Proof of how severely my cladding has faded!

[VX KAT]

For some reason I never noticed this area before, it's on the front cladding directly above the fake cladding bolt.
But it really shows how much my cladding has lightened, faded, whatever, since original.
Like to hear how this compares to others.

The first pic's color is more accurate, mine really has a bit of a bluish tint.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4761.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4762.JPG

[PK]

For some reason I never noticed this area before, it's on the front cladding directly above the fake cladding bolt.
But it really shows how much my cladding has lightened, faded, whatever, since original.
Like to hear how this compares to others.

The first pic's color is more accurate, mine really has a bit of a bluish tint.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4761.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4762.JPG

So, just to get this straight Sue -

Would you now say your cladding started out as -

Dark grey
or
Light Black
or
Bluey grey
:bgwo::bwgy::yeso::wtfo::laughy::laughy::laughy:
PK

[VX KAT]

So, just to get this straight Sue -

Would you now say your cladding started out as -

Dark grey
or
Light Black
or
Bluey grey
:bgwo::bwgy::yeso::wtfo::laughy::laughy::laughy:
PK
:slap:
no, I think I'd just say it started out LOOKIN' GOOD!!!....now....not so much....:rollo:

[Grif]

I'm starting to think that the only way to regain close to the original color is via an actual coating like LineX or possibly Gatorback. The refinisher products like R/R and TS-1 just don't add color. Those simply recondition the greying surface as opposed to creating a new surface with proper color.

[Ascinder]

You should definitely PM CrnCcc(Clint). He's right there in Arizona with you and the stuff he shot his cladding with was some kind of bumper paint. It looks better than new. He said it was extremely easy to do too. I don't know how it's held up so far, but I will personally vouch that it looked incredible even after almost a year. I was actually having buyers remorse since I had just bought the Gatorback stuff when I saw his:o

[Ldub]

Like to hear how this compares to others.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4761.JPG

That compares favorably with my R. hand, I've got one just like it...:yesgray:

How inna hell didja get that angle?...I don't remember this being taken...:_confused...:laughing:

[VX KAT]

That compares favorably with my R. hand, I've got one just like it...:yesgray:

How inna hell didja get that angle?...I don't remember this being taken...:_confused...:laughing:

Yes, I believe that does match up with your hand. :laugho: I'm tricky like that! Ya gotta watch out for me! I'm a stealth snapper!
I was just using my super zoom and when you turned your head to the left I snapped it. I can see your hair in the far left...or is that your beard??:_thinking

[VX KAT]

I agree Grif, none of the perm products seem to add much color. That Bondo stuff was like a dye of some sort, but too hard to control evenness of application and Rick & Eric both said it was pretty bad anyway.

I'm getting more and more drawn to the GB.

Spent about 2 hrs the other day trying to blast that darn last 5% of R/R off...boy it's a bugger! Still have some left. Concentrated on the front & rear bumpers so I MAYBE I can do the GatorBack before I install the 2 skids.....just maybe it will all work out. Yes, I realize the skids will cover the area BTW. :rollo:

I just remembered today I'd taken the chunk of cladding Dub cut out for the hitch...well, I've decided I'm going to use it to do some experimenting...going cough up the $20 or so for one can of GB hopefully avail at my local Chevy dealership. Just goin' play with it... scratch it, scuff it, patch it and see if it blends easy....etc... Let's hope.....

Beau- Do you have any cladding chunks you can experiment with also??

[Ldub]

You should definitely PM CrnCcc(Clint). He's right there in Arizona with you and the stuff he shot his cladding with was some kind of bumper paint. It looks better than new. He said it was extremely easy to do too. I don't know how it's held up so far, but I will personally vouch that it looked incredible even after almost a year. I was actually having buyers remorse since I had just bought the Gatorback stuff when I saw his:o

Here's the orig post, sans pics...:(

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=9401&highlight=duplicolor+cladding

Here are a couple 0f pics from his gallery...http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/buddyicons/82168454@N00.jpg?1164509324

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/VXsilverPainting.jpg

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/SilverVX_030a.jpg

[vt_maverick]

FWIW, that same piece of "interior' cladding is nowhere near as dark on my VX as on Sue's, which doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense given that it should be fairly hidden on both rigs. Who knows...

I agree that a coating product (GatorBack or whatever Crn used) is the best long-term solution to the problem. On the other hand if your cladding isn't that bad and you're just looking to maintain, TS-1 is probably the best option.

[Ascinder]

Beau- Do you have any cladding chunks you can experiment with also??

