Painting Interior Plastics

**Polyal** · 24-01-2005, 10:31 AM

Now hopefully this thread can be of use for everyone.

Im wanting to paint some interior plastics in my falcon (ed, not that it really matters). What is the best technique to use? Ive painted my rocker cover and all I did was the following:

1. clean/degrease it
2. sand back as much as possible (or until i can be bothered)
3. 2 coats of primer
4. 6 coats of colour (maybe overkill?)
5. 3 coats of clear

And that was it. Is it the same process for plastics, but obviously minus the sanding bit?

Your tips will be much appreciated.

EFFalcon · 24-01-2005, 11:12 AM

what plastics?

**Polyal** · 24-01-2005, 11:18 AM

awhh..wanted to keep it a secret...ah the door handles/surrounds, and the parts around the dash that you can take out.

ned · 24-01-2005, 11:40 AM

Take them out, give them a good scrub so there's no dust.
Give them a light sand and then apply a little plastic primer.
Apply your colour choice a few times.
Let it dry properly overnight, especially if you're doing the door handles.
I'll take some pics of mine soon and post them up, hope this helps.

tickford2001 · 24-01-2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

1. clean/degrease it
2. sand back as much as possible (or until i can be bothered)
3. 2 coats of primer
4. 6 coats of colour (maybe overkill?)
5. 3 coats of clear

i would say you have overkilled it by a long way in my opinion!

sometimes if you get the paint on too think it can actually cause you problems in the future, particularly where heat is involved (thats what it says on the spraycan i have in my hand

: )

BJ · 24-01-2005, 12:31 PM

If you are going to paint plastic you should use an arylic paint, so as it will key into the suface or you will end up with flaking paint in no time.

**Polyal** · 24-01-2005, 12:50 PM

yeah that was my next question..what kind of paint.

The door handles obviously will be used alot, so I need something that is robust I guess...

BJ · 24-01-2005, 12:56 PM

The best stuff is what they call bumper etch which you can get from most good paint supplyshops.

Swampy · 24-01-2005, 03:52 PM

Years ago you could get a pressure pack paint specifically for interior trims.

I remember transforming all the plastic trims in my XD back then from a light bone colour to brown.

Worked a treat and was quite durable.

You may want to check out your local speed shop.

Regards

Swampy

MotherNatureVer2 · 24-01-2005, 09:48 PM

Sounds like you have the same tastes as the eldest (TheCivicMan) Hehehehhee

He has done this to his last two cars, must admit the purple in the XE looked better than the red in the Civic ........

All he has done is removed the parts,cleaned the surfaces really well and used a spray pack .......... on parts that arnt used or touched much this has lasted really well, for the other bits like door handles he finds that a coat every now & then is the go.

I am an elcheapo mother who wont let him waste too much money on the paint & he finds the SuperCheap specials to be right up his financial alley ;)

If I can find them I will get some piccys loaded for you

JADED6 · 25-01-2005, 02:32 AM

Most of the EA/D interior plastics have a grit/rough type finish to them. I would avoid sanding them or you'll end up with a smooth finish. (and it doesn't look good, I had warn out kick panels, painted he drivers side, looked shit so i went and got one that looked newer)

Don't know if you saw the black in my EA but all i did was remove, clean.
Use a primer/adhesion promoter
2 coats of colour on the higher up moulds (little wear) & 1 x clear coat.

On parts where there is high wear (centre console, kick panels, interior b-pillar bit where the seat belts scuff)
I used, primer, 3 coats of colour then 1 coat of clear (2 on centre console)
Worked out fine for all the plastic parts.

I think for radio or dash cluster surrounds, 1 coat or primer, 2 x colour will be fine.
If you want a more real looking finish i would use Matte paint and then get your shine from clear coating over the top. Gloss paint didn't look to good on its own (and i imagine clear coating glossy stuff would give it a sticky looking gloss appearance)

**Polyal** · 25-01-2005, 09:06 AM

thanks jaded6....yeah I thought sanding plastic sounded a bit odd..

I brought some paints last night from bursons and found out a couple of things that were a bit strange..

1. I told the guy it was for my interior and he said that i could even use the heat resistant paints (same colour as my rocker cover..woohoo!).

2. He said that a primer was not nessesary as the heat resistant paint already has bonding agents in it? I thought that was a little odd.

So I brought some industrial cleaning stuff to wipe it down, then x2 cans of ford blue heat resistant paint, and a can of heat proof clear coat.

Do you think those paints will be fine? He seemed pretty sure it would be right.

EFFalcon · 25-01-2005, 12:35 PM

i think they'll be fine.
put it this way, i paint my dash surround with this process.

Removed from car
washed with soapy water
let dry
pulled out $2 matt black pressure pack
sprayed it on till it looked right
let it dry

put it back in.

its fine and loooks good IMO, don't want clear coat as i don't want it shiny and i didnt prime nothin!
plastic priming is usually so that the paint can flex somewhat.

**Polyal** · 25-01-2005, 12:51 PM

cool..yeah the dash im not to worried about. Its the door handles that obviously get used alot that I dont want flaking/wearing quickly

25-01-2005, 08:27 PM

if your sprayin using proper comp/gun try the dupont 222s primer on them first then use basecoat colour with hardner (5/1) in it - Extremely resistant for things such as doorhandles it will never mar - if your not using clear that is ..

XP6 · 25-01-2005, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

thanks jaded6....yeah I thought sanding plastic sounded a bit odd..

I brought some paints last night from bursons and found out a couple of things that were a bit strange..

1. I told the guy it was for my interior and he said that i could even use the heat resistant paints (same colour as my rocker cover..woohoo!).

2. He said that a primer was not nessesary as the heat resistant paint already has bonding agents in it? I thought that was a little odd.

So I brought some industrial cleaning stuff to wipe it down, then x2 cans of ford blue heat resistant paint, and a can of heat proof clear coat.

Do you think those paints will be fine? He seemed pretty sure it would be right.

Dont use them heat paints, they need to be heated for a certain time before they will cure fully... there will be very little shine and it wil scratch real easy.
All else fails read the instructions, they'd be on the can eh!