Plastikote on external trim

Ev0 · 20 Apr 2009 at 21:59

So the external plastics on the Clio are looking a little grey and faded, rather than back to black them all the time I'm looking to paint them up.

I picked up some black satin plastikote today (rattlecan), have tested it no a small bit of trim (the corner cover of the rear wiper that pops off) and seems to look good, although need to see it in the light tomorrow.

Now the plastic was cleaned but I didn't sand it down or use primer on it and the paint seemed to take fine to it.

Should I be doing anything else with this, does it need laquer etc? Guessing the laquer would add soem protection from the elements and uv fading maybe as well.

Should I be doing any other prep work, I plan on getting the rear wiper and the plastic semi circle thing behing it done, then will pick off any other faded bits. Side strips could do with something as well but need to know if I need to do anything else to them, cheers!

Matt82 · 21 Apr 2009 at 06:49

plasticote plus lacqer really doesnt mix from my experience. i was advised by a painter to leave poasticote how it is

Schizo · 21 Apr 2009 at 07:16

Matt82 said:
plasticote plus lacqer really doesnt mix from my experience. i was advised by a painter to leave poasticote how it is

ill go for that as well.

Matt82 · 21 Apr 2009 at 07:58

i have a quad headlight thing on my car. i plasticoted the covers in black and it looked perfect. i then thought i should lacquer them and it went horribly wrong, but then i am rubbish with paint (but the plasticote finish was perfect)

paintguy · 21 Apr 2009 at 20:48

As above, just use the Plastikote on its own

No real need for any major prep work, just make sure the plastics are absolutely clean and dry. A proper solvent degreaser is the ideal solution, but failing that a good scrub with warm water and detergent (washing powder, dishwasher powder) followed by a really good rinse with clean warm water will be fine.

I don't know what year your Clio is, but on later ones the side strips slide off quite easily to save you masking them up

Ev0 · 21 Apr 2009 at 22:29

Oh I'd be taking the side strips off to do them, it's a 2000 x reg so not too much trouble.

Well my small test bit of trim has been on a couple of days and it looks nice and black again rather than washed out grey

Didn't really want to have to do anything else to it so quite happy others think it's the best way to go!

I gave it about 3 coats in the end as I was just messing really but it turned out nice, feels all smooth and think I picked the best black. Had a choice of matte, satin or gloss and went for satin.

So I've got the rest of the rear wiper to do, rear boot lock, the aeriel mount, wing mirror plastic bits and side strips. Possibly even the fog light surrounds but then that's getting a bit anal. Oh and the front wiper mechs as well, remember Tim showing his refreshed ones on here and looked so much better.