How to Paint a Chevy S10 Tailgate
Painting a tailgate on a Chevy S10 is no different than painting a tailgate on any other truck. A new look for the tailgate can add a little something extra to the truck for minimal cost. It can be painted to match the truck or even a completely different color. Painting the tailgate can also make the truck look brand new and add a beautiful elegance to the vehicle. This is a task that can be accomplished by most truck owners with a little time and patience.
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Things You'll Need
- Automotive paint
- Soap
- Bucket
- Water
- Paper towels
- Stirring stick
- Paint gun
- Sawhorses
- Primer
- Lacquer
- Air blower
- Buffer
- Sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Remove the tailgate from the back of the truck. For this part of the job it is best to have two people. Pull the handle to let the tailgate down. Lift up on each side of the tailgate and slide it off from the back of the truck. Set it on the sawhorses where it will be painted.
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2
Remove the handle and anything else on the tailgate such as emblems, decals and stickers that will not be painted. Clean the tailgate thoroughly with soap and water. This will remove any excess grease, gunk or dirt from the tailgate. Dry with paper towels.
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3
Mix half primer and half lacquer into a paint gun. Plug in the gun, and press the lever to begin spraying. Spray the entire tailgate, including the top and sides. Allow a full day for this to dry before moving on.
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4
Sand the entire tailgate with 320-grit sandpaper, going over the entire area. Air blow the tailgate to remove and excess dust and debris that was left over from sanding.
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5
Shake the paint can. Open it and mix it up with a stirring stick. Fill the paint gun with automotive paint of the desired color. Spray the tailgate with the paint the same way it was sprayed with the primer/lacquer mix. Go over the entire tailgate and allow at least four hours to dry. Spray on a second coat in the exact same manner as the first. Fill the paint gun if necessary. Allow the paint at least 24 hours to dry after the second coat has been applied.
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6
Plug in the buffer and go over the entire tailgate in slow circular motions to get the proper shine. Be careful not to push too hard or the paint will burn.
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