Semi-Gloss Paint Hood Blackout?

[R_Lefebvre]

I'm planning on doing the blackout hood thing on my Disco just because... well just because. It looks cool and maybe it cuts down on glare.

Anyway, I have a couple cans of a semi-gloss black Duplicolor paint I bought a while back that I haven't used. I was thinking of giving that a shot. While flat black is obviously THE way to go, I also hear that it's really hard to get a nice even job out of the flat black. So maybe the semi-gloss is better in that regard?

I have considered the Vigg decal, but for $60+ shipping to Canada it's a bit spendy for not much reason. I figure the decal is pretty much a semi-gloss also?

I like the idea of paint better anyway. My only hesitation is that it's so permanent. Not that it's a problem for me, but IF heaven forbid I have to resell... But, I don't think it's a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I'm sure the fact that I got rid of the bling bling 18" wheels, branch pin striping, etc. will hurt the resale much more.

The hood could hardly be called perfect anyway. Lots of stone chipping on the front that somebody touched up with not quite matching paint.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Semi-gloss?

 

[Michael Slade]

I'm planning on doing the blackout hood thing on my Disco just because... well just because. It looks cool and maybe it cuts down on glare......
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Semi-gloss?

Some people don't think it looks cool, but it does cut down on glare.

I've done two trucks, both with semi-gloss, and I would recommend doing it flat black if you think you can find a place that can do it and have it look good. Flat paint is HARD to put on evenly, but IMO would work the best.

 

[Sloan]

I have always found that flat black was pretty much fool proof. Just do several coats so there are no runs and before you start painting sit the spray cans in warm water for 10-15 minutes.

 

[FourByLand]

It's just 3M vinyl, check with your local sign shop and see what they would charge to make it for you.Good luck!

 

[upcruiser]

I used satin black (kind of a semi gloss) on my 80 and had a tough time getting it to come out even. I used a roller though as I wanted a bit of a roughened texture.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

It's just 3M vinyl, check with your local sign shop and see what they would charge to make it for you.Good luck!

:iagree:
I say use the decal. If you mess up there's going back and you know what to expect with the look (think straight, even & no overspray). I payed $60 to have the local body shop paint my hood blackout on and I can't see the difference when compared to FourByLand's vinyl set up.

Good luck!

 

[madizell]

A vinyl application designed to be permanent will be hard to remove without damage to the underlying paint, plus after a time, even if the underlying paint is not directly damaged, it won't be the same color as the rest of the truck due to differential fading and possibly due to chemical attack from the glue. So I don't really see much benefit to using a good decal versus painting as you may end up repainting the hood regardless of what you do.

If you are truly concerned about resale value, leave it alone and wear sun glasses, or assume you will be selling to someone who will appreciate the paint job on the hood. I would paint with flat black. Flat paint does not live forever on a vehicle largely because the dull paint will buff up over time if rubbed. Decals, on the other hand, tend to shrink, crack, and peel. In the end, I would expect both paint and decals to need redoing at about the same time, and paint is far cheaper.

 

[FourByLand]

Mad, My truck has been in the sun most of it's life and I removed the flares and there was no color change... shouldn't be any worse than removing a sticker from the side of your truck as in the glue shouldn't be an issue so if he want's to remove it for resale he can and if he paint's it it's permanent.

 

[The BN Guy]

Call it an ignorant question because I have no idea...

Does painting the hood black add to engine heat any?

 

[madizell]

If you have not attempted to remove a large decal from a painted surface, especially after it has sat in the sun for several years, you have missed one of life's little pleasures. The glue sets up into some new and exotic chemical never seen by man, and the plastic turns to junk that won't stay in one piece long enough to pull the decal loose. Color fade depends a lot on color of paint, and quality of paint. All paint fades in the sun. Some colors are notorious. Plus, the gluing agent can leave traces in the paint or can directly attack paint when not clear coated. The better the glue, the harder it is to remove a decal, and some decals can grip paint so well that removing the decal lifts the paint (not to mention that some vehicles these days are not very well painted -- look at some of the GM and Dodge products with chalked and lifted paint after only a few years). A heat gun can help lift decals, but it is almost never pretty.

There are pros and cons to each. My point is only that high quality decals intended to be permanent are not easy to remove and should be considered to be not all that much different from paint in the first place.

 

[madizell]

Call it an ignorant question because I have no idea...

Does painting the hood black add to engine heat any?

I would not think so.

 

[The BN Guy]

Black can be a little intense in south Texas. Would any other color work yet not absorb as much sun/heat?

 

[madizell]

Even flat white will offer less glare than gloss of most any color.

 

[The BN Guy]

Heck I almost have that already since I haven't waxed in a while.

 

[Spikepretorius]

I read some scientific blurb somewhere that black will make the surface hotter but not make the interior hotter.