Tired plastics

[Disaster Area]

Hi everyone,
The plastic on my hand guards is fading, as is the instrument panel. I'm guessing New Zealand's harsh UV has taken its toll.

Does anyone have any recommendations for how best to turn it black again?

 

[Littledumptruck]

There was a guy on here a while back that showed how heating them up with a hot air gun brought plastics back up black, getting them just shy of melting point. Never tried it myself though.

 

[thornley]

There was a guy on here a while back that showed how heating them up with a hot air gun brought plastics back up black, getting them just shy of melting point. Never tried it myself though.

It works, I think it was MikeP who showed us how to do it in his fantastic restoration of a K100. Search heat gun black plastic. The technique is in there somewhere.

 

[jeremyj]

Hi you have two options. A. A silicon based cleaner polish such as Back to Black or B. Paint them, do not however go down the route of A first as you find it nearly impossible to paint without some serious prep work.

B entails using a decent etch primer so after a good clean with a light solvent thinners something that is going to flash of pretty quickly (remove instruments from pods just in case solvent picks up on faces) then apply a plastic etch primer such a U Plast you can then top coat with acrylic any colour you like top coat.

 

[greenlaningxt]

Hot air gun works, try a bit you don't see first as its a fine line between looking good and melting it.

Have done it for years on car body work trims

 

[Timolgra]

Hot air gun works, try a bit you don't see first as its a fine line between looking good and melting it.

Works really well just clean any dirt, polish or wax off first.

 

[LotusMartin]

Try some C4 from GTechniq. This stuff is absolute magic on black tired plastic - not cheap although it goes a long way : http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/gtechniq/c4-permanent-trim-restorer.aspx

 

[ahebron]

Peanut butter.

Adrian

 

[Fanum]

Plastics are one of the few items from a dealer that can be surprisingly cheap......I was expecting 30 quid+ for an OEM side panel on my GSA but they are only a tenner or so.

Speak to your local dealer, or get a price from a UK dealer and one of us can send it out to you, if the old housewives tales above come to naught

 

[Disaster Area]

Fanum,
When I have a pile of molten plastic I may well take you up on the offer ;-)

 

[MikeO]

As an example, Motorworks sell the clock surround at £10 used...

 

[topcat2006]

CIf or Jif, whatever it is called....

 

[Deak]

As Adrian recommended, use peanut butter. Seriously, forget all your silicon and expensive off the shelf magic bullshite polishes. Peanut butter works! up:

 

[Littledumptruck]

Peanut butter.

Adrian

I'd forgotten that tip!! I did buy a jar to try, but it got eaten before I had a chance

 

[brianmaslen]

Try ACF50, this works well on dull plastic if it hasn't got too bad.

 

[jaak]

Have you considered PLASTIDIP' ing it?
I've had great results with it on various materials.

 

[Annette]

Peanut butter.

Adrian

Definitely 2nd the peanut butter.

 

[MattW]

Peanut butter works but only short term. All it does is coat it (and the minute pores in the plastic) in peanut oil which wears off eventually. Bet it would make them really attractive to Kea too

I tried some expensive polish stuff which also worked and lasted longer but also wore off eventually - the same goes for ACF-50 etc - all these things do is coat the plastic.

Not tried the hot air gun thing myself but it sounds like it'll give you the best chance of a long lasting improvement (as long as you get it right!).

 

[Black Rooster]

what about vinyl or carbon fibre wrap

 

[ralphy]

Hot air gun works, try a bit you don't see first as its a fine line between looking good and melting it.

Have done it for years on car body work trims

Works really well just clean any dirt, polish or wax off first.

Just for clarification have you done this method on the hand guards?
I ask because I've found it doesn't work on all plastic parts: I've done a few bumpers successfully but some of the trim on a Jeep didn't react.

R