Painting Plastics...

DeJay1206

DeJay1206

Member
Sep 17, 2013
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Leechburg, PA
I have my bike ripped apart and I've been considering painting it. The plastics are white and blue and I'm going to paint them the same color in case it chips, there won't be a color difference. Has anyone had success painting their plastics? I don't mind doing it again at the end of the season if it starts to chip. I've heard krylon fusion with a few coats of clear works good. Looking for any and all opinions and experiences with this. I realize that the key is the prep work and I will sand everything down, fill and deep gouges, and use mineral spirits or something like it to get all the grease and stuff off. Let me know. If anybody has pictures of their painted plastics I'd like to see them. Thanks!
 
My $.02 , painting plastics is fine and will work. Fusion works well, the x2 stuff at Home depot works good to. It will for sure get marks of some sort alll over them as soon as the trees and your body rubs against them. There is no way against it with paint. Eventually it always gets "dinged" up. Works better for a tt rider, drag, etc where the plastics are not taking abuse from limbs, branches, rocks....In your case though you want to paint them the same color. I would suggest just cleaning them up and putting a graphics kit on it that covers and protects as much surface as possible. Do a internet search, there are many of ways to clean plastics and repolish succesfully. Once you put a grahics kit on painted plastics you are either ripping it off or painting around it.
 
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DUALSTROKE said:
My $.02 , painting plastics is fine and will work. Fusion works well, the x2 stuff at Home depot works good to. It will for sure get marks of some sort alll over them as soon as the trees and your body rubs against them. There is no way against it with paint. Eventually it always gets "dinged" up. Works better for a tt rider, drag, etc where the plastics are not taking abuse from limbs, branches, rocks....In your case though you want to paint them the same color. I would suggest just cleaning them up and putting a graphics kit on it that covers and protects as much surface as possible. Do a internet search, there are many of ways to clean plastics and repolish succesfully. Once you put a grahics kit on painted plastics you are either ripping it off or painting around it.
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I'll have to look at those kits. How good does repolishing look? Do they look new like painting would do?
 
DeJay1206 said:
I'll have to look at those kits. How good does repolishing look? Do they look new like painting would do?
Click to expand...
Depends on how much time and money you want to spend. There is a company that makes a good product that has great reviews. Here is some on ebay....http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281186024772?lpid=82
There is alot of methods. Mop n glo, razor blade, heat gun, novus polish etc. Do a internet search and you will find all of those methods out there. Depends on which method you choose to use.
 
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How long does that polish last and how much would I need for all of my plastics? I see a 8oz bottle and 64 oz. If it works good I'll use it on my girls quad as well. And which type, 1,2, or 3. I'm assuming 1 since that's the actual plastic polish.
 
That polish works in steps. Clean and prep, Step 1, step 2, step 3. I didn't realize that link was for one bottle. Here is a better link for all 3. I would buy a complete setup (1,2,3) in the small bottles and see if you are happy first. You need to do a search and spend some time on researching the best methods people have had success with. Some use a buffer etc.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Novus-Plast...Parts_Accessories&hash=item417906bade&vxp=mtr
 
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DeJay1206 said:
I have my bike ripped apart and I've been considering painting it. The plastics are white and blue and I'm going to paint them the same color in case it chips, there won't be a color difference. Has anyone had success painting their plastics? I don't mind doing it again at the end of the season if it starts to chip. I've heard krylon fusion with a few coats of clear works good. Looking for any and all opinions and experiences with this. I realize that the key is the prep work and I will sand everything down, fill and deep gouges, and use mineral spirits or something like it to get all the grease and stuff off. Let me know. If anybody has pictures of their painted plastics I'd like to see them. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I painted mine with the Krylon white covering the blue. The job turned out ok but some peeled off when a sticker came loose. Ive got a friend at the body shop and may take it there at the end of the year or just replace it .
 
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IMO, any flexible "plastic" item should get a flex additive to the paint system, otherwise when the paint gets hard (it may take months), it cracks and crazes horribly. A plastic primer and thorough prep job also helps.
I have sprayed many a vehicle vender (plastic) and it looks good for a while, but eventuallg does come loose. The best I got was about 2-3 years before any noticable chipping/cracking, but that also depends on how stressed the member is...

Explain whe OEM bumpers last virtually forever, but when its resprayed by a panel beater, it cracks in no time.
The problem is profits!!!
 
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MrTwoJay said:
IMO, any flexible "plastic" item should get a flex additive to the paint system, otherwise when the paint gets hard (it may take months), it cracks and crazes horribly. A plastic primer and thorough prep job also helps.
I have sprayed many a vehicle vender (plastic) and it looks good for a while, but eventuallg does come loose. The best I got was about 2-3 years before any noticable chipping/cracking, but that also depends on how stressed the member is...

Explain whe OEM bumpers last virtually forever, but when its resprayed by a panel beater, it cracks in no time.
The problem is profits!!!
Click to expand...
I can be done , My 04 Mach 1 bumper cover had rock chips in it , had it repainted with a lifetime warranty , $500.
 
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Yeah, I've also been considering getting a cheap air gun and painting it like that. Do you have any suggestions for a good paint for plastic and a good flex additive? You just mix the flex agent with the paint, right?
 
If you use two stage paint with a flex additive the tank will eventually peel. The tank has to breath and will naturally vent the fumes. Eventually it will start to peel the paint.
 
Your best bet is to go to a local 'reputable' auto-paint store. 2k (two part/paint+hardener) is used and a flex additive is added, there is a percentage range that can be used, depending on the flexibility of the plastic parts to be sprayed.but that will/should be stated in the specifications.
I use the sherwin-williams brand, but you will probably have a different brand where you live.
The plastic primer is just a milky/clear liquid that gets sprayed onto the "clean" plastic, and dries tacky, almost latex like.

I usually clean the plastic part 2-3times, thoroughly!, with a strong industrial degreaser, then when dry, lightly abrade with some wet/dry 400-600 grit before wiping down with laquer thinners. (You could use a tack reg just before painting, but on an atv I think its overkill).
 
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MrTwoJay said:
Your best bet is to go to a local 'reputable' auto-paint store. 2k (two part/paint+hardener) is used and a flex additive is added, there is a percentage range that can be used, depending on the flexibility of the plastic parts to be sprayed.but that will/should be stated in the specifications.
I use the sherwin-williams brand, but you will probably have a different brand where you live.
The plastic primer is just a milky/clear liquid that gets sprayed onto the "clean" plastic, and dries tacky, almost latex like.

I usually clean the plastic part 2-3times, thoroughly!, with a strong industrial degreaser, then when dry, lightly abrade with some wet/dry 400-600 grit before wiping down with laquer thinners. (You could use a tack reg just before painting, but on an atv I think its overkill).
Click to expand...
Awesome stuff man. Thanks for that info.
 
I tried to use some plastic paint on a set of front fenders, didn't last long and peeled off quite easily. I cleaned the plastic with soap and water then bought a bottle of rubbing alcohol, before I sprayed them, but still didn't do well. I am curious to see how the plastic refinishing goes good luck.
 
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Them vinyls are nice. I'm considering getting a kit after I refinish these with novus.

I'll create another thread here next weekend when I use the novus on them and do a step by step. Maybe it'll help someone decide if they want to try and refinish theirs. At the very least it'll give all of us an idea of whether or not it's an effective method for cleaning plastics and getting that shine back.
 
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