painting atv plastic

johnney · #1 (**permalink**) 05-25-2010, 06:05 PM

is it possible to (spray)paint a body and not have it crack off and look worse than it does with the stains and knicks? i just removed most of the stickers that were on it and it kind of looks like ass with the stains around where they were at, so i was wanting to paint. is this doable?

Smoothbassman · #2 (**permalink**) 05-25-2010, 08:02 PM

You can do it but you need a special paint designed for this application.

Regular spray paint is not going to bond to the plastics well and will eventually crack and peel.

elmerkit · #3 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 12:33 AM

Better to sand it off before applying any spray paints.

buckfever5 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 06:36 AM

Let me know when you're done with yours. I'll drop mine off and you can paint it black for me =P

850xp4me · #5 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 06:55 AM

You just need a paint with a flex additive in it. Same stuff they use to paint plastic bumpers on cars.

craigracin15 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 08:17 AM

if u use spray can paint its gonna peel off..it might cost alittle more to get some automotive paint and get a flexing agent put in it..they make a spray can of adhesion promoter for bumper covers on cars.. before and after u sand clean it with a automotive type surface cleaner to get the grease and oil off...nothin will ever stick if its not clean!!

chopper89 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 01:13 PM

Im sorry to say this but you cant paint colored impregnated plastic. which you have on your polaris. this is a plastic wich has the color put in it and so that the uv rays from the sun dont break the color down as fast they put uv inhibitors in there which keep any type of plastic primer from sticking good enough to take the abuse from the typical atv user, yes there are plastic primers for the automotive industry but these are for raw plastic. not colored impregnated. and the process to clean these is a long one. Yes i know you can buy spray bomb duplicolor that they says sticks to plastics but thats for plastic chairs or household stuff that doesnt move. A vinyl kit is your safe bet. you try cleaning and plastic primer, but it might come off like a lottery ticket scratch off. I saw a thread were a guy used bedliner 1in9twist. did it I dont know how it turned out for durability but you could pm him and ask. Im guessing he used 180 grit sandpaper and just the mechanical adhesion is holding it. I have 20 years experience as a automotive painter so im not blowing smoke just trying to give some good advice

johnney · #8 (**permalink**) 05-27-2010, 04:27 AM

i think im going to pass on the painting and save up for some new stuff

Razorback · #9 (**permalink**) 05-27-2010, 08:50 AM

I've been researching this myself since my plastics are extremely faded. Bottom line is that no matter what you paint with it's gonna come off. I'm still gonna do mine When I get around to it. I'll sand and use some sort of degreaser, then use krylon fusion paint. If it chips or scratches, I can just hit it with the rattle can again.

This is just me though. Even black paint with yellow scratches here and there will look better than how faded it is right now, and I'm just not gonna pay 500 bucks for new plastic.

nicholsfiver · #10 (**permalink**) 05-27-2010, 05:03 PM

We have some guys around here that do the plastic dip. You can choose from about 50 different camo patterns alone or any color you want. They have been doing this for years and have seemed to perfect it. To get my polaris sportsman done with me removing the plastics was about $400. Which isnt bad for the way they turn out. It looks just like the factory plastics but with patterns you cant buy anywhere. Maybe someone around you has this capability. Just a thought.