How to Paint the Tailgate on a Ford F-350
Painting the tailgate is one way to add value and appeal to any truck on the road. The Ford F-350 is no different. While the Ford is an extremely large truck, painting its tailgate follows the same principles as painting any other tailgate. With the proper materials and help, this job can be accomplished by most owners.
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Things You'll Need
- Paint gun
- Sawhorses
- Primer
- Lacquer
- Automotive paint
- Dust mask
- Safety goggles
- Air blower
- Sandpaper
- Buffer
- Stirring stick
Instructions
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1
Remove the tailgate from the truck. This job will require two people to balance out the weight of the tailgate as it is being removed. Pull the handle to let down the tailgate. Detach the tailgate from the back of the truck and with one person on each side, lift the tailgate away from the truck and onto two sawhorses where it will be painted.
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2
Remove the handle and anything else on the tailgate that will not be painted. Clean the tailgate with water, soap and paper towels. Remove any excess debris, gunk or dust from the tailgate before moving on.
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3
Mix 50 percent primer and 50 percent lacquer into a paint gun. Plug in the gun, turn it on and spray the entire tailgate thoroughly with the primer/lacquer mix. Spray the top and sides of the tailgate until everything is completely covered.
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4
Allow this a full day to dry and then sand it completely. Sand the entire tailgate with 320-grit sandpaper, carefully going over the entire surface. Air blow the tailgate once completed to remove any dust or debris left over from the sandpaper.
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5
Shake the paint can, open it and stir it up with the stirring stick. Put automotive paint into the paint gun and spray the paint onto the tailgate the same way the primer/lacquer was sprayed on. Go over the entire tailgate thoroughly and make sure the first coat is completely covering the tailgate. Allow at least four hours to dry and then spray on another coat in the same way the first was sprayed on.
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6
Give the paint a full day to dry and then buff the tailgate. Plug in the buffer and in a circular motion, buff the tailgate to give it a proper shine. Buff slowly so the paint does not get burned.
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