Chloe Zhang
Painting plastic body panels can be a great way to revitalise the appearance of your vehicle. While some may opt for a full respray, painting plastic fittings can be an easy and cost-effective way to achieve a similar result. There are several steps to follow to ensure a professional finish, including removing parts from the vehicle, cleaning and preparing the surface, sanding, applying primer, painting, and sealing with lacquer. It's important to use the correct products and techniques to ensure a long-lasting and smooth finish.
How to paint plastic body panels
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Remove panels and decals |
| Step 2 | Clean and degrease everything |
| Step 3 | Repair any damaged areas and scuff the surface of non-damaged areas that will be painted |
| Step 4 | Clean and prep the surface for paint |
| Step 5 | Adhesion promoter (can be skipped if not painting flexible plastic) |
| Step 6 | Primer |
| Step 7 | Paint |
| Additional tips | Wear a mask, sand the surface, use lacquer to protect the colour, use a microfiber polishing cloth, and ensure you are set up in a good area |
| Paint options | British standard aerosols, RAL colour aerosols, or Caliper aerosols paint |
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What You'll Learn
Prepping the surface
Cleaning and Degreasing:
Start by removing any panels and decals from the plastic surface. Use a rubber eraser wheel to help detach any stuck-on decals. Then, clean the surface with a wax and grease remover, ensuring you use a lint-free cloth for this step. This process eliminates any dirt, grease, or residue that may interfere with the paint adhesion.
Scuffing and Sanding:
Lightly scuff the surface using a red Scotch-Brite pad or 600-grit sandpaper. This step helps create a slightly rough texture, improving paint adhesion. Be sure to scuff all areas, including reflective surfaces, until they appear dull. After scuffing, apply the wax and grease remover once more to ensure a clean surface.
Filling and Repairing:
Inspect the plastic surface for any scratches, dents, or damaged areas. For light scratches, you can use a lightweight polyester putty to fill them in. If there are more significant damages or deeper scratches, opt for a lightweight body filler to smooth out imperfections. This step ensures that the surface is as even as possible before painting.
Sanding Again:
Sand the surface once more to achieve an ultra-smooth finish and remove any raised marks or imperfections. Use sandpaper with different grit levels, starting from 150-grit to 1200-grit, and work your way up. This process creates a smooth surface and removes the 'shine' from the plastic, allowing the paint to adhere better. Remember to sand in a well-ventilated area and wear a mask to avoid inhaling any dust or particles.
Cleaning After Sanding:
After sanding, thoroughly clean the surface with soapy water or a suitable cleaning agent. This step ensures that any remaining residue, dirt, or debris from the sanding process is removed. It is crucial to ensure the surface is entirely clean before proceeding to the next steps of priming and painting.
Remember, proper surface preparation is essential for achieving a high-quality and long-lasting paint job on plastic body panels. Taking your time with each step will ensure the best results.
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Choosing the right paint
Type of Paint
The type of paint you choose depends on the specific plastic body panels you are painting and the desired finish. Water-based paints are environmentally friendly, have good coverage, quick-drying times, and low odour, making them suitable for interior plastic parts like the dashboard and door panels. Polyurethane paints, on the other hand, offer exceptional durability, chemical resistance, and UV protection, making them ideal for exterior plastic parts exposed to harsh weather conditions.
Adhesion and Durability
To ensure the paint adheres well to the plastic surface and lasts long, consider using a plastic adhesion promoter as a base layer. This will help open the plastic's pores and improve paint adhesion. Additionally, look for paints with additives that enhance durability and protect against UV rays, fading, and chipping.
Colour and Finish
Consider the colour and finish options available with different types of paint. Automotive paints come in a wide range of colours and finishes, allowing you to match the paint to the surrounding panels or create a unique style. You can choose from various finishes, such as gloss or matte, to achieve the desired aesthetic appeal.
Compatibility and Brand
It is important to use paint that is specifically designed for plastic surfaces. Using automotive-grade paint is recommended. Additionally, try to stick to the same brand of paint throughout the process to avoid complications with compatibility. Different brands may have varying chemical compositions, so using multiple brands could affect the final outcome.
Work Area Considerations
When choosing your paint, consider the workspace you will be using. Select a paint that is suitable for the lighting and ventilation of your work area. Additionally, take into account the humidity levels in your workspace, as too much humidity can affect how the paint dries and adheres to the plastic surface.
