Painting the plastic fixtures on your car is an excellent way to breathe new life into its exterior. From plastic wing mirror caps to bumper strips, these components can be spray painted to personalize your vehicle’s appearance and restore a fresh, new look without the extensive work of repainting entire panels.
If you’re wondering about the necessary materials, the correct preparation methods for Plastic Car Parts, and the step-by-step techniques to achieve a professional finish, this guide is for you. Discover everything you need to know about applying automotive paint to plastic car parts and elevate your car’s aesthetics.
Identifying Plastic Car Parts Suitable for Painting
A wide array of plastic trims and exterior components on your car can be successfully painted. It’s worth noting that the specific plastic trims can vary depending on your car’s make and model, which might influence which parts are paintable.
Here are common plastic car parts that are typically paintable across most vehicle models:
- Trim Pieces
- Door Handles
- Side Mirrors and Mirror Caps
- Bumpers and Bumper Covers
- Wheel Covers
- Spoilers
- Mudguards and Splash Guards
Essential Items for Painting Plastic Car Parts
To embark on painting your plastic car parts, you’ll need to gather the right equipment and tools. Here’s a comprehensive list of everything you’ll require:
- Sandpaper: A selection of different sandpaper grits is crucial for achieving an exceptionally smooth surface on the plastic. Start with coarser grits to remove imperfections and progressively move to finer grits for a polished finish.
- Spray Paint: Opt for high-quality automotive spray paint specifically designed for plastic. These paints are formulated to adhere effectively to plastic surfaces, ensuring durability and longevity.
- Respirator or Mask: When working with spray paints, primers, and lacquers, wearing a respirator or mask is essential for protecting yourself from harmful fumes and chemicals.
- Plastic Primer: Primer is a game-changer when painting plastic. A specialized plastic primer creates a bonding layer that significantly improves paint adhesion, preventing peeling and ensuring a professional, long-lasting paint job.
- Masking Tape: For crisp, clean lines, high-quality masking tape is indispensable. Consider using specialized automotive masking tapes like Perforated Trim Masking Tape for curved areas or Flat Orange Precision Masking Tape for straight edges to effectively mask off areas you don’t want to paint.
- Clear Lacquer: A clear lacquer top coat is vital for adding a glossy sheen and providing extra protection to your newly painted plastic parts. It enhances the color depth and durability of the paint job.
- Microfiber Cloths: Keep a stock of microfiber cloths handy for cleaning surfaces, applying polish, and wiping away dust or debris.
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Plastic Car Parts for Painting
Alt text: Diverse colored cars in a row showcasing various plastic car part designs.
Proper preparation is the cornerstone of a successful paint job on plastic car parts. The initial and most effective step is to remove the plastic part from the car’s body. This allows for easier access and ensures a more thorough preparation process. Typically, plastic trims can be detached by carefully using a razor blade or a specialized trim removal tool to separate them from the body panel. Exercise caution to avoid scratching the underlying surface or damaging the plastic component itself.
If removing the part isn’t feasible, meticulous masking of the surrounding car body is crucial to prevent overspray and achieve a clean, professional finish. For curved plastic parts, JTAPE Perforated Trim Masking Tape is highly recommended due to its flexible, perforated edge that conforms easily to bends and contours. For straight edges or gently curved plastic parts, Lime Precision Masking Tape is ideal for creating sharp, clean masking lines and safeguarding surrounding areas from paint. When masking, double-check for any gaps where paint could seep through. Apply firm pressure to the tape to ensure it’s securely adhered to the panel, creating a watertight seal.
Next comes sanding, a critical step to ensure proper paint adhesion. Sand down the entire surface of the plastic part to create a smooth, even base. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper to remove any existing shine and surface imperfections, then gradually progress to finer grits to refine the surface. The goal is to eliminate the glossy finish on the plastic, as this glossy surface hinders primer and paint from properly adhering, which can lead to premature peeling or flaking.
After sanding is complete, thoroughly clean the plastic part with warm, soapy water to eliminate any sanding dust, dirt, or contaminants. Ensure the part is completely dry before proceeding to the next step. For optimal cleaning, you can also use a plastic-safe degreaser to remove any residual oils or waxes that might interfere with paint adhesion.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Spray Paint Plastic Car Parts
With the plastic parts meticulously prepped, you’re now ready to apply paint. Follow these step-by-step instructions to spray paint your plastic trims and achieve a flawless, professional-looking finish.
Step 1 – Priming for Plastic
Apply a high-quality plastic primer to the prepared plastic part. Hold the spray can approximately 6-7 inches away from the surface. Remember to wear your respirator or mask throughout this stage to protect yourself from primer fumes.
For optimal primer application, keep the spray can upright and apply thin, even coats. Apply three to four coats of primer, allowing about 15 minutes of drying time between each coat. This ensures each layer is sufficiently dry and prevents runs or drips, creating a solid foundation for the paint.
Step 2 – Applying Automotive Paint
Alt text: Automotive professional spray painting a blue plastic car part in a workshop.
When applying automotive paint to plastic, particularly for significant color changes like painting black parts white, you might need additional coats for full coverage and color saturation. However, the spraying technique remains the same as with the primer. Maintain a distance of 6-7 inches from the plastic part and apply thin, even coats to prevent runs.
Apply multiple thin coats of your chosen automotive paint, rather than one thick coat. Allow each coat to dry for the manufacturer-recommended time, typically around 15-20 minutes, before applying the next. This method builds up color gradually and ensures a smooth, even, and durable paint finish on your plastic car parts.
Step 3 – Sealing with Clear Lacquer
To protect your paint job and add a desirable gloss finish, apply a clear lacquer over the painted plastic parts. Apply four to five coats of clear lacquer, again allowing approximately 15 minutes of drying time between each coat.
Once you are satisfied with the lacquer finish, it’s crucial to allow ample drying time before handling the parts. It’s recommended to let the lacquer cure for several hours, or even overnight, before removing the masking tape or reattaching the plastic trim to your vehicle. This ensures the lacquer is fully hardened and less susceptible to damage during handling.
Step 4 – Polishing for Perfection
The final touch to elevate your painted plastic car parts is polishing. Take a clean, soft microfiber cloth and gently polish the surface of the newly painted plastic. This polishing step will enhance the shine, remove any minor imperfections or loose debris, and leave you with a flawlessly smooth, professional-looking surface. Use a specialized plastic polish for an even greater depth of shine and added protection.
Exploring Powder Coating for Plastic Car Parts
While less common for DIY enthusiasts, plastic car parts can also be powder coated. However, the powder coating process for plastic differs from the process used for metal parts like alloy wheels. Standard powder coating involves high temperatures that can damage or distort plastic.
Instead, a specialized UV-cured powder coating process is used for plastic components. This method utilizes UV light to cure the powder coating at lower temperatures, making it suitable for plastic. UV-cured powder coating offers enhanced durability and resistance to scratches and chips for plastic trims, making it a premium option, often performed by professionals.
We trust this comprehensive guide empowers you to refine your approach to painting plastic car parts. For more expert advice, detailed guides, and a wealth of information on automotive painting and masking techniques, be sure to explore our JTAPE blog.
