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Spraying interior plastics

MJ

By MJ,
in General Automotive Discussion

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MJ Mentor

MJ

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment and im looking to do some cheap DIY things to my R33.

I wanna spray some interior bits and pieces silver. But i dont know what exact materials i need. I did a search and i gathered that i need to lightly sand the plastics, then prep the plastic with something? then spray lots of fine coats. Ok so hears my questions

1. what grade sandpaper do i need?

2. what is stuff called that you prep the plastic with?

3. what type of paint do i use to spray the plastic?

4. Will using spray cans be fine?

5. Where can i buy all of these products?

Anything else i need to know would be great, i wanna get this right the first time so im trying to do some research here before i go out and spray them and find the paint chipping off in a couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Matt

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Craved Grand Master

Craved

Posted
Posted

you would need to use a 600 grid paper/ from what im doing on my dash it seems to be coated with a layer of matt black so will need to remove that, then for prepping you'll need a spray primer, but you may need to get one for plastic OR that is actually flexible. good product is plasti prime -> about 30 bucks for a can, added with thinners, sprayed on with a spray gun! then rub that back with 600 wet/dry and then paint!! spray cans should work if you dont think you'll be needing to remove the panels again as it will crack when you put on/ take off! Can buy an flex additive to paint but wont be able to use pressure packs ( unless specially made in a colour matching place - see if they can add the flex stuff)

this may help, i'll be getting mine finished in next couple of weeks too!

MJ Mentor

MJ

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for that info mate been very helpful!

I just need to know the name of the paint i need to buy, and where i can get it from. I assume i can get the primer from the same place? Does the primer get applied with a compressor gun?

I dont wanna screw this up and have a crappy looking interior

Thanks again

Matt

R33man Enthusiast

R33man

Posted
Posted

I have just done this less than 10 days ago. I removed the plastic parts and sanded them back. It has some stupid black coating on it. ALL of this has to be removed, this is a pain in the a%$ but it has to be done. On one of my panels I left a bit on because I thought it was to hard to get off but it reacted with the primer and went crinkly. I used about 300 sanding paper to do the inital sand, any lighter would have taken ages. Once this is all off sand with 600 to get a smooth finish. I then sprayed all parts with a plastic primer. I am not a fan of painting so I got my crash shop to do the painting. They used a silver 2pac paint and the results are stunning.

If you do it properly it will look really, really good.

Good luck.

Also the primer was in a spray can. Can't remember the name but you could get it from a paint supply shop.

MJ Mentor

MJ

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for that info R33man! i dont have access to one of those proper spray guns and i dont think using a spray can will cut it....i can be a perfectionist to these things heh.

I'll take it to a panel shop to get it sprayed properly, i dont think ill have to much drama with the other parts.

Cheers,

Matt

SupaFly Skyline Experienced

SupaFly Skyline

Posted
Posted

when i did mine over a year ago, i just lightly sanded the plastic parts, then used flexi prime, scuffed that abit, then painted the parts using cans of touch up paint from supacheap, cant remember what grit the sandpaper was, but it was a fine grade.

after a year, mine looks really good still, the primer was about 20 bucks for a big can, and the paint was about six dollars for the smaller cans (they didnt have big cans in the colour that i wanted) and all this was bought at supacheap in the one aisle

Craved Grand Master

Craved

Posted
Posted

has anyone actually used fibreglass on these panels, i am molding some guages into my dash, just thought i'd ask before i make the first attempt!!

while on this subject has anyone got examples of modified dash areas? some pics of these would be great, any inspiration would help but ive pretty much committed myself to my design!!

memphis Experienced

memphis

Posted
Posted

Fibreglass wont stick to plastic very well, It will look good for a few weeks, then it will start to peel off, then will just fall off.

You will need special glue if you want to do this..

has anyone actually used fibreglass on these panels, i am molding some guages into my dash, just thought i'd ask before i make the first attempt!!

while on this subject has anyone got examples of modified dash areas? some pics of these would be great, any inspiration would help but ive pretty much committed myself to my design!!

morboost Community Regular

morboost

Posted
Posted

yeh i did this make shaw you prep it very well the painting proses is esay but snand well i used this wax gue remover for that black shit it relly is a pain is the ares to get of and i used a clear plastic primer not thta grey stuff i was very happy with it but as a first time try i **** up a few bits here and there so thinking about doing it again one day

SupaFly Skyline Experienced

SupaFly Skyline

Posted
Posted
has anyone actually used fibreglass on these panels, i am molding some guages into my dash, just thought i'd ask before i make the first attempt!!

i know yur asking for advice and all, but if you do go ahead with this, could you post some pics and a process list of how its done? ive been thinking of making fibreglass enclosures for some gauges but dun really know the best way to go about, cheers

Craved Grand Master

Craved

Posted
Posted

well i discovered on the weekend that a coke can is just the right size to use as a mould for the 2 5/8" guages, so i've just gotta make that then cut it down to size, then mould onto dash panel!!

Memphis, i realise fibreglass is not really the best match with plastic, hoping that if i have fibre glass molded on both side of the dash panel then it will remain strong enough not to crack away!! anyideas on the glue needed? just in case :D

MJ Mentor

MJ

Posted
  • Author
Posted

That looks very classy! very nice!

I've been to autobahn and bought some plastic primer and sand paper. I've practised on a couple of scrap plastic pieces i've got lying around and the spray can paint didnt quite give the quality i was after.

When i get some more free time im going to prime the centre console, air vents, and the power window peices then take it to my local panel shop and get them to do it in 2pac silver. I'll post pics when im done.

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