I just bought older ATV for renovation. Plastic fenders, mudguards and body covers looks a little boring and worn out by sun and water.

Plastic doesn't look like fiberglass laminate, so I am not sure how good adhesion will be.

Can I spray paint it with nice red automotive paint ?

Or most likely paint will crack and fell off - due to flexing and vibrations ?

Any recommendation on the paint and preparation ?

you will need paint thats correct for the plastic or it will just peel off and crack. most automotive places can help but I wouldnt bother tbh. it will look worse in the long run.

As above you can get good plastic etch primers nowadays which give you your solid base coat.

or you could go the full lair and send the bits of to get chromed

If Supercheap Auto will be good place to start looking for paint and advice or I need to go to more specialized shop ?

Some plastics are a "b**" to paint. Most paints almost literally slide off.
Best way I found is [1] patience and [2] lots of elbow grease. You're going to need to sand the plastic back to create a bonding surface, hmm about 600 grade emory paper should do it. Some plastics are enamled or gloss coated. You have to get rid of that layer by sanding.
Now treat it like doing a panel on your car,
Sand with 800, 1200, and anything higher until it's as smooth as a babie's bum.
Apply a primer or spray bog but lightly.
Sand again, starting from 1200 up.
Apply primer again
Sand again.

Now - you can apply your paint. Car paints all the way and primers.

What about some sort of plastic wrap?

Clean it really well with detergent and hot water and then using a hot air gun on high temp keep moving it gently around until the plastics surfaces becomes glossy once more.
It's really important to do it as evenly as is possible. Not to hot in the one area as it will shrink if it's over heated.
The area as it's heated, floats off all the oxidization and it returns to it's original colour.
Some of the deep scratches can even be floated out with a bit of practice.

Try it out on a smaller piece till you get the technique right. Practice on a faded plastic bucket or plastic garden tools that have lost their colour due to exposure to the sun/light.

Some larger components take a bit of time to get right.

I repair buckled motorbike fenders where they get the white creases across them. I plastic weld splits and cracks and this is how I restore the whole component to its former glory after doing the localized repair.

You can then use conventional polish to keep it looking good.

Select to expand quote

Chook2 said..
Clean it really well with detergent and hot water and then using a hot air gun on high temp keep moving it gently around until the plastics surfaces becomes glossy once more.
It's really important to do it as evenly as is possible. Not to hot in the one area as it will shrink if it's over heated.
The area as it's heated, floats off all the oxidization and it returns to it's original colour.
Some of the deep scratches can even be floated out with a bit of practice.

Try it out on a smaller piece till you get the technique right. Practice on a faded plastic bucket or plastic garden tools that have lost their colour due to exposure to the sun/light.

Some larger components take a bit of time to get right.

I repair buckled motorbike fenders where they get the white creases across them and plastic weld splits and cracks and this is how I restore the whole component to its former glory after the localized repair.

You can then use conventional polish to keep it looking good.

That's a great technique to get the old paint off the plastic, heat it up.

To take a simple approach you could.

Heat / sand all old paint of any metal or plastic.

Sand if need start with around 240 or there about and finish around 600 I wouldnt go any smoother or you might not adhesion.

Clean back, i would use prep sol or prep wash.

Spray with primer or even better etch primer on the steel - anything with zinc to stop rust.

I would then just blow any dust off the primer with air compressor and spray with auto enamel

My 2 cs

I recently bought some plasti dip type spray paint. have used it on my mud guards, windows wiper arms, fenders and it has been going well. cost $20 from local bunnings and used less than half a can. have been trying to find other things to spray with it as it looks great.
beauty of it is you can peel it off if you don't like it. Also easy to apply since its just a spray can.

I like Chook's method. Can't wait to try it!

If you do have to paint, regardless of sanding you will need a plastic primer, it essentially melts the plastic a bit.
Then probably a flexative additive for decent live as the parts will bend at times.

Wrap it, baby! Adhesive vinyl is dead easy to apply, looks good and can be replaced when you're tired of it.

