I have replaced a driver's side door handle. Before I put it on, I painted it black.

Two weeks go by. I just came back from the long the highway trip and half of the paint is gone.

When I painted he handle I used sand paper to make the area little rough, and then I cleanded it with some degreaser and then I used a black spray paint form a local store.

Is there a proper way of painting a handle.

1. What type of paint?
2. Should I prime it first?
3. How about clear coat?

Has anybody of you done that with good results.

Please let me know. It looks crappy on a car like that.

Thanks.

------------------
89Iroc, 305 TPI, WC T5, 3.08 Posi, Headers, Hooker Y-Pipe, 3 inch over the axle, Flowmaster 80, No Cat, Aluminium Driveshaft, Ported Plenum, Air Foil, K&N, All free mods,

 

I've had the same problem with the door locks, sure would like to know how to paint it and make it stay. The only thing I can think of is to take it down to metal, use an adhesion promoter, then prime and paint with something like SEM trim paint.

Anyone else have ideas?

 

I've painted the whole car including door handles and locks and have had excellent results. Since both pieces in question are relatively small you should do it right. Sand or strip the piece to bare metal. For a "perfect" job, you should remove the parts from the car, but is not absolutely necessary. Once down to bare metal, clean, clean, clean the part with a "degreaser" type cleaner. I use POR-15 Marine Clean, but formula 409 should work fine. Rinse, rinse, rinse. It has to be clean because oil from a fingerprint can cause peeling problems down the line. Then a little "metal prep" to give the surface a mircoscopic "bite" for the primer to stick to. Then choose a brand primer you like and FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS especially as to "flash" time (drying time between coats) and number of coats to use. Let the primer dry as per directions. Sand the primer glass smooth with 400 grit sandpaper. Clean the part again, rinse, rinse, rinse and let dry. Use a hairdryer (heat gun preferably) to make sure the piece is dry. Finally top coat, Follow directions (same info as the primer) but use the same brand as the primer you used. This is extremely important as mixing brands is one of the major causes of paint failures.
Some other tips. If it is humid when you prime or paint drying time increases dramatically and it is very important to heat the part with a hairdryer to remove traces of humidity on the part before you spray. It is just better to wait for a dry day. Now that summer is approaching, extreme heat decreases dry time, so you will have to spray the coats sooner than recommended (if varying temp times are not on the can). You can use this method to paint any metal or plastic piece. For plastics just use paints made for the plastic you are working on and instead of metal prep, you use plastic prep.
Good luck guys.