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$19.99 $22.79
Using primer
When it comes to using primer to paint plastic body panels, there are several steps to follow for optimal results. Firstly, it is essential to select the appropriate primer for the specific type of plastic being painted. Different plastics have varying levels of adhesion, and the primer's adhesiveness must be compatible with the plastic. This step ensures that the primer and subsequent paint coats adhere well to the surface.
Before applying the primer, the plastic surface should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared. This includes sanding the surface to create a smooth finish and remove any imperfections or scratches. It is recommended to use different grit levels of sandpaper, ranging from 150-grit to 1200-grit, to achieve the smoothest outcome. The sanding process is crucial as it increases the surface area, providing more areas for the paint to bond with the plastic, resulting in a longer-lasting paint job.
Once the sanding is complete, the plastic surface must be cleaned with soapy water to eliminate any remaining residue or debris from the sanding process. This step ensures that the surface is entirely free of dirt and ready for priming. It is also essential to wear a mask during the sanding and cleaning processes to avoid inhaling any chemicals or dust.
The next step is to apply the primer. Hold the primer can approximately 6-7 inches away from the surface and ensure that the can is upright. Begin spraying before the primer reaches the surface to guarantee an even finish. It is recommended to apply 3-4 coats of primer, allowing 15 minutes of drying time between each coat. This process ensures that each layer dries sufficiently and provides a durable base for the paint.
In some cases, an adhesion promoter, also known as a plastic adhesion promoter, may be necessary. This product optimises the adhesion of the paint to the plastic surface, especially for flexible parts. It is applied before the primer and helps prevent cracking or detachment of the paint due to impacts or vibrations. However, adhesion promoters should only be used on bare, clean, and raw plastic, following the specific instructions on the product's technical data sheet.
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Adhesion promoter
Before applying an adhesion promoter, the plastic surface must be thoroughly sanded to remove any bobbles or raised marks on the plastic substrate. Sandpaper with a grit level of 400-600 is recommended for this step. This process helps to create a smooth surface and remove tiny imperfections. It also increases the surface area of the plastic, providing more places for the paint to bond and improving the longevity of the paint job.
After sanding, the plastic should be cleaned with soapy water or a wax and grease remover to ensure that the surface is completely clear of dirt and residue. Once the surface is prepared, the adhesion promoter can be applied. Dupli-Color ECP199 Adhesion Promoter is one option available on the market.
Following the application of the adhesion promoter, a primer or base coat can be applied. It is important to use a primer that is compatible with the adhesion promoter and the type of plastic being painted. The primer will help the paint adhere better and provide a more lasting paint job.
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Finishing touches
Once you have completed the painting process, there are a few final steps to ensure a long-lasting and polished finish. Firstly, it is important to apply a lacquer to protect the colour and ensure the paint job's durability. You can choose from various lacquer finishes, such as gloss or matte, to achieve the desired look. After the lacquer has dried, use a microfiber polishing cloth to buff the surface gently. This step will add shine and a smooth finish to your painted plastic body panels.
In addition, it is crucial to work in a clean and dust-free environment when applying the finishing touches. Any contaminants, such as dust or dirt, can adhere to the fresh paint or lacquer and create imperfections in the finish. Therefore, choosing a warm, dry, and well-ventilated workspace is essential. It will help the paint and lacquer dry at a steady pace and ensure an even finish.
If you are unable to remove the plastic body panels for painting, make sure to cover and tape off the surrounding areas of the vehicle. This will create a barrier to protect the rest of the vehicle from any paint or chemicals. Finally, always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the specific products you are using, as drying times and application techniques may vary.
By following these steps and taking your time, you can achieve a professional and long-lasting finish when painting plastic body panels.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to remove the panels and decals. Using a rubber eraser wheel will help with stuck-on decals.
There are many options for spray paint, including British Standard Aerosols, RAL Colour aerosols, and Caliper aerosols. It is important to use automotive-grade paints and stick to the same brand throughout the process to avoid complications with compatibility.
First, clean the surface with a wax and grease remover and a lint-free cloth. Then, lightly scuff the surface with sandpaper. Finally, use wax and grease remover on the surface again.
It is important to use a mask to avoid inhaling any chemicals and to work in a well-ventilated area. Additionally, consider using an adhesion promoter and primer to ensure the paint adheres well to the plastic and does not chip.
