Painting plastics

[Kenster1997]

Hey I want to paint the side panels on my nytro, the clutch cover/shrouds. Wanna paint them white. What kind of paint would I use?

 

[nate007]

Theres not a real easy way to answer this one, as there are many different products you can use.
What type of results are you looking for? (show quality, with or without texture, quick and easy, etc...) What type of painting skills do you have, and what equipment do you have?
I've painted many many sleds, and have developed a method that works very well for the results I'm looking for and what products I use.
There's so many steps involved to get an automotive paint to stay on a sled panel that it'd be a long boring post, but it can be done with excellent results if you use some patience and attention to detail.
In my opinion, an automotive paint is the best choice for appearance and durability, and since you're putting the time and effort into it, you may as well do it right the first time!
To just paint the forward plastics, I'd expect to have at least 30+hours into prep and paint, with even more depending on your desired level of final buffing.
I'll be happy to help you out if you'd like to tackle it. PM me and I can explain more.

 

[Kenster1997]

I would prefer quick and easey

 

[deerlodge]

Plasti dip

 

[YammyRX1]

Has anyone tried the Krylon (or similar) paint made for plastics? There was also a post about using a thick primer to cover the texture and then painting over that. The other thing that you could try on a small area is flame treating the plastic first. Some plastics are 'slippery' but if you wave a propane torch over them it changes the surface and then you can glue or paint them- but don't get it hot enough to warp.

 

[yzviper366]

Has anyone tried the Krylon (or similar) paint made for plastics? There was also a post about using a thick primer to cover the texture and then painting over that. The other thing that you could try on a small area is flame treating the plastic first. Some plastics are 'slippery' but if you wave a propane torch over them it changes the surface and then you can glue or paint them- but don't get it hot enough to warp.

I think I would definatly flame treat them. I had my plastics hydro dipped and they weren't flame treated and it ended up cracking after some use. Took them back and now he is flame treating them and re doing it.

 

[YammyRX1]

Search 'Flame treating plastics' on Youtube and there are a few videos. I believe that the flame treating is enough but one guy recommends using alcohol afterwards. I think he is wrong about release agents, the flame changes the surface tension of the plastic and it is normally needed for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTiCWp0unjs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-R2lDEocDc

 

[nate007]

I've tried the "plastic" spray paint, and didn't like it at all. It never seemed to harden and even after treating and prepping correctly, it had a tendency to crack and wrinkle.
Unless you're really hard on your sled, you shouldn't have issues with using an autobody paint, even if you use a spray bomb from an auto parts store or something.
It all depends on what kind of results you're looking for, really.