I'm not really sure. It seems like I vaguely remember saving some when I made the cut out for the winch, but I have no idea what happened to it. I think my garage ate them.

Also, the pics for Clints VX do not look like how it looks in real life. It is a very flat, very even finish. Almost like a slightly matte/satin surface. I would do it in a second if I didn't already have a couple quarts of Gatorback waiting patiently on the shelf. I can only hope it turns out close to as well as his did.

[Ldub]

Here's some more product & advice to add to the cornfusion...:smilewink
For more, goog: bumper black paint...:yesgray:

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/forblacbumtr.html

http://www.tcpglobal.com/spraypaintdepot/bumper-coatings.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/how_5143210_paint-plastic-bumpers-truck.html

http://www.abc-bus.com/servicebulletins/SB1083%20Thermoplastic%20bumper%20shell%20painting .pdf

http://www.bodyshopbusiness.com/Article/3526/painting_plastic.aspx

http://www.urethanesupply.com/bccincompatible.php

[Ascinder]

Don't quote me on this, but I wanna say he used duplicolor bumper paint from walmart. It wasn't any space age/highly technical/expensive product, and it didn't sound like it took a lot(if any) prep work. I wanna say he said he had it done in under an hour and that included masking it off. Hopefully he'll chime in here with the details. That was one of the great things about it-sold everywhere for cheap, quick, and easy touchups.

[VX KAT]

Here's some more product & advice to add to the cornfusion...:smilewink
For more, goog: bumper black paint...:yesgray:

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/forblacbumtr.html

http://www.tcpglobal.com/spraypaintdepot/bumper-coatings.aspx

http://www.ehow.com/how_5143210_paint-plastic-bumpers-truck.html

http://www.abc-bus.com/servicebulletins/SB1083%20Thermoplastic%20bumper%20shell%20painting .pdf

http://www.bodyshopbusiness.com/Article/3526/painting_plastic.aspx

http://www.urethanesupply.com/bccincompatible.php
http://www.pic4ever.com/images/gaah.gif.....I hate you Dubster!!!!! You realize this will now drive me crazy!!!! And then I'll make a few other people crazy, and it just isn't pretty......http://www.pic4ever.com/images/ugly_irre.gif

http://www.pic4ever.com/images/4fvgdaq_th.gif.....& my hubby really hates you!!!

[ZEUS]

Sue, isn't that just black paint applied to blend with the rad support? I have seen it on other vehicles too. The piece of cladding Dub cut out will be the original color of the cladding thru it's thickness and I don't think you will see much difference from the backside thru to the finished/textured side. That section was facing downward so should not have faded much. I would compare that piece to the front to see how different they are.:yeso:
For some reason I never noticed this area before, it's on the front cladding directly above the fake cladding bolt.
But it really shows how much my cladding has lightened, faded, whatever, since original.
Like to hear how this compares to others.

The first pic's color is more accurate, mine really has a bit of a bluish tint.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4762.JPG

[RallyDude]

I actually like a bit "darker" shade of silver (not charcoal...still silver)
I think the color you are describing is often called "gunmetal" or even "Kaiser" in vxinfo speak. But names are names and colors are colors.

The gator would save some time, as it's a one-time application and especially if it could be spot treated later as well. I don't think that the color of your cladding is objectionable, just different. If you could get a sample of the GB, that would be great. It's more important to get the cladding right, as that's more work and money than to recoat the skids if you have to.

I wonder if your PO used a diluted bleach wash at some point. It may explain why the sandblasted front from travelling through CO is darker (as the darker OEM color is showing through), as well as why the sills and front mounting points on your cladding is darker (probably didn't bother to do them). I feel like nancy drew.

While paint colors are opaque, that's easy, as you know the color will be the paint color. The short term products seem more like stains where it's semi-transparant, but still mostly opaque. Whereas the GB is more transparant and less opaque. I would guess your end color, may just be a hair lighter than others using the same product.

[RallyDude]

You do know Jack (pbkid) sold his VX as he was sick of reading yet another cladding thread?

[VX KAT]

You do know Jack (pbkid) sold his VX as he was sick of reading yet another cladding thread?
....OUCH! :goof:

[tom4bren]

... Beau- Do you have any cladding chunks you can experiment with also??

Sue,

I can send you the piece of cladding immediately behind the front driver's wheel so that you can experiment to your heart's content. I have the entire nose cone too but that would be expensive to ship. Both pieces have been trimmed so prolly not useful for replacing anyone's damaged pieces.

