Plastic Restoration

[295 tramp]

Hi all
I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd share some techniques on restoring cracked, sun faded and oil stained plastics.
We'll start off with something cracked.
Here we have a air filter cover from a 084 stihl

As you can see the large and small cracks.


First off degrease and clean the item. Rough the area to be repaired with some sandpaper. I'll do the underneath to hide the repair.

 

[295 tramp]

Next I'll secure the cracks with some tape. I like using aluminum duct tape because it is super sticky.


I used a bondo brand fiberglass repair kit.
Everything you need is there except the sandpaper.

Take the fiberglass Matt out of the kit and cut a piece suitable for the area

 

[295 tramp]

Gather all your item's and work in a well ventilated area, also wear rubber gloves.

Mix the resins per instructions. Saturate the fiberglass Matt fully and place it on the area to be repaired.

Let it dry until it is not sticky, about 3 hours.
When dry you can take a razor knife and trim the edges.
Take the sandpaper and sand the edges
Remove the tape from the other side and use something to remove the sticky residue. I used paint thinner.

The next segment I'll start on buffing the sun faded parts.

 

[buzz sawyer]

Nice post, photos and nice repair. I'm interested to see the buffing process for the sun faded parts. In the past I have lightly sanded the faded parts and then applied a couple coats of clear polyurethane.

 

[295 tramp]

Hello to all.
In this segment I'll work on the polishing sun faded plastic. Here we have the air filter cover that I fixed the cracks on.

Now I will start wet sanding it using 3 different grit sandpaper. 800,1000,2000 I cut them into about 11/2 strips
The cheapest place I found it is at Walmart.

Here's what it looks like after wet sanding. Definitely there is a difference. It's dull but now the cleanest and smoothest
Before you start to polish.

 

[295 tramp]

Now for the polishing. I went to the hardware store
And picked up a cotton buffing wheel and a stick of plastic polish.

I use a drill in a vice.

 

[295 tramp]

Apply the polish to the wheel and keep moving the part with medium pressure. Here's a look half and half.

Here it is finished.
Here with a coat of car wax.
Definitely a difference . Next segment I'll show how I remove oil stains from a fuel tank.

 

[Philbert]

Like the step-by-step, and clear photos.

Thanks!

Philbert

 

[Four Paws]

Best thread posted on here in a while. Excellent work. Thank you for sharing.

 

[PA Dan]

Really awesome thread!

 

[295 tramp]

Thanks I like how to threads that are simple, to the point and full of photos.

 

[lwhaples]

Nice write up,first time I've seen the plastic polish. Look forward to trying it on some saw parts.

 

[marti384]

Great write up

 

[RiverRat2]

sweet!!!!

 

[Jason280]

Great job!

 

[Toad22t]

 

[Stihlofadeal64]

Apply the polish to the wheel and keep moving the part with medium pressure. Here's a look half and half.
View attachment 376315
Here it is finished. View attachment 376322
Here with a coat of car wax.View attachment 376323
Definitely a difference . Next segment I'll show how I remove oil stains from a fuel tank.

Removing oil stains from a fuel tank...now you got my attention!
opcorn:

 

[Poleman]

VERY GOOD TREAD......VERY GOOD!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing !!!!!

 

[cus_deluxe]

looks like this would be a prime candidate for this treatment

 

[Nate66n1]

I met my match when it comes to cleaning up plastic, great thread!!!