Engine cover painting tips?

[Aubrey64]

So today I painted the engine cover to my car Blue and silver, and once I took off the tape it looked terrible! The actual paint color was great but once the tape came off chunks of the paint came off as well, and I spent like an hour taping up everything, and it still came out all sloppy. I have seen people on here who have painted their own engine covers and it looks awesome, but mine just didn't turn out like I hoped, so I am gonna re do it this weekend. does anyone have any tips or advice on how I can get it done the cleanest/most professional look possible?

[Aubrey64]

Also when I re do it, do I need to get off all the paint before I re paint it?

[VR Baron]

I would say try light sanding instead of taking it all off. Sand and blend in where it was ripped off, of course I dont know how bad it was.But be carefull, you know how the surface is textured? If smooth to much in the bad areas may have to sand it all, but people do that to get the smooth look.Me, I wasnt going that crazy with it.If that doesnt work well enough you can take it off, but I never tried that. We all get a bit of paint that lifts off, mine was at the edges so I masked the good areas and re shot it, or in small areas use a paint brush.Main thing here is to let one color dry complaetely, overnight anyway, then mask off to do the other. My paint process was as follows:

2-4 coats of adhesion promoter for plastic
4-6 coats main color
3-4 coats of clear

All paints were from Duplicolor

[Aubrey64]

Originally Posted by VR Baron

I would say try light sanding instead of taking it all off. Sand and blend in where it was ripped off, of course I dont know how bad it was.But be carefull, you know how the surface is textured? If smooth to much in the bad areas may have to sand it all, but people do that to get the smooth look.Me, I wasnt going that crazy with it.If that doesnt work well enough you can take it off, but I never tried that. We all get a bit of paint that lifts off, mine was at the edges so I masked the good areas and re shot it, or in small areas use a paint brush.Main thing here is to let one color dry complaetely, overnight anyway, then mask off to do the other. My paint process was as follows:

2-4 coats of adhesion promoter for plastic
4-6 coats main color
3-4 coats of clear

All paints were from Duplicolor

Thanks for the help! I will probably just redo it all because what isn't peeled off, just looks pretty sloppy. I should have trusted my own judgement, because I knew that I needed to prep with sanding and adhesive promoter but the guy at Auto Zone insisted that that step was unnecessary so I listened to him...Which was definitely the wrong decision, I should've trusted my own judgement, because my lack of proper prep work was probably what screwed me over

[J-ROD-210]

Don't worry,mine looks like crap too because I used cheap aerosol paint.The can said it was specifically for plastic and the same brand clear made it worse.

[Red Jewel RS]

I got bubbles in mine and had to redo. What I have found is use several light coats and let dry between. On the last coat before you use clear, pull tape off slowly before the paint is completely dry.
I'm not a professional be any means but it work for me.
hope this helps. Good luck!