Lemme know if you're interested.

Tom

[Ldub]

http://www.pic4ever.com/images/gaah.gif.....I hate you Dubster!!!!! You realize this will now drive me crazy!!!! And then I'll make a few other people crazy, and it just isn't pretty......http://www.pic4ever.com/images/ugly_irre.gif

http://www.pic4ever.com/images/4fvgdaq_th.gif.....& my hubby really hates you!!!

:naughty:...:yesgray:...:rotate:

:laughing:

[vt_maverick]

I actually like a bit "darker" shade of silver (not charcoal...still silver)
I think the color you are describing is often called "gunmetal" or even "Kaiser" in vxinfo speak. But names are names and colors are colors.


OT and probably a dumb question, but who are you quoting here? :confused:

[Moncha]

That compares favorably with my R. hand, I've got one just like it...:yesgray:

How inna hell didja get that angle?...I don't remember this being taken...:_confused...:laughing:


Duh.... Helmet cam? Gotta make sure you don't bump your head!

[VX KAT]

OT and probably a dumb question, but who are you quoting here? :confused:
He's quoting me from a PM. Since he has a silver front skid I'm pestering,...er, um, I mean consulting him about colors etc......:rollo:

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Sue, I'm curious, did the fuel stain fade as much as the rest of yur cladd'in?


LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ldub]

Duh.... Helmet cam? Gotta make sure you don't bump your head!

http://www.pic4ever.com/images/4fvgdaq_th.gif...I done shoulda thoughta that...http://www.pic4ever.com/images/4fvgdaq_th.gif

[RickOKC]

Sue, this is just weird. :(

Why would the part of the cladding which is also out of sunlight (the circled area that lives under the lip of the grille) look faded, too?

And why does the metal cladding screw seem to perfectly match the color of the plastic cladding? :_confused

http://members.cox.net/radamsokc/fade.jpg

[VX KAT]

Sue, this is just weird. :(

Why would the part of the cladding which is also out of sunlight (the circled area that lives under the lip of the grille) look faded, too?

And why does the metal cladding screw seem to perfectly match the color of the plastic cladding? :_confused

http://members.cox.net/radamsokc/fade.jpg

Thought the exact same thing, especially why my cladding screws are all uniformly & perfectly gray like the cladding, even in all the nooks & crannies. I would have thought the different sun angles plus the sides of the screws being recessed, and the interior part of the cladding screw recess would all be various shades of faded.

Another weird thing, the TOP edge of the cladding, left of headlight, is the same uniform gray, and that's recessed kind of under the metal panels. :confused:

I compared the cladding chunk from the hitch cut-out up against the area by headlight...it's NOT as dark as the top horizontal bar....so Zeus must be right, they paint it a little to match the support....but, it's a good bit darker than my cladding, confirming my cladding's faded.

Bottom line, don't need to know how or why my cladding is lighter, moving on to pick which product to apply and make it darker. :thumbup:
(yeah, OK, keep it down, I hear all those "thank GAWD she's moving on!" :clap:)

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF2164.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF2161.JPG


Note the chunk has 2 different shades...the part that saw the sun, is lighter.
The satiny area is R/R.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF2168.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSCF2139.JPG

Note top edge of cladding, left of headlight, is light gray. (The darker splotchy area right under headlight is some remaining R/R).
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_4755.JPG

[ZEUS]

Well of course I'm right! Dur! ;)

[VX KAT]

Well of course I'm right! Dur! ;)

Oh yeah, I fergetted...Zeus is a God....he's pretty smart!

OK, oh smart one, which coating/paint stuff should I pick for my cladding??:?:

[Grif]

Bottom line, don't need to know how or why my cladding is lighter, moving on to pick which product to apply and make it darker.


How are we supposed to make recommendations on the next form of treatment when we dont know 1) Why your cladding has such unique color/fade properties and 2) has responded so poorly to other treatments such as R/R? Seems to me the current state of the cladding and its history is pertinant when choosing a new treatment.

You can shrug off relevant observations if you want, but they are only intended to help make an educated decision.

[VX KAT]

How are we supposed to make recommendations on the next form of treatment when we dont know 1) Why your cladding has such unique color/fade properties and 2) has responded so poorly to other treatments such as R/R? Seems to me the current state of the cladding and its history is pertinant when choosing a new treatment.

You can shrug off relevant observations if you want, but they are only intended to help make an educated decision.

