painting ATC plastics???

[Iprefer3]

Ok so I tried asking a member that's done this before in hopes that they could enlighten me. But I guess they were just too busy or something.....ya. Anyway I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with painting over there plastics. New plastics are very expensive and shipping a killer. So please if you've had success with this please respond. Thanx

[Xpress]

Doesn't seem like it would be terribly difficult... Roughen up the surface, use a plastic friendly paint, then clear coat it.

[dksix]

With as much body panels being used in the auto industry you should try talking to someone at an auto paint store. I know that there is some extra steps that can be taken when paint car bumper covers and stuff. The best stuff out of a can is Kylon Fusion from what I've seen but even it is lacking. Maybe some type of adhesion promoter like BullDog made by Kleen Strip would help but IDK with plastic. I've use bulldog on aluminum and it made a great deal of difference with how well the paint held up. The Key would be proper surface prep. You won't get any paint to stick very well to any shinny surface but with plastic sand paper will scratch deeply. Maybe a DA sander with some 600+ grit or scotch bright or ever some very fine steel wool. If you have a local auto body supply in your area, talk to them. The ones I've dealt with have always been very helpful.

[fabiodriven]

This has been discussed many time before on here. My opinion is paint+plastics=mess. It never seems to stick well enough to withstand the abuse of off road riding. You're better off wet-sanding the plastics you have.

[JayBone]

google & youtube has a lot of stuff to view also.

[Iprefer3]

Thanx for the advice guys. I'm figuring I'll do the best prep and paint job I can and just buy the best available products I can find and hope for the best. Should have some results next week. There's gotta be a way to get it done, maybe I'll just keep experimenting with different things until I find something that works. I refuse to take it can't be done for an answer. LOL

[350Xccelerator]

Itll eventually begin to chip off.

[Iprefer3]

Ya i know it will...but it's cheaper than spending 500 on new plastics. lol

[fabiodriven]

Ya i know it will...but it's cheaper than spending 500 on new plastics. lol

Wet sand them. Presto!

[JayBone]

No paint them!!!!!! so when you realize the paint didn't work well you then get to spend tripple the time wet sanding them. ha ha. just bustin chops.

[hang&rattle]

Wet sand them. Presto!

How bad are they Iprefer3? Fabiodriven is on with this. My Tecate was white-ish, brown-ish, green-ish. I sanded with I think 200-300 grit wet sand paper and then used 3 sizes steel wool. I just wanted them presentable though, not show. And I only spent about 8 hrs. on front, tank and rear. It cleaned them up nicely, and then I scrubbed in stp son of a gun to treat them. There is a thread on how to do it perfectly, but I am to impatient and get to muddy and dusty to go that far. Think I have some pictures some where.

[QCR77]

when i was gonna paint mine, i found it odd that they sell a "plastic primer" but i have never seen or heard it mentioned on this site. if i ever do, ill go with the plastic primer and the engine enamel clear coat

[Erics350x]

Dupont makes a flex additive for rubber bumber covers that works well, i dont remember if it was for enamel or Base/Clear.

[Cert88]

Agree with Fabio.....wet sand.... never paint plastics on atc/atv's it WILL chip and look like crap in due time. And best of all its the cheapest route, alittle time consuming but very cheap, and looks great when done.

[Texas 200x]

Theres two threads on it in "WORLD CLASS HELP" at the top of Trikeslyvania. Chainsaw's is 6 pages and Billy's is interesting using Mothers polish.

[GTO]

My problem with the Big Red's I am restoring is that pieces of the fenders etc are missing, so I have had to fill them in with fiberglass and body filler, so I have no choice but to paint them?

[Iprefer3]

Ya. I have another 250r that the plastics are cracked so I have to do the same on it as well. Today I purchased the Krylon fusion paint in black from cuz the plastics underneath are black. So we'll see how turns out and for how long. A guy I know paints razors and rhino's and such for a living and he use's a technique where he heats up the plastic with a "special torch" before spraying them. He told me he could paint them for me FOR $500!!!!! LOL.....I know if the right formula is figured out it could save myself and others alot of $$$$.

