Revitalizing your car’s appearance can be surprisingly straightforward and impactful, especially when it comes to refreshing those plastic exterior parts. From side mirror caps to bumper trims, painting these components is a fantastic way to personalize your vehicle and restore that showroom shine without the complexity of a full car respray.
If you’re wondering what it takes to achieve a professional-looking finish on plastic car parts, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from preparing the plastic surface to the best techniques for applying automotive paint. Let’s dive into the world of DIY car part painting.
Identifying Paintable Plastic Car Parts
The beauty of modern automotive design is that many exterior plastic elements are designed to be painted. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check your specific car make and model, as variations exist. Generally, you can confidently paint the following plastic car parts:
- Trim Pieces: These are often found along the sides of the car, around windows, and bumpers.
- Door Handles: A subtle yet noticeable part that can significantly impact your car’s aesthetics.
- Mirrors: Including the housing and sometimes the base, offering a chance for customization or refreshing faded colors.
- Bumpers: Both front and rear bumpers often incorporate plastic sections that are perfect for painting.
- Wheel Covers: Give your wheels a new lease of life without the expense of replacing them entirely.
- Spoilers: Add a sporty touch or restore the original look by painting plastic spoilers.
- Mudguards/Splash Guards: Protect your car and look good doing it with a fresh coat of paint.
Essential Items for Painting Plastic Car Parts
Before you start, gather all the necessary equipment and tools to ensure a smooth and efficient painting process. Here’s a comprehensive list of what you’ll need:
- Sandpaper: A range of grits, from coarse to fine (e.g., 220, 320, 400, 600 grit), is crucial for achieving a flawlessly smooth surface.
- Automotive Spray Paint for Plastic: Specifically formulated paints for plastic are essential. These paints are designed to adhere properly and flex with plastic parts, preventing cracking and peeling.
- Protective Mask: Safety first! A respirator mask is vital to protect you from harmful paint and primer fumes.
- Plastic Primer: This is a non-negotiable. Primer designed for plastic creates a bonding layer between the plastic and the paint, ensuring longevity and a professional finish.
- Masking Tape: High-quality masking tape, such as Perforated Trim Masking Tape or Flat Orange Precision Masking Tape, is essential for clean lines and protecting areas you don’t want to paint.
- Clear Lacquer (Clear Coat): Lacquer adds a protective, glossy top coat, enhancing the paint’s durability and shine.
- Microfiber Cloths: Keep these handy for cleaning, wiping, and the final polishing stage.
- Degreaser or Plastic Cleaner: To thoroughly clean the plastic parts before sanding.
- Tack Cloth: To remove any fine dust particles before painting.
- Optional: Adhesion Promoter: For certain types of plastic that are notoriously difficult to paint, an adhesion promoter can further improve paint adhesion.
Preparing Plastic Car Parts for Painting: Step-by-Step
Proper preparation is the cornerstone of a successful paint job. Rushing this stage can lead to paint failure, so take your time and follow these steps carefully:
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Removal (Recommended): Whenever possible, remove the plastic part from the car. This makes preparation and painting significantly easier and prevents overspray on other vehicle areas. Carefully detach trims using a plastic trim removal tool or a thin, flat tool, working gently to avoid damaging the surrounding car body or the plastic part itself.
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Masking (If Removal Isn’t Possible): If you can’t remove the part, meticulous masking is crucial. Protect the surrounding bodywork with masking tape and paper. For curved trims, JTAPE Perforated Trim Masking Tape is ideal as its segmented edge allows for easy contouring. For straight edges, Lime Precision Masking Tape provides sharp, clean lines. Ensure there are no gaps where paint can seep through by firmly pressing down the tape edges.
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Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the plastic part. Use warm soapy water and a degreaser or plastic-specific cleaner to remove all dirt, grease, wax, and contaminants. Rinse well and allow it to dry completely.
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Sanding: Sanding is essential to create a surface that paint can adhere to. Start with a coarser grit sandpaper (e.g., 220 or 320 grit) to remove the glossy surface of the plastic. Gradually move to finer grits (e.g., 400 and then 600 grit) to smooth out scratches and create a uniformly smooth surface. The goal is to eliminate the shine and create “tooth” for the primer to grip. For textured plastic, sanding will smooth it out but may not make it perfectly flat – decide if you want to retain some texture or aim for a completely smooth finish.
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Final Cleaning: After sanding, clean the plastic part again with warm water to remove sanding dust. For an even cleaner surface, you can use a tack cloth right before priming to pick up any remaining fine particles.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Spray Paint Plastic Car Parts
With the preparation complete, you’re now ready to paint. Follow these steps for a professional-looking spray paint finish:
Step 1: Priming for Plastic
Apply a plastic-specific primer. Shake the primer can thoroughly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Hold the can about 6-7 inches away from the plastic part and apply thin, even coats. Work in smooth, overlapping strokes. Always wear your respirator mask during this stage.
Apply 2-3 thin coats of primer, allowing each coat to dry for about 10-15 minutes in between, or as per the primer’s instructions. The primer provides adhesion and a uniform base for the color coat.
Step 2: Applying the Color Coat
Once the primer is completely dry, it’s time for the color coat. Apply your automotive spray paint in the same manner as the primer – thin, even coats, overlapping strokes, and from a distance of 6-7 inches. Shake the paint can well before and during application.
Depending on the color change and the paint’s opacity, you may need multiple coats to achieve full, even color coverage. For significant color changes, like painting white over black plastic, more coats will likely be necessary. Allow each coat of paint to dry for approximately 15-20 minutes before applying the next.
Step 3: Clear Lacquering for Protection and Shine
After the color coat is fully dry (refer to the paint can for drying times), apply clear lacquer. This step is crucial for protecting the paint and adding a glossy or matte finish, depending on the type of lacquer you choose.
Apply 3-4 coats of clear lacquer, again using thin, even coats and allowing about 15 minutes of drying time between each. Ensure complete coverage for maximum protection and a uniform sheen.
Step 4: Final Polish and Reassembly
Allow the lacquer to dry completely and cure. This may take a few hours or even overnight, depending on the product and ambient temperature. Once fully cured, gently polish the painted plastic part with a clean microfiber cloth to enhance the shine and remove any minor imperfections.
If you removed the part for painting, carefully reattach it to your car. If you masked it, carefully remove the masking tape, pulling it away at a shallow angle to avoid lifting the new paint.
Powder Coating Plastic Car Parts: An Alternative?
While less common for DIY projects, plastic car parts can be powder coated. However, it’s a different process than powder coating metal parts like alloy wheels. Standard powder coating involves high temperatures, which can damage many plastics.
For plastic, a specialized UV-cured powder coating process is used. This method uses UV light to cure the powder coating instead of heat, making it suitable for certain types of plastics. UV powder coating can offer enhanced durability for plastic trims. However, this process typically requires specialized equipment and is usually performed by professionals.
Conclusion:
Painting your plastic car parts is a rewarding DIY project that can significantly enhance your vehicle’s appearance. By following these steps for preparation and painting, you can achieve a professional-quality finish at home. Remember to take your time, prioritize preparation, and use the right products for plastic to ensure a long-lasting and beautiful result.
For more guides and expert tips on automotive painting and masking, be sure to visit our JTAPE blog.