Grif- I was making a joke of how prolonged this has gone on and how obsessive/consumed I've become about it. I know I'm driving many folks crazy about this and was thinking I should just give up pretty much. I MORE than appreciate any and all thoughts/suppositions/theories/recommendations, I just think I've kinda worn out my welcome. And I totally agree, investigation, information etc is needed to make an educated choice. Investigation of facts was what I did for a living...which is why I'm so neurotically thorough, anal retentive....
Believe me, I sincerely appreciate any and all help....you all know about 500 million times more than I do!

[ZEUS]

Oh yeah, I fergetted...Zeus is a God....he's pretty smart!

OK, oh smart one, which coating/paint stuff should I pick for my cladding??:?:
HAHAHA! Who luvs ya baby!? :p
I'd say which coating to apply is a personal preference. I coated mine with Dupli-Color bed coating... it streaked cuz I am lazy but it faded to look more even. I wanted and liked the textured look tho! Still had to treat it to keep it a dark color because it lacked UV protection however. 2 years or so later when I was giving it a high pressure shower the water actually started to flake it off in the most sun-damaged places. So I would def suggest using an adhesion promoter and whatever top coat you use should be UV resistant. Then be careful with the high-pressure water...:yesy: P.S. Don't let your husband hate Dub cuz he's beautiful. :bgwo:

[Mile High VX]

Have you considered that one of the PO's may not have liked the dark cladding, for whatever reason, and actually treated the cladding to be lighter. The line around the grill area would be consistent if they taped off the hood without removing the cladding.

If you did what Mike did with the Gatorback using the light grey color and painted the cladding bolts I think you would come up with something very close to what you have.

Just a thought...:)

[VX KAT]

Have you considered that one of the PO's may not have liked the dark cladding, for whatever reason, and actually treated the cladding to be lighter. The line around the grill area would be consistent if they taped off the hood without removing the cladding.

Yeah, I think that's most likely. There's definitely no "coating" on it of any type now, maybe somehow they bleached it ?:confused:

[tom4bren]

Didn't Armorall usta cause a lightening of dark plastics after long term usage. I'm wondering if the PO usta Armorall the crap outta the cladding to keep is shiney & purdy ... & now you're paying the consequences.

[VX KAT]

Didn't Armorall usta cause a lightening of dark plastics after long term usage. I'm wondering if the PO usta Armorall the crap outta the cladding to keep is shiney & purdy ... & now you're paying the consequences.
I think I recall that too from back in the day...also that it badly dried out the surface....at least mine doesn't seem to be dried out or chalky at all.

My local Chevy dealer never heard of GB :rollo:...so I gotta check out the dealers in the "big city", see if I can find it in stock before I give up and order it online. Tom, thanks for your offer of a piece of cladding. Any chunks are welcome for my experimenting. Think I'll try bleach on one.

Contacted TEN36VX yesterday who used Duplicolor over 3 yrs ago. Said it still looked great, but did have some that chipped off.

[tom4bren]

Tom, thanks for your offer of a piece of cladding. Any chunks are welcome for my experimenting. Think I'll try bleach on one.

KAT,

I'll try to remember to grab it tonight so I can box it up tomorrow. PM me your shipping addy.

Tom

[RickOKC]

I'm expecting bleach won't do anything at all since the stuff I used to remove the Bondo Black didn't seem to harm the cladding. I could be wrong (ABS light) but SuperClean (http://www.superclean.com/product1.php) seems to be much harsher. That removed a layer of skin from my hands and left light spots on my fuel door.

[Ldub]

Here's my opine on the subject at hand...:_wtf:

IMO, all darker colors have come with lighter cladding, & all lighter colors have cladding that's closer to black.
I've always noticed it on Ebonies, & would assume it carries through to Foxfires, Dragons, etc...:naughty:

Check it out next time you see an Astral or Ironman next to an Ebony or Firefox.

Who?...What?...ME stir the pot?...Naaaaaaaaaa...:smilewink

[Mile High VX]

And if you try and buy touch-up paint on line they list 3 exterior trim colors in various shades of "grey" from a lighter color to one that's almost black and all listed as "bumper" color...:bwgy:

[Luna X]

Sue.......

If you put ANY type of "coating" other than a tried and true basecoat/clearcoat, I'm personally gonna come up there and take your toy away from you!!! ;) :)

[vt_maverick]

Sue.......

If you put ANY type of "coating" other than a tried and true basecoat/clearcoat, I'm personally gonna come up there and take your toy away from you!!! ;) :)

Sounds like she's been waiting for you to come up there and take a look FOR AWHILE ANYWAY... (poke poke) :p