Paint for the plastics

[jjs1234]

Curious what everyone uses to paint their plastic and fiberglass.

Ideally I am looking for a flat black look.


I tried the rustoleum plastic paint but I found that to be absolutely terrible. This is the second time I have used it (once without the primer- by the way that stuff gets EVERYWHERE when you spray it) and it leaves a orange-peel finish.

Disappointing. Thinking of taking them to the paint shop when I get my tank painted...

Unless a better idea?

[Martin]

On  the Honorable Minister for Finance and Recreations cars plastic bumpers. I use Septone Plastic Adhesion Primer followed by a suitable colour spray can touchup paint Power Plus or Dupli Colour. I have never had problem with lifting or flaking.
Regards Martin.

[F14CRAZY]

You can sand out the orange peel

[TrueAce]

Best results I have had is with Route 66 Paints. They have base primers for different materials, middle stage, BMW specific code colors and different clear coats. You can get spray bottles or cans. Sorry I can't provide a link, I'm on the road.

[Motorhobo]

http://www.colorrite.com/

Worth the phone call -- they have people that talk to you.

[RobP]

My hard bags were scuffed and faded, I used black bumper paint and they came out pretty good.  I had originally used the 'made for plastic' paint and they came out badly.  I had to sand all that off before using the bumper paint.

[Motorhobo]

Oh -- those plastics. Forget what I said then, colorite.com supplies motorcycle paint, not ABS paint.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Find a paint dealer who supplies collision shops.  There are a couple in every town that has more than one auto body repair shop.   Take a part or two and ask the counterman what you need to paint them.  There are prep solvents and adhesion promoters for plastic parts.  The stuff in Rustoleum or Krylon is not the some and probably not quite as good. 

Most of the plastic bodywork on classic k bikes is polyester bulk molding compound and can be painted with almost any good automotive paint system.  The only injection molded flexible plastic parts I can think of are the mud guards, mirrors, tragkorbs, fairing inner panels and belly pans

About primer.  If you used a high build primer you should expect to wet sand with 600 grit paper.  That stuff is designed to be sanded for a perfect surface.  Really, you should always plan on a light wet sanding with 600 before any color coat regardless of what it;s going on.