Anybody know an easy way of stripping the interior plastic panels down to bare plastic? I'm having trouble getting the chrome plating or whatever it is they have off.
Stripping interior panels
- Thread starter Tech7042
- Start date
^thanks, I'll try that!
If you want it to last you should strip the bare metal. People often look this so later down the line it'll bubble like oem. Remember that when the oem stuff bubbles from factory? It's the metal that lifts from the plastic. Not the grey stuff that lifts from the metal.
Good luck.
Good luck.
That's what I was saying- is there an easy way to strip the metal off down to bare plastic? Any chemical spray or thinner I can use that's not too corrosive that it will eat the plastic?
I just plasti-dipped over. Turned out great. Refer to my build thread for pics.
The interior plastic pieces (console, door switch panels) have a thin plastic coating over a funky metallic plastic material. I removed the thin plastic coating by using a regular paint stripper. I bought the kind that is gel-like. Get a cheap paint brush to apply it. Let it sit a few minutes then scrape off with a plastic putty knife. Repeat as necessary. You will see in a few minutes that the plastic film just softens and wrinkles - ready to come off.
There's no easy way that I found or tested. When I did carbon lamination on those items "very few" I stripped it with just sanding down with various tools. If you're good you can take an old file. I say old because a new one will tear up the plastic once it takes the metal sheeting off. Even then it may be to dangerous for what you're doing. Since I was doing carbon it hid any slight scuff marks from the file. You're painting so you'd probably need to use a good primer meant for plastic and maybe do a few coats if you nick the plastic. I know they make high build primers but not sure if any of those are meant for plastic.
^thanks for the input Sduff. I got pretty far yesterday getting the metal off. I was using razor blades and a heat gun to scrape it off. Unfortunately, I think this is the only way to properly refinish these as painting over the existing metal will only make the paint ripple in the future.
- Joined
- 19 March 2003
- Messages
- 3,442
Razor blade and a handle for it (too many cuts without a handle). I have done quite a few of these and have not found any chemical aid in removing the foil.
Heat gun, a sharp razor and 3 band aids is how I got mine done. Long process I could not find a quick way to do it.
Does anyone know of a colour that closely matches the oem honda trim colour for these that can be purchased from an auto parts store.
Does anyone know of a colour that closely matches the oem honda trim colour for these that can be purchased from an auto parts store.
I'd be willing to bet maybe a paint stripper would work. I bought some 3m paint stripper that's in a spray can and heats up pretty hot once sprayed on. It wouldn't dissolve the metal but I'd bet that it would maybe lift it up enough where the bond may be broken.
Again good to see this process done. It's a must if you're playing around with plastic parts.
Again good to see this process done. It's a must if you're playing around with plastic parts.
As I said above, paint stripper DOES work. The film covering the interior plastic panels is some kind of plastic film. It is not foil.
Buy a can of paint stripper. I like the kind that has a gel consistency. On newspaper, spread the stripper over the plastic with a throwaway brush. Let sit for a few minutes. The film will wrinkle and bubble up. Scrape it off with a plastic putty knife. Repeat.
Are we talking about the same item? There's 2 layers or two things to strip. First is the dark colored stuff, the second is the foil or metal stuff. I think I've cut myself on it a few times as well.
There's definitely something shiny that's foil or metal like. And that's the part I was referring too since it's not a paint material, but a film that stays intact. Unless you're taking both layers off at once with the paint stripper and that would be where the confusion lies and that just makes me think I did twice the work with sanding the top layer off and then taking the foil off afterwards, haha.
The "naked" plastic pieces definitely have a metallic/sparkly sheen to them. I think it is a plating, like you see on plastic model parts. I don't think it actually a film. Stripper does not harm this surface. I don't see why it needs to be removed. If it is to be painted, use a self etching primer first.
^it needs to be removed if the panels are severely weathered. This causes the plating to wrinkle around the edges. Sanding the wrinkles down flat and painting over it will solve the problem, but only temporarily as the plating will continue to wrinkle up over time. The wrinkles will then show through the paint and look unsightly. I have successfully removed all the metal plating and have the panels down to bare plastic. My painter has them now, and when complete, I will post photos of the finished product:
I agree that if the surface is not smooth - I think sanding (etc.) is appropriate. I just know that on my 97 NSX, the naked plastic was in very good shape. I used vinyl, but it would have painted well.
The metal needs to be removed. That's important because like I said before that's the part that lifts over time. If you cut out a lifted section that's lifted or poke a hole in the wrinkle on an old center console you'll hit blue plastic so that's the bond that fails always. It's not a question of if it will fail its a question of when.
It will probably last most owners after they redo for awhile. But for people that don't know this is important, especially if you're paying someone to do it. Removing everything takes time to do it right.
It will probably last most owners after they redo for awhile. But for people that don't know this is important, especially if you're paying someone to do it. Removing everything takes time to do it right.
Got the panels back from my painter. This is the finished product after stripping down to bare plastic, sanding, primer and a coat of specially matched semi gloss automotive paint. I also custom made a coin holder to go in the ashtray.
Definitely worth all the work in the end. Next up us the arm rest panels.
Definitely worth all the work in the end. Next up us the arm rest panels.
- Joined
- 19 March 2003
- Messages
- 3,442
Very nice....
Did mine with a pressure washer. Secure part so it does not move. Use nozzle with least pressure that will get job done. Get under edge of the stuff where possible. Proceed with caution.
I mentioned these guys on another thread. Never used them yet but their work looks very good. Check out - stickynomore.com. Just in case you don't want to do it yourself!
shawn110975
Suspended
didn't you have him do the door panels to all three at the same time so they match?
anyway about getting the metal off you can use paint remover spray it on and it peels off in 2 minutes. done.
anyway about getting the metal off you can use paint remover spray it on and it peels off in 2 minutes. done.
Yes. All three match.
