On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 04:59:44 -0500, "Q." <LostVideos-AT-hotmail.com>
wrote:
>"Dan Daniel" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
>> Anyone ever paint these fenders? Any idea if acrylic lacquer will stick? Do they need a urethane
>> clear coat? Will it all just crack and/or flake off over time?
>
>What type of plastic are your fenders made from? Many car parts are various types of plastic these
>days, and I've seen paints applied to plastic using a coat of "Plastic Parts Adhesion Promoter".
>Wont work with lexan, but should work for most else. Some automotive paint manufacturers have very
>good customer support for such things, try emailing a couple once you know the type of plastic.
>They're more than happy to sell you paint and also avoiding lawsuits (in case you melt the plastic
>and kill your family with toxic fumes).
>
I am not certain of the type of plastic. From using a dremel on it, I'd say a styrene or ABS.
Although maybe polycarbonate/Lexan?? That will make things difficult. I'll run some tests at
work today.
Thanks for the reminder about Lexan. Planet Bike's fenders are made from polycarbonate, they say.
Thanks for reminding me about auto paint stores. I know we have some flex agent and some adhesion
promoter around at work. I'll play around and maybe make some calls.
>I've had good luck painting plastic with model paints ... specifically, the spray paints used to
>paint scale radio controlled cars such as this one:
>
>
http://tinyurl.com/yw8u5
>
>Basically the body is just for show. It's a thin, clear PVC type flexible plastic (you paint from
>the inside, comes out great). I've trashed my truck over the years and the paint has barely flaked
>off. The paint tends to etch itself into the plastic.
>
Hmmmm... so these radio-controlled cars come in clear plastic and you paint from the inside? That's
a great solution to chipping and scratching. And it probably gives a nice glossy topcoat effect.
Too bad the fenders aren't clear plastic- that would be a great look, backpainted clear plastic.
>I would try a paint specific to plastic first, and paint an unobtrusive part to test, such as
>the inside of the seat post mount or a part hidden with a metal mounting clip. You should be
>able to find plastic specific paint that will work good for your application if model paints
>don't work out.
>
I have access to lacquers and other paint types at work, and am painting plastics all the time. Some
model paints are based on lacquer, I know. I guess I'll be painting the inside of the fenders in
small pieces over the next few days.
>Hope this helps, and let us know how it turns out (with pictures!).
>C.Q.C.
>
Thanks. It will be a month or more before the bike is back on the road.