A product called back to black, specialist car detail product, also kiwi boot polish works a treat, my army swb land rover used to get this treatment prior to troop inspections on the mudguards , silicone spray, it's clear but brings black PVC back to life, don't get too technical

Durhhh , sorry just read your thread properly, it's coloured plastic, thought it was trims

Select to expand quote

cauncy said..
Durhhh , sorry just read your thread properly, it's coloured plastic, thought it was trims

That will do well too, thanks. Bottom parts are black ( I should say were black and now are grayish) . Top is painted ( khaki )- must be ATV version for desert war US made .

Plastic looks fine, what do u want to paint it for?
When u said faded I thought you had a Honda that had turned pink lol

Faded sand/camo colour is nice, just recon the black

Select to expand quote

Macroscien said...

cauncy said..
Durhhh , sorry just read your thread properly, it's coloured plastic, thought it was trims

That will do well too, thanks. Bottom parts are black ( I should say were black and now are grayish) . Top is painted ( khaki )- must be ATV version for desert war US made .

Got the yanks out of the **** a few times
Yep those black bits will come up a treat

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..
When u said faded I thought you had a Honda that had turned pink lol

Honda don't do electric , do they ?
ok I will try black first and rims needs some attention too ..

Select to expand quote

Macroscien said..

Mark _australia said..
When u said faded I thought you had a Honda that had turned pink lol

Honda don't do electric , do they ?
ok I will try black first and rims needs some attention too ..

Honda Insight? Hybrid, but they look awesome pimped out with body kits, 3 inch exhaust and wings...

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said...
Plastic looks fine, what do u want to paint it for?
When u said faded I thought you had a Honda that had turned pink lol

Faded sand/camo colour is nice, just recon the black

Sir yes sir

I wouldn't be touching that.
Looks ok now and for all the effort a good polish will do just as well. Get the rest sorted out before you go to tart it up.

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..
Plastic looks fine, what do u want to paint it for?
When u said faded I thought you had a Honda that had turned pink lol

Faded sand/camo colour is nice, just recon the black

I thought the same Mark.

Honda red, Kwaka green, Yammy blue and Suzi Yellow, are good to use heat to restore or weld.
Most times they are ABS or polypropylene. ABS seems to be more on street bikes. (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.)

Most times I can cut a small slice along bottom of a mudguard (where it wont be seen) and use that as the welding rod/filler so that it is compatible/matches exactly.
The little Asian "pocket bikes" and mopeds, the plastics on them are a nightmare!!!!
Made from old milk bottles I reckon.

Actually.......... the HDPE in a milk bottle would be better.
They melt and mold beautifully.

The larger Spotlights carry Plastic spray paint cans...
I think you have to ask for them as they are usually locked in a cabinet in the craft section.

I painted one of those little kiddies plastic cubby houses....

Plastidip mate, its good stuff

Model paint. Got some from mitre 10, adheres nicely, is flexible, has a nice gloss

On black plastic pieces I did try today black shoe polish in the form of liquid. Works like a dream, hopefully will stay like that on the sun and rain for some time.
$3 per bottle.
Even seems do not stain clothes on contact when is dry.So maybe later on only Sandy Yellow to Bright Red paint for upper panels will help a bit.

I did replaced also head lights bulbs from 18W halogen to LED Cre, to save on power.

Select to expand quote

Macroscien said...
On black plastic pieces I did try today black shoe polish in the form of liquid. Works like a dream, hopefully will stay like that on the sun and rain for some time.
$3 per bottle.
Even seems do not stain clothes on contact when is dry.So maybe later on only Sandy Yellow to Bright Red paint for upper panels will help a bit.

I did replaced also head lights bulbs from 18W halogen to LED Cre, to save on power.

Good enough for the regimental sergeant major then it's good enough for you

Select to expand quote

cauncy said..
Good enough for the regimental sergeant major then it's good enough for you

Yes , Sir Yes ! ooops
Sir yes Sir

did you get it from a military surplus sale or private

Don't forget to Armorall the seat.

Select to expand quote

cauncy said..
did you get it from a military surplus sale or private

private, as battery needs some attention. Just found that only few cells of this 80V bank need replacement, the rest is fine.

Select to expand quote

Sailhack said..
Don't forget to Armorall the seat.

You evil bugger!!!!!