Stripping paint from plastic parts?

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:52 pm

Hi,

Can someone suggest a method or some solution that is safe to use with plastic for removing paint.

I've got a few parts such as a spoiler that is already painted but paint is flaking off.

Thanks,
Mo

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:59 pm

You'll have to rub it down mate, get yourself a pack of wet and dry paper from Halfords.

Then just work through the grades, lowest grit (240) to the highest (1200)

spot_on_jon · Post by **spot_on_jon** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:31 am

wouldnt paint spripper work, being on plastic and that??

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 12:45 pm

spot_on_jon wrote:wouldnt paint spripper work, being on plastic and that??

I was going to use that but I think it will attack and melt the plastic.

Also I have to do a spoiler which I can easily rub down but the light surrounds for my twin headlights looks like a pain as the plastic is so thin and flimsy.

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:41 pm

Just go carefully with the wet and dry on the thinner bit

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 2:18 pm

ModifiedMadness wrote:Just go carefully with the wet and dry on the thinner bit

Thanks for the advice...it's going to be a hell of chore

NZ POM · Post by **NZ POM** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:42 am

G'day Mo
Long time no chat

Have to agree with our mate modified madness.sanding is your only option [unless someone has found a paint stripper that wont disturb the structure of the plastic ]. As a thought try starting with a p1oo dry paper then p180 dry then go onto the wet and dry paper,the dry paper will cut threw a lot easier in the early stages,but try not to rub the plastic with it as it may fur the plastic .Also are u going to paint the bits yourself,as there are a few things to know about painting
plastics,if u dont do it right it will flake off.just ask if u need advice

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:43 pm

NZ POM wrote:G'day Mo
Long time no chat Have to agree with our mate modified madness.sanding is your only option [unless someone has found a paint stripper that wont disturb the structure of the plastic ]. As a thought try starting with a p1oo dry paper then p180 dry then go onto the wet and dry paper,the dry paper will cut threw a lot easier in the early stages,but try not to rub the plastic with it as it may fur the plastic .Also are u going to paint the bits yourself,as there are a few things to know about painting
plastics,if u dont do it right it will flake off.just ask if u need advice

G'day NZ, yep it's been a long time since I've done any work on the Polo as I've been saving the cash for the cam belt service which isn't cheap :'(.

I managed to get some twin headlights (I know not to everyone's taste but I like them). So want to get these on before winter sets in in the UK.

The headlight surrounds are already painted in black but on one of them the paint is flaking off heavily and on the other the paint is starting to crack but not flaking off easily. Also by the looks of it someone used yellow etch primer underneath the black which I know you shouldn't really use on plastic.

Yep I will be painting them myself again, I know how to get a good finish with the advice on finishing compound you gave me last time

but these covers are really thin and probably prone to a bit more flexing compared to the spoiler so, have you any tips...I've started the rubbing down as suggeted.

Thanks,
Mo

NZ POM · Post by **NZ POM** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:45 am

G'day MO,i like the sound of the headlights.
In a body shop they would use specialist products for painting flexible plastics these would include an adhesion promoter to aid the paint in sticking to the plastic and also a flexible primer to stop the paint cracking under stress.they should also [if its really flexilble like PUR] use a flexible additive in the top coat. The trouble is i'm not sure if these products would be availble in a spray can.I use to deal with a company called Brown Bros in the UK [plenty of branches in London ] who supply auto paint products to the trade & public, i'll look on there website to see what they have got.
If u want to do it right these are the people to see, not your local Halfords

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:49 pm

NZ POM wrote:G'day MO,i like the sound of the headlights.
In a body shop they would use specialist products for painting flexible plastics these would include an adhesion promoter to aid the paint in sticking to the plastic and also a flexible primer to stop the paint cracking under stress.they should also [if its really flexilble like PUR] use a flexible additive in the top coat. The trouble is i'm not sure if these products would be availble in a spray can.I use to deal with a company called Brown Bros in the UK [plenty of branches in London ] who supply auto paint products to the trade & public, i'll look on there website to see what they have got.
If u want to do it right these are the people to see, not your local Halfords

G'day NZ from a very cold UK

,

Yep, you're right Halfords is not a great place for paint.

I did manage to get hold of some MIPA auto colour plastic primer it's clear with some fine silver flecks in it, which I assume is to help to show where you have been spraying.

I also got some U-Pol filler primer in dark grey, not sure if it's flexible but it was quite expensive compared to normal primer.

I couldn't find a website for Brown Bros. do you know the URL? all I came up with is a company that makes printed tissue

Cheers, Mo

P.S. did you paint your bodykit in the end?

NZ POM · Post by **NZ POM** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:03 am

G'day Mo . yeah i tried to find brown bros and came up with tissue ,they might have changed the name or been taken over

Good to see your on the right track with the paint products try surfing for bodyshop supplies or auto paint supplies it might help.let me know how u get on.