painting plastic fenders?

[kylebarber]

Whats the best way to go about painting my Plastic fenders, ive heard after sanding i should clean with mineral water, anybody else hear that....im confused

 

[_Kyle_]

On my Jeep, I used the Krylon Fusion. It's a spray paint made for plastics. The package had me wipe with acetone or thinner I believe then wash with soapy water and allow to air dry. Follow the directions and it works great. Nothing has chipped or flaked off, even from car washes or pressure washers. However, it will scratch from things like keys.

 

[kylebarber]

thanks man....can you just repaint those scratches/how much was the paint

 

[kylebarber]

Sorry for double post....but you didnt sand anything either, sounds too good to be true

 

[BeefStew42791]

well, sanding plastic really doesn't do anything by logics reasoning. The purpose of sanding with normal automotive material (ie body metal, bondo, primer, etc) is that you etch the surface to promote adhesian to the lower layer. With plastic there is no "lower layer", only more plastic. Thats where the softener/thinner/adhesion promoter/whatever it happens to be called comes in. It induces a chemical reaction that 'softens' the plastic's surface, or to put it basically prepares the surface for the final coatings, serving the same basic surface as primer. Why normal metal primer cannot be used though is because plastic is not metal..obviously enough. Plus the thing with sanding plastic is the surface is not as forgiving as metal..meaning all those little scratches will be MUCH more visible, even at high grit counts.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I used brake-clean and painted mine with Krylon Fusion (3 coats) and then clearcoated them (3 coats also) and it's been holding well for over 3 years now, with only a few spots showing through where I got WAY to close with a hotsy steam cleaner.

 

[Jay FX4]

+1 on the Krylon Fusion. That's what I used on my tonneau cover and I'm VERY impressed with that paint.

 

[kylebarber]

so no sanding.....ok imma take your word on it. oh anyone know if a 1998-2003 brush gaurd will fit on a 1997?

 

[kylebarber]

i have a new problem now....i cannot get my fenders off, its a 1997 ranger, and i ripped the plastic fasteners out (to be replaced) but now i figured out they are bolted on from inside the bed of the truck.....this sucks. any ideas

 

[Jay FX4]

Leave them on. Just tape off all the sheet metal really good.

 

[kylebarber]

Thanks....already tried to take one off and that was a mistake.

 

[kylebarber]

Has anyone actually tried to take off fenders on a '97 ranger....cause its crazy. if you have please enlighten me on how the HECK you did it.

 

[nate09]

i assume youre talking about the bedsides correct? if so there are 5 torx heads that hold the bed caps on, 5 on the top that hold the bedside to the bed itself, 1 behind the tail light, 1 behind the bumper, 2 on the front step mount under the black plastic piece. plus the wheel well and the mudflap holder.

i just put a 2000 stepside bed on my ranger and this was how the bedsides were held on. if youre not referring to the bedsides, then completely disregard this post.