05silverGT

Wondering if anyone is having the same problem. My car key looks like crap. The plastic is all ragged and knarly. I've never had this happen to a key before.. is it just soft/cheap plastic of something? I searched for threads on this topic and found nothing. There have to be some good solutions... automotive paint? Anyone?

S197 GT

Someone here had dipped their keys in a hard coating. It looked pretty good. I'm worried about messing up the chip.

ex-Galaxie500

Mine's "peel-scratching" (only way I can think of to describe it) off too. Too bad they don't offer blank keys in the TMS store! WINK WINK!

Hellcat6

Agree, mine is doing the same thing. Looks like crap.

azlitigator

I used the Plasti Dip from Home Depot to put two coats on the key, I did it in March and it still looks great.

[attachmentid=29596]

PS, the Plasti Dip comes in several colors and was $6.00 a can. Didn't mess up the chip inside at all.

05RedGT

My key is doing the same thing - not the same plastic as on my other Ford keys, definitely softer plastic

Burke0011

Same here - - dang....

The guy at my shop who did my gears would have problems finding the key on the shop peg board cuase he would look for 'new' keys and go right by mine.... :angry:

364

Mine is 2 months old and is already scuffed up. I was afraid to coat it thinking that it would mess up the chip. But seeing how some brave soul already tried this, I guess I'll give it a shot.

05silverGT

Well shoot, I'm glad I asked.

My friends are like... that CANT be the key to your new car! :angry:

I'm gonna try that Plati Dip. Thanks for the tip.

ex-Galaxie500

I could see where PlastiDip would help when you first got the key, but I doubt it will reverse the effects of the wear and tear? So I guess there's still no rememdy, just a preventive measure. Might be too late for me

BaSsFreAk89

i think it would be cool to paint it the same color as the car, like get it coated and such

azlitigator

Actually I just did my hubby's F150 key and it looks good. We got the truck in March and his key was trashed due to being in his pocket with all his other keys hitting it. I'm not sure why Ford used such cheapo plastic for the 2005's, but at least the Plasti Dip provides some protection and covers up the prior damage. Give it a try, I think you'll be surprised.
B)

azlitigator

They have red, yellow, blue and black at Home Depot. I'm not sure if they make other colors. My hubby wanted me to get creative and use two colors (I bought both red and black) but I declined.

05silverGT

Ok I did it. Plastidip. Found it at Home Depot. I tried red so I could give some input on a different color.

I tried a couple different methods of applying the stuff... first taped off the metal part. Dipping the key is kinda tricky. Make sure to stir up the stuff real good before using it. The dip can get real thick and nasty. Then it clumps up, and that aint good. I also tried brushing the plast-dip on.... bad idea. Don't do this. The good thing is that if you mess up you can use a rag and remove it completely. My final method was to get the stuff stirred real good... dip the key.... then blow some air on the part of the key where the keyring goes... that will open it up and not ruin the coverage. Then you let it sit for a while and voila! Rubberized key.

It looks like it will hold up well...WAY better than it did look. And being red I will never have a problem finding my car key! lol

As soon as I take a pic I will post it up.

-Matt

adrenalin

I've used that plasti-dip stuff before and agree that it works great. I didn't realize just how bad my key looked until today.

364

I admit that I'm going to do mine to, but I'm starting to get concerned. How **** do 05/06 Mustang owners get?

azlitigator

Sounds like it worked out for you Matt. What I did was wrap a fine gauge wire around the key part and dipped it it with that. Then I let it hang by the wire which I wrapped around one of my cabinet ***** to dry. I put paper towels down on the counter to catch the drips. The one things I recommend is plenty of ventalation. Thats stuff smells strong!!!

05silverGT

I don't think it's a matter of being ****. Someone made a mistake when choosing the type of plastic for the mustang key... It looked like CRAP. Unacceptable and quite frankly embarrasing.

05silverGT

That's pretty much how I did it... but in my garage. And yes, that stuff STINKS!

AL1356

I dipped mine well after it had become "shaggy" looking. Now it looks and feels better than new.
Be sure to stir it up and you might even thin it a lttle (see directions) before dipping.
I used an X-acto knife to cut the excess of the metal key part. Looks great.