Painting Plastics - Advice Needed

[Turbo]

I have to paint a new plastic door mirror cover and I'm going to repaint the other side too.

Colour is VW pure white and its a direct to gloss 2k paint.

I'm looking on advice on what prep and primer to use.

I'll be applying it with a fast mover mini spray gun.

In stock I have 2k grey primer, epoxy primer in grey or black, grey 1k zinc primer and an aerosol of white cellulose primer.
I also have a can of clear plastic primer.

On the new cover my thinking is a rub down with a red or green scotch pad, spray with the plastic primer, 2k grey primer, another rub with a scotch pad and apply the top coat.

On the already painted side I will sand back to an even surface, plastic prime any exposed plastic then I'm thinking maybe use the epoxy primer as a bar coat.
Or would the 2k be ok as I will already have it in the spray gun?
Then a rub down and apply the top coat.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Epoxy prime it in grey. Then flat it and put a coat of your white primer over it, followed by your gloss. It rather depends on what the manufacturer specifies for base colour, you might find that they do white over the grey. Enough gloss and it won't grin through anyway, so I would probably skip the white undercoat. However, if you want to do it, there is no good reason not to.

 

[Turbo]

Epoxy prime it in grey. Then flat it and put a coat of your white primer over it, followed by your gloss. It rather depends on what the manufacturer specifies for base colour, you might find that they do white over the grey. Enough gloss and it won't grin through anyway, so I would probably skip the white undercoat. However, if you want to do it, there is no good reason not to.

I'd be worried about the white primer reacting as it's cellulose.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I'd be worried about the white primer reacting as it's cellulose.

No it isn't! It's 1K Acrylic.

 

[badabec]

and an aerosol of white cellulose primer.

 

[Turbo]

No it isn't! It's 1K Acrylic.

Had to go and check and you are correct.

Cellulose is mentioned on the can but it is acrylic paint.

How did you know?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Had to go and check and you are correct.

View attachment 500893


Cellulose is mentioned on the can but it is acrylic paint.

How did you know?

30 years of relevant experience.

 

[Turbo]

The old mirror cover has a scrape in the plastic.
Is it ok to use P38 to fill it?

 

[ajlelectronics]

The old mirror cover has a scrape in the plastic.
Is it ok to use P38 to fill it?

If it is just surface damage, I would use Dolphin Glaze there AFTER epoxy priming. There are other 2k stoppers available, but I like that one.

 

[Turbo]

Its a shallow gouge too deep to be filled by paint alone.
I already have P38, will it work?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Its a shallow gouge too deep to be filled by paint alone.
I already have P38, will it work?

It's a bit coarse for stopping, but give it a go. You might need a couple of applications (slightly proud) to get a suitable surface when flatted.

 

[Turbo]

Might get some of that dolphin glaze, it looks useful to have.

Do I need a coat of primer over it before the top coat?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Might get some of that dolphin glaze, it looks useful to have.

Do I need a coat of primer over it before the top coat?

You do. Apply it over epoxy primer then flat to 320 dry and seal it with more epoxy primer. Then flat through the grades to 500 dry, for solid 2K.

 

[badabec]

@ajlelectronics
AKA Derren Brown

 

[marlinspike]

I've been impressed with Dolphin Glaze. It fills tiny pinholes really well and saves time on sanding. Not cheap but it hasn't gone off like some tub fillers I've used.

 

[Smallfry]

I spilt some Bilt Hamber Etchweld primer on the plastic rear bumper on one of my vans about four years ago. Its still there !

Mirror covers are not flexible, so don't overthink it.

Only need special primers for things like HDPE, MDPE things like bumpers, and "greasy" feeling plastics.

 

[badabec]

Does the Dolphin Glaze come in a bag?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Does the Dolphin Glaze come in a bag?

It does, which excludes the air as you dispense it.