Painting plastic

[YamahaOutlaw]

There have been several topics on here about how to paint up your nytro if you want a custom job. However, I'm looking to just paint a few select parts of my sled white to give it a bit more of a white accent to it. This may be a stupid question, but has anyone ever used spray paint (the stuff that's made for painting plastic) for detailing plastic body panels? Specifically I'm looking at doing part of the plastic behind the seat (over the exhaust) and potentially the side panel "clutch covers" (just the round parts). Does anyone know if this stuff would hold up on a sled? Would be a heli-cheap way to go if it works, but don't want to wreck something being the guinea pig...

 

[Otter]

Iam painting some interior panels in my old car. I went to paint shop and got set up with plastic cleaner, plastic paint primer and plastic paint. everything is in spray bombs. So it is possible to do at home. Iam sure you could get some paint mixed up and put into spary bombs for the color you like.

Otter

 

[TVBrian]

A buddy of mine did a full custom paint job on his REV, he even went as far as to sand down the plastic to give it that smooth finish (like body panels).... The sled looked AMAZING!!

BUT... I talked to him at the end of the season about doing my new sled, and he advised against it. He said that it seems there is to much flex in the plastic body panels, and the paint it always cracking.

I would say you would have no issue painting things like vents and small items that don't have much flex, but I would stay away from full panels.

 

[kingedwards99]

He needs to put the flex additive in his clear coat, and if he did then he should've put more. painting the panels are really nice but you have to be careful when you ride with a bunch of wild boys, also when you take them off, and when you ride right by your knees the panels felx quite a bit, i also worry about having to bring it to the dealer and having to leave it there if they'll be carefull? but i did buy a used panel for the clutch side but i am looking for the right for when or if i have to bring the sled in i won't worry about it as much.

 

[NOS-PRO]

There have been several topics on here about how to paint up your nytro if you want a custom job. However, I'm looking to just paint a few select parts of my sled white to give it a bit more of a white accent to it. This may be a stupid question, but has anyone ever used spray paint (the stuff that's made for painting plastic) for detailing plastic body panels? Specifically I'm looking at doing part of the plastic behind the seat (over the exhaust) and potentially the side panel "clutch covers" (just the round parts). Does anyone know if this stuff would hold up on a sled? Would be a heli-cheap way to go if it works, but don't want to wreck something being the guinea pig...

My sleds still look great, but they were professionally done.

My tip to you would be to grab a plastic container of some sort, sand it down, and try the paint. This way you don't mess your plastic panels up and if it works, you could retouch them up for less than $10. Better yet, find someone that has a wrecked panel that you could get from them and test on. This way the plastic is identical and you can practice on.

Terry

 

[maniac]

there is alot of steps to take when painting plastic and it also depends on what paint you use every one has different procedures. i put flex additives in primer and the clear good luck

 

[sheetwright]

Is it a different procedure for different plastics? Like the hood plastic to the black side plastics? Different prep, and technique??

 

[NOS-PRO]

Is it a different procedure for different plastics? Like the hood plastic to the black side plastics? Different prep, and technique??

Yes there is.....

Different plastics require different chemical bonds of paint. That is why my body shop does a soot test for adhesion.

 

[BlueByYou2000]

Ive been custom painting my sleds for several years. A good paint job is only as good as the prep and application. Panels must be thouroughly cleaned with products suchas "prepsol". Yamaha side panels are quite bumpy and can be sanded however the best way to prep for paint is use a buildable primer, then wet sand the primer perfectly smooth. If your primer coat is not perfectly smooth, you will see any imperfections you left behind after you apply your basecoat/clearcoat. The most important part of painting any plastic surfaces is to use a flex agent. If you do not, it will spider crack everywhere and after time, flake off. Think about how much that plastic panel bends when you take them off and put them on the sled. Flex agent is a must. If you take all these steps, you can be confident in painting your panels and get results like this...