Spraying plastics

[DrGonzoPOW]

Daft question maybe but is spray painting plastic a good idea? Want to get the front grill and boot panel black again instead of back to blacking it all the time. Is painting plastic an easy thing to do? Do i need special primers for something durable enough? Cant say ive ever tried on anything other than metal

[Thegs]

When you want to paint it it's better to use a plastic primer before painting everyting. Main thing is, plastics are quite hard to paint and the finish is hard to get perfect. You need to degrease really good aswell. But it is possible.

[e21-Mark]

My wing mirrors are painted.

Hang on there and I'll go take some photos....

[DrGonzoPOW]

Nice one. Would i need to rough up the surface before primer like you would metal ?

[Thegs]

I don't think you need to rough up the surface when you use plastic primer. Best to go to the store where you buy the stuff and the guy can probably tell you all about the use of it.

[DrGonzoPOW]

Store!? Ebay all the way mate
Get them pics up Mark

[Thegs]

Whatever you like. In Holland it's just for grabs round the corner. I pay like 2 or 3 pound for automotive spraycans (primer, color, clear from like Motip or Duplicolor).

[DrGonzoPOW]

Spray paint in our shops is usually pretty overpiced and rubbish if its the cheap stuff from wilkinsons!
Might do my mirrors awsell as the grills while im at it. Is taking the glass out of them easy ?

[arshad76]

Gonzo, the first time I had my car resprayed, they just rubbed down the old sunfaded front grills with a scotch pad and satin blacked them.

I did the same to my wiper arm plastics and they still look perfect.



So I'd rub them down, couple of light coats of satin black and job will be a good un :

[DrGonzoPOW]

Cool, might ave a bash on the weekend. Did the paint stick pretty well then without using primer Arshad ?

[pistonheader]

gtechniq C4. think back to black with a more matt finish/less glossy. durability - 2 years. it's amazing stuff. it ain't cheap though, but boy it's worth it.

[DrGonzoPOW]

Where would one acquire some sir?

[arshad76]

Cool, might ave a bash on the weekend. Did the paint stick pretty well then without using primer Arshad ?

Yeah it did Gonzo and I really am fussy about finishes. You can look into getting more expensive purpose made stuff and priner it and stuff, but honestly a quick rub down and satin black spray and that was it. 4 years on it hasn't faded one bit.

[pistonheader]

http://www.gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-car ... -restorer/

this is what it looks like:



it's expensive, but trust me, 15ml spreads a very, very, very long way! if you do order some, i can get you 7.5% discount if you trust me enough to paypal me the money first and pm me your address, but it's only going to be less than £2 anyway so hardly worth it. all of their products are f*** fantastic, particularly their glass sealant i have on at the moment (G1). it's been on for over 20 weeks and it's still working strong!

i know £20 seems a lot. but if you thoroughly clean trim etc first with neat alcohol to remove any greases etc. it'll last about 18-24months which is the best in the market by a long way. painting them will give likely give it a non-factory finish look. this goes on, looks glossy, you remove the residue with a cloth and instantly goes to a dark matt look.

have a look here

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... p?t=188659

[DrGonzoPOW]

Will prob just go with the paint option, thanks for the advice on it all.