jettadude
10-25-2004, 09:24 PM
ok if you have a old Vw and the molding is faded and don't wanna mess with dyes just paint it, or if you don't like your new grille, paint it. its not that hard, but if not done right, it will chip right off.
now first depending on the plastic depends on your prep work,
if you have a clear coated peice, or glossy paint on it, you need to either sand it down to bare plastic or rough the surface up enought for the new paind to stick.
if you have a standard plastic peice roughing may not be needed, but wouldn't hurt.
It would be a good idea if you had a little bit of understanding with useing different grit sandpaper for different situations. i just gave ballpark girt numbers, you might want to acess the situation and shop around for sand paper.
now plastic is one of the hardest things to paint and have it last and look good, so you need to get the best paint. ive found the best paint is kylon's fusion paint. made just for plastic. so i would advise you useing that.
PREP WORK:
1. Rough peice with 220-300Grit sand paper, lenght depending on the peice.
2. Clean peice with soap and water, wait for it to dry then go back and wash it with rubbing alcohol to get all the oil and rest of dirt and grime off.
3. if you wish to primer the peice then do so with a lighter color then you are going to be painting with.
3.5. if you primer you need to go back and resand the primer with 180 grit sand paper then reapply another coat of primer then resand. make sure you get all the dust off the peice before you paint. i would wash again with rubbing alcohol but make sure not to take the primer off.
4. Take your paint and start applying it to the peice. make sure not to get it to much in 1 spot. you are going to be doing several coats so don't feel the need to cover the entire peice with paint the first coat.
5. after the first coat dries take 800grit possably "wet-sand" paper and sand the peice, then re clean and recoat. do this 2 or 3 times untill you get the desired look.
6. if you want to clearcoat your peice. spray the clear coat and sand with something around 800 grit and reapply. you want 2 or 3 coast of clear coat on there so it will look nice and no low spots for a glare to catch and look bad.
that should be all you need to know about painting plastics. i painted all my trim, my bumpers over 4 months ago and they have been pressure washed and been out in storms and no sign of wear or peeling. so good luck and happy painting.
these are the best pics i could find for a before and after. sorry.
Before- http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/2315719/510300
After- http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/1831528/510300
Little bit of both. here i havent gotten the fender flairs done yet. so look at the difference between the bumper and the side molding compared to the fender flair.
Together-http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/1831533/510300
now first depending on the plastic depends on your prep work,
if you have a clear coated peice, or glossy paint on it, you need to either sand it down to bare plastic or rough the surface up enought for the new paind to stick.
if you have a standard plastic peice roughing may not be needed, but wouldn't hurt.
It would be a good idea if you had a little bit of understanding with useing different grit sandpaper for different situations. i just gave ballpark girt numbers, you might want to acess the situation and shop around for sand paper.
now plastic is one of the hardest things to paint and have it last and look good, so you need to get the best paint. ive found the best paint is kylon's fusion paint. made just for plastic. so i would advise you useing that.
PREP WORK:
1. Rough peice with 220-300Grit sand paper, lenght depending on the peice.
2. Clean peice with soap and water, wait for it to dry then go back and wash it with rubbing alcohol to get all the oil and rest of dirt and grime off.
3. if you wish to primer the peice then do so with a lighter color then you are going to be painting with.
3.5. if you primer you need to go back and resand the primer with 180 grit sand paper then reapply another coat of primer then resand. make sure you get all the dust off the peice before you paint. i would wash again with rubbing alcohol but make sure not to take the primer off.
4. Take your paint and start applying it to the peice. make sure not to get it to much in 1 spot. you are going to be doing several coats so don't feel the need to cover the entire peice with paint the first coat.
5. after the first coat dries take 800grit possably "wet-sand" paper and sand the peice, then re clean and recoat. do this 2 or 3 times untill you get the desired look.
6. if you want to clearcoat your peice. spray the clear coat and sand with something around 800 grit and reapply. you want 2 or 3 coast of clear coat on there so it will look nice and no low spots for a glare to catch and look bad.
that should be all you need to know about painting plastics. i painted all my trim, my bumpers over 4 months ago and they have been pressure washed and been out in storms and no sign of wear or peeling. so good luck and happy painting.
these are the best pics i could find for a before and after. sorry.
Before- http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/2315719/510300
After- http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/1831528/510300
Little bit of both. here i havent gotten the fender flairs done yet. so look at the difference between the bumper and the side molding compared to the fender flair.
Together-http://pictures.greatestjournal.com/userimg/1831533/510300