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Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:08 pm
by 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

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:12 pm
by 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.

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:31 pm
by e21-Mark
My wing mirrors are painted.

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

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:54 pm
by DrGonzoPOW
Nice one. Would i need to rough up the surface before primer like you would metal ?

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:57 pm
by 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.

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:00 pm
by DrGonzoPOW
Store!? Ebay all the way mate :)
Get them pics up Mark

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:04 pm
by 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).

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:49 pm
by 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 ?

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:31 pm
by 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.

Image

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

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:30 pm
by DrGonzoPOW
Cool, might ave a bash on the weekend. Did the paint stick pretty well then without using primer Arshad ?

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:32 pm
by 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.

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:01 pm
by DrGonzoPOW
Where would one acquire some sir?

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 1:36 am
by arshad76
DrGonzoPOW wrote: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.

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:53 am
by pistonheader
http://www.gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-car ... -restorer/

this is what it looks like:

Image

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

Re: Spraying plastics

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:11 pm
by DrGonzoPOW
Will prob just go with the paint option, thanks for the advice on it all.