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DIY Chrome to Black Exhaust Tips for Under $20

BostonBLS

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Like many others I am not a fan of chrome. I wanted black exhaust tips but spending 125 for a used OEM set or $400+ for aftermarket just was too much for me.

So while I was plastidipping the hood emblems I decided to give the exhaust tips a go. They looked ok at first but after a couple months looked like this and did not clean up well.
D1D79E47-A924-4AAF-B035-DF7E997891B3.jpeg

I knew powder coat or paint was the answer. But powder coat was $100. So I decided to paint. i haven been wanting to try two things: 1. Paint chrome 2.Try sand box sand in my blasting cabinet.

So I bought a bag of playground sand for $2.50 and blasted the chrome off. Couldn’t have been happier with the result.

DEC45DD2-A004-4A4F-9B9F-BC3C3650FC3E.jpeg
EE669957-5E90-4B0C-ADC4-8CFE7F9EFCD8.jpeg

Followed that by self etching primer, gloss black engine enamel, and gloss clear. All of which were $5-$6.

6E2615C6-5171-4527-B357-614E1B5F6E3F.jpeg
09ECBE85-437D-4906-8ABF-A702BD9E28CA.jpeg6E16B16D-1A70-4936-97B3-2E06A0D176C5.jpeg
8468E67F-7581-421C-BAA8-CD84F433F065.jpeg

I am very happy with the final result. Spent less than $20 and looks great.

4E195AFC-E940-48F4-8F1E-F3B77510A1C1.jpeg
D7332C5B-2BA2-488B-BFA7-72A78F9775DA.jpeg
 
I really like what you’ve done but for most of us we don’t have that type of equipment. I get what you are saying about the cost and trust me I’ve spent a mint on things, just some of us want it now and are willing to pay for it. Based upon how great yours look, I’m sure they would be several folks on here willing to pay you to do theirs. :)
 
Thanks.

True doesn’t include the cost of the cabinet. But cheap material and a little labor works for me.

I’m sure other members would love for me to do it haha. Time is my issue. I’d consider blasting and sending them out ready to paint...maybe.
 
I would definitely post where you are and be prepared to have a ton of pm coming your way. :)
 
cant Say for sure. The sand makes a mess of it’s not contained. Worth a try though.

it can be sanded by hand too.
 
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Like many others I am not a fan of chrome. I wanted black exhaust tips but spending 125 for a used OEM set or $400+ for aftermarket just was too much for me.

So while I was plastidipping the hood emblems I decided to give the exhaust tips a go. They looked ok at first but after a couple months looked like this and did not clean up well.
View attachment 53707

I knew powder coat or paint was the answer. But powder coat was $100. So I decided to paint. i haven been wanting to try two things: 1. Paint chrome 2.Try sand box sand in my blasting cabinet.

So I bought a bag of playground sand for $2.50 and blasted the chrome off. Couldn’t have been happier with the result.

View attachment 53708
View attachment 53709

Followed that by self etching primer, gloss black engine enamel, and gloss clear. All of which were $5-$6.

View attachment 53711
View attachment 53712View attachment 53713
View attachment 53714

I am very happy with the final result. Spent less than $20 and looks great.

View attachment 53715
View attachment 53716
Looks good
 
Looks awesome. Had I not found a takeoff pair from a night edition, I would have gone this route also.

Cheers,
 
Those look great. I'm wondering how well the paint will hold up over time. B2 Fabrication sells black powder coated stainless steel 5" tips for $175. They're out of stock at the moment though. But they look great. I bought a set of their stainless tips and love them.
 
Those look great. I'm wondering how well the paint will hold up over time. B2 Fabrication sells black powder coated stainless steel 5" tips for $175. They're out of stock at the moment though. But they look great. I bought a set of their stainless tips and love them.


Thanks. I think the paint will hold up really well but only time will tell. The clear helps a lot with that. Anything is better than the plastidip.

Agreed the B2 tips are nice. The point of this project was to get black tips on the cheap though.
 
For anyone wanting to send some tips to Boston, I have a spare set of chrome tips I’ll sell ya
 

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