Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Painting plastic taillight covers?

3 views
Skip to first unread message

John E

unread,
Jan 9, 2002, 8:11:17 PM1/9/02
to
Hey everyone;
My brother bought a set of those RAM taillight covers for his '99 Durango. I
don't know where he gets this stuff, nor do I know why.
Anyways, he wants me to paint 'em. I had them out in the garage, and was
going to spray them myself with some paint I had mixed up, when he told me
the guy who sold them to him told him to make sure whoever painted them used
some sort of sealant to prevent chipping. Anyone have any clue what the hell
I'm supposed to "seal" these with? The things are cheap ABS type plastic,
the Durango is Platinum Silver or whatever.
-John


RedNeck TookOver Hell

unread,
Jan 9, 2002, 9:01:30 PM1/9/02
to
I'd guess "primer-sealer" like you use on a car to "seal" any surface problems
prior to painting.
Possible that solvents used manufacturing the ABS plastic could "bleed" through
your paint job.
BTW aren't you the guy who lives in Alberta that I wondered if you ever been to
the Calgary Stampede?

John E

unread,
Jan 9, 2002, 9:12:07 PM1/9/02
to
> BTW aren't you the guy who lives in Alberta that I wondered if you ever
been to
> the Calgary Stampede?

Yeah, that'd be me Red. I believe that particular post was in
alt.hi-po.mopars though. Seems like many of us read and post in both groups.

>I'd guess "primer-sealer" like you use on a car to "seal" any surface
problems
>prior to painting. Possible that solvents used manufacturing the ABS
plastic could "bleed" through
>your paint job.

And with regards to the surface sealer; I was asking about that earlier. But
my brother is admatant about coating them post-paint. I just don't know what
to put on. I'm wondering if the guy who sold them to him confused him
somehow, which is quite possible. My brother is infamous for less than
intelligent undertakings with his car. I spent days last year cleaning the
undercoat he had carefully applied to the engine block and entire exhast
system. That Durango used to smoke more than a diesel any day.

Anyone ever painted fender flares, plastic grill guards or the like?
-John


CBHVAC

unread,
Jan 9, 2002, 10:29:11 PM1/9/02
to
I have....and when mixing the paint you add a flexitive additive to it when
dealing with parts that can and will flex.

I think he is thinking of a clear coat, with flex added to it...

But bottom line...that type of part will chip and peel.


--
www.carolinabreezehvac.com
"John E" <jeew...@ucalgary.ca> wrote in message
news:XL6%7.6965$9u4.5...@news1.calgary.shaw.ca...

Budd Cochran

unread,
Jan 9, 2002, 10:33:47 PM1/9/02
to
Use a couple base coats of Testors Model paint or Testors Plastic Primer

--

Budd Cochran
Mr. D-150
1979 Dodge D-150
1952 Cushman RoadKing Motorscooter


"John E" <jeew...@ucalgary.ca> wrote in message
news:XL6%7.6965$9u4.5...@news1.calgary.shaw.ca...

egpowers

unread,
Jan 12, 2002, 12:33:16 PM1/12/02
to
"John E" <jeew...@ucalgary.ca> wrote in message news:<VS5%7.6355$NO5.5...@news2.calgary.shaw.ca>...

The simple answer is this. Go to your local Dodge dealer and get the
factory paint in the small spray can. On my Dakota, I bought the
factory thick taillight covers, and a small can of matching body color
paint. Been on there almost a year now, no chipping, peeling, etc.
Only a couple of rub spots from my taillight guards. Also, get a can
of clear coat protectant to spray on afterwards.

John E

unread,
Jan 13, 2002, 12:47:59 PM1/13/02
to
The dealership my brother stopped in refused to sell him the the spray cans,
saying they had too many complaints regarding chipping plastics. I think I'm
going to stop by and pick one up, but not tell them what it's for.
Thanks.
-John
"egpowers" <egpo...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:5fa1390b.0201...@posting.google.com...

DodgeMan...@hadesgate.com

unread,
Jan 13, 2002, 1:32:00 PM1/13/02
to
On Sun, 13 Jan 2002 17:47:59 GMT, "John E" <jeew...@ucalgary.ca>
wrote:

>The dealership my brother stopped in refused to sell him the the spray cans,
>saying they had too many complaints regarding chipping plastics.

I can't believe I read that post. If any dealership had something
(anything) on the shelves for sale, and refused to sell it to me,
there would be hell to pay.

If they refust to warranty it for my non-standard application, then
thats a different ball game and I can live with that.

But .. Refuse to SELL it to me ... Get serious! They'd have a roucus
(sp?) on their hands that would be talked about for generations.

John E

unread,
Jan 14, 2002, 9:49:53 AM1/14/02
to
Yeah, it doesn't make much sense to me either. What I figure is that the guy
working the parts desk assumed he wouldn't know what he was doing, or maybe
he had instructions from higher up or something? It could also be he's
covering his ass for not ordering in replacement stock. It's hard to say...
I didn't really care much, this was the dealership that was always been
questionable in my mind. I'll be stopping in where I usually have any of my
own services done and check it all out.
-John
<DodgeMan...@Hadesgate.com> wrote in message
news:3c41d05...@news.yadtel.net...

mac davis

unread,
Jan 14, 2002, 1:58:41 PM1/14/02
to
On Mon, 14 Jan 2002 14:49:53 GMT, "John E" <jeew...@ucalgary.ca>
wrote:

>Yeah, it doesn't make much sense to me either. What I figure is that the guy


>working the parts desk assumed he wouldn't know what he was doing, or maybe
>he had instructions from higher up or something? It could also be he's
>covering his ass for not ordering in replacement stock. It's hard to say...
>I didn't really care much, this was the dealership that was always been
>questionable in my mind. I'll be stopping in where I usually have any of my
>own services done and check it all out.
>-John


hey john.... brothers being brothers, i'd guess that the parts guy
"recommended against" and your bro passed it on as "won't sell it to
me"...

as someone that gets stuck doing a lot of stuff for family and
friends, let me tell you how i save a LOT of time and trouble:

if they want you to do something like the lens job, find out what
dealer and who it was that they talked to, then call and get the facts
before it gets too involved...

besides, you'll prob do a great job and within a month or so he'll
either back into something and ask you to fix it, or want some other
kind of lens covers.. *lol*


Mac

(yeah, the guy who builds trebuchets)

http://people.we.mediaone.net/nan-g/mac's.htm

aok faq:
http://people.we.mediaone.net/nan-g/faq.htm

John E

unread,
Jan 15, 2002, 12:29:04 AM1/15/02
to
I picked up some paint in aerosol form this afternoon. After prepping the
plastics and doing a quick pass with the paint, it looked not half bad. I'll
be doing 2 or 3 more light coats tomorrow, and clear coating the stupid
things. My guess is he'll get tired of them in a month, then I'll be the one
to get the damn things off and clean up the glue. Sheesh.

I know how you feel being the one in the family to handle all the odd jobs.
I've fixed more car problems, computer errors, television fallacies and
plumbing screwups than I can count.
My folks have forbidden me to move farther than 10 miles away from them.
Apparently nothing at home would work unless I was available to fix it. :)
-John

"mac davis" <macd...@nospam.mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:3c4329e5....@nntp.we.mediaone.net...

RedNeck TookOver Hell

unread,
Jan 15, 2002, 2:55:00 PM1/15/02
to
I stopped at an autobody supply store the other day in Everett WA.
It is truly amazing what is available in aerosol cans for "body work" <G>
0 new messages