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Home / Collision Repair News / Back-To-Basics: Bare Plastics

Back-To-Basics: Bare Plastics

Posted on 02 August 2019 | Share:
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Sometimes going back-to-basics can make the difference between a quality repair and a failed repair. When it comes to preparing and refinishing bare plastic, there are a few things to keep in mind.

It is important to know whether the plastic being refinished has a primer, or if it’s bare plastic. A bare plastic part is similar to sheet metal in the sense that it requires surface preparation. It is important to prepare the surface using paint maker recommendations for products. One thing to keep in mind, never use solvent cleaners on bare plastic. The plastic may absorb the solvents and create refinishing defects, as well as create adhesion problems.

Before primer application, the surface should be prepped with the correct abrasives and cleaners so that the primer/sealer can adhere to the surface. Keep in mind that some paint lines will require a special adhesion promoter to be applied before any other refinish material. Do not sand the bare plastic with too coarse of an abrasive or the sand scratches will be seen through the refinishing materials. Again, just like sheet metal, the bare plastic parts should not have base coat applied without a primer/sealer being applied first.

Always follow paint maker recommendations for bare plastic preparation materials and refinishing instructions to ensure a complete, safe, and quality repair.

Related I-CAR Courses

Course Preparing a Vehicle for Refinishing

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