Painting Plastic Palmer AK

To successfully paint plastic parts, it's no longer necessary to name the plastic first. Whether thermoplastic or thermoset, today's parts can be treated uniformly.

By Mark Clark
10/1/2004

I have very good news. In researching this story about painting plastic parts, I spoke with plastic bumper manufacturers and paint manufacturers. I also spoke with real, live painters. And every one of them told me that they don't have many problems when it comes to refinishing plastics - although several did say that plastic bumper covers still give them occasional problems.

It's been a long road from the first flexible bumper cover on the 1967 Pontiac GTO to the latest body cladding on the 2004 Pontiac Aztec. And auto painters have suffered through a lot of grief trying to identify the type of plastic based on a two- or three-letter identifier stamped (seldom) on the back of the part.

When the identifier was missing, other methods of identification were necessary. Over time, painters were expected to burn a sliver of the mystery plastic and name it based on the color of the flame or the smell of the smoke. Some identification tests included floating a chunk of the unknown material in water. It sunk? It floated? It half floated?

I'm pleased to report that to successfully paint plastic automobile parts today, it's no longer necessary to name the plastic first. Whether thermoplastic or thermoset, today's parts can be treated uniformly.

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