and keep the chrome trim (like the tailgate emblem).

 

I was thinking to just buy a small piece of vinyl like used for decals and place it on the emblem and just carefully trim the vinyl with a razor blade. If I go this route, what would be the best way to get it to go into the small indentions as I'm first applying it to keep the same texture?

 

The only other way I can think of would be to paint it, but that would mean I'd have to remove it and I don't want to do that unless that would be the only way to make it look good.

 

I know it's a small detail but I like the small details.

[blackout07]

I plan to use vinyl. Just gently press it in with your thumb if you want to keep the texture close.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I plan to use vinyl. Just gently press it in with your thumb if you want to keep the texture close.

 

Thanks. Any other way like paint or plasti-dip (not a fan of plasti-dip, but being a small interior piece I would consider it) I know I would have to remove the little emblem or the whole airbag which I don't want to do either one. I don't want to damage the small thin emblem insert and I don't trust myself enough with removing the airbag lol. I may try using a hair dryer or something to maybe help with keeping the texture just to see if it helps. So luckily the new 2014+ trucks come with a 110 outlet lol.

[blackout07]

painting would be a hassle, although with a super clean and fine artist brush you could try brushing on paint. Still wouldn't be as painless as vinyl though.

[RyanbabZ71]

painting would be a hassle, although with a super clean and fine artist brush you could try brushing on paint. Still wouldn't be as painless as vinyl though.

What about a paint marker?

 

 

Ryan

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

What about a paint marker?

 

 

Ryan

 

Could probably do it like that, but would still have to mask it real good and would be even harder and more tedious since I want to keep the small chrome trim of the emblem chrome. With vinyl I figure all you'd have to do stick it on there, get any air bubbles out and then carefully trim around the emblem. With vinyl you can trim, if you don't mask it good enough the paint will run on the chrome trim. If I also wanted the chrome trim to be black then I could do it like you're talking about.

[blackout07]

What about a paint marker?

Ryan

Not a bad idea..

[Sluggo]

 

Could probably do it like that, but would still have to mask it real good and would be even harder and more tedious since I want to keep the small chrome trim of the emblem chrome. With vinyl I figure all you'd have to do stick it on there, get any air bubbles out and then carefully trim around the emblem. With vinyl you can trim, if you don't mask it good enough the paint will run on the chrome trim. If I also wanted the chrome trim to be black then I could do it like you're talking about.

 

When restoring the chrome badges on my GS I found it quite easy to skip masking altogether. Lay the paint on as smooth as you can get with as little getting on the chrome trim as possible. Don't sweat it too much about the chrome though as it was extremely easy to go back and "scrape" the paint off the chrome using a toothpick. If you do it before the paint has a chance to really dry, but has just flashed over it comes right off. If you try to do this in car it won't be real easy to get the paint to lay on evenly due to that damn gravity thing.

 

Granted that was using Testors model paint and real, late 60's chrome, but I'd be willing to bet it will work just as well. Don't know that it will save you any time over the vinyl though, but you wouldn't risk leaving cut lines from the trimming process.

[Spurshot]

[blackout07]

 

When restoring the chrome badges on my GS I found it quite easy to skip masking altogether. Lay the paint on as smooth as you can get with as little getting on the chrome trim as possible. Don't sweat it too much about the chrome though as it was extremely easy to go back and "scrape" the paint off the chrome using a toothpick. If you do it before the paint has a chance to really dry, but has just flashed over it comes right off. If you try to do this in car it won't be real easy to get the paint to lay on evenly due to that damn gravity thing.

 

Granted that was using Testors model paint and real, late 60's chrome, but I'd be willing to bet it will work just as well. Don't know that it will save you any time over the vinyl though, but you wouldn't risk leaving cut lines from the trimming process.

 

[blackout07]

Crap pic but I just did the wife's Tahoe with vinyl. Very simple to do, but I could take it or leave it. The kids love it though.

 

[iDominate]

Looks good. I have been thinking about doing my GMC as well. Need to find some time

[Spurshot]

Take 2 Viagra, chase the ol lady into the bedroom, and call me in the morning.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I been putting it off not sure of how I want to do it. I may see if I can pop just the gold insert of the emblem and just use plastidip. I have a feeling though that I might mess up the little chrome trim trying to get the insert out. Or maybe pop the whole emblem off and take off the plastidip off the chrome trim. I'm normally not a fan of plastidip, but that's really on major exterior parts like rims and grilles. I don't think vinyl will keep the bumpy texture like I want to keep, or it wonk't do it good enough. Even with plastidip I will want to at least pop the air bag off to lay it flat and wonk't get over spray in the truck. But, I have yet found a video that shows how to remove the air bag from a '14+ Silverado. I looked for paint markers around here, but all I can find is the paint markers used for dry eraser boards and there's not any craft type stores around here.

 

EDIT: Just ordered a 4x6" piece of vinyl so I'm just going to try that first. If not then I'll try plastidip.

[Chevyrcg]

If you go the vinyl route, hit it with a little heat from a blow dryer, this will soften the vinyl up and allow the adhesive to get real sticky, also allow you to take care of any imperfections you may have.