[bobotech]

I think that one of the problems with painting plastics is that the plastics used on ATVs and trikes isn't the same as plastics used on cars. And car plastics aren't intended on being bent frequently such as a rear fender set on a trike. The rear fender will be bent and banged far more than a bumper on a car. If you look at the bottom of a bumper, I bet you will see chips there too. They are just super visi-ble on a trike.

[Iprefer3]

Yup. I was told once by a wise man lol...that as long as you use the right amount of flex additive you'd be just fine, (I know painting them is not the prefered method) but just think of the color options if you can make it stick.

[claymatt250r]

I paint cars for a living and if done right it will work great. Painting the plastics on you trike is pretty much the same as painting plastic bumpers on car.

1st-make sure you wash with hot soapy water need to be 100% clean (no oil grease or any other contaminents)
2nd-get some sanding paste and scotch brite from your local auto paint store and go to town with more warm water and the paste scotch brite combo (grey scotch brite works the best not to aggressive) make sure you get all the paste off dont let it dry on the parts to long it will become cement=not fun
3rd-make sure they are all dry and get them set up to paint then you use a alcohol wipe and wipe all parts good (no wax and grease cleaners as they will build alot of static and suck all the dust in the area right to the part makes for a dirty paint job)
4th-This is a MUST! you have to use a plastic adhesion promoter on all the plastics
5th-seal and paint all parts to your desired color
6th-This is another MUST! when you clear coat you have to put a flex addative in the clear so it will flex with the parts

Thats pretty much it make sure you follow all the directions on the cans for mixing ratios and you should have some pretty nice plastics when your done

[Iprefer3]

Thanx Clymatt250r. I'll follow it to a tee and let ya know how it turns out. After I start feeling better I'll get on it, been sick.

[claymatt250r]

Hey GTO you would be better off plastic welding the fenders on your trike rather then putting body filler on it body filler does not flex really at all so as soon as you bend one of those fenders the body filler will crack and break. With the plastic welding method you melt the plastic and add more plastic just like metal welding then you just grind and sand it all down and it will flex really good and last a long time and you can get plastic welding supplys in most colors just my $0.02.

[claymatt250r]

Hey Iprefer3 good luck and if you follow all directions you will be stoked with the results

[Iprefer3]

Awesome can't wait to get em done.

[fabiodriven]

Say what you want, Bobo hit the nail right on the head. Car bumpers are not subjected to the flexing, bumping, and scraping that a trike is. I'm sure you're going to paint it and take some pics when it's done to show how good it came out, but the real test is time. For a lot less money you can wet-sand them and have them look really good, sometimes as good as new.

[Dirtcrasher]

Painting plastics never lasts for very long if your a rider.

If you want to put it on a pedestal and show it, have a ball. Otherwise it scratches,chips and ends up looking horrible...........

Sounds like if you do it the best you can, you'll be a couple hundred in supplies poorer. No thanks!

[Iprefer3]

Are all the right materials really that much?

[honda200x1987]

Do not paint plastcs, the best way is to wet sand and polish them with synthetic wool and Maguires Swirl X, Here are some restos I have done.

[claymatt250r]

Yeh if you do it right it can cost some money so maybe try the polishing method to keep costs down the plus to painting and doing it right is the color selection you can chose from. I know that the plastics on the trikes bend more then a bumper on a car but if done right it will last for quit a while now if you get someone in front of you roostin you then yes chips are going to happen but if done right it will not peel and the flex add in the clear if put the right amount in you can fold the fenders in half without the clear cracking.

[honda200x1987]

Here is a thread for plastic restoration. http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?107561-More-pictures-of-the-fender-I-restored&highlight=

[Iprefer3]

Ok thanx for everyone's help...after consiseration I'll give the wetsanding a try. Maybe I'll experiment with a paint method on a practic piece. better get may arm warmed up lol.

[85_BIG_RED_250]

its just easier to buy the new plastic : )

[Dirtcrasher]

Ok thanx for everyone's help...after consiseration I'll give the wetsanding a try. Maybe I'll experiment with a paint method on a practic piece. better get may arm warmed up lol.

Honda200X1987 does an awesome job on used plastics, he seems to be a very patient and motivated person. I sand for 20 minutes and I'm like "screw this, it's just gonna hit branches anyhow!" :lol:

Yes it ism easier to buy new plastics but as time passes, the OEM stuff is going fast and many guys want it.........