Any tips for refurbishing plastics...

[Negative]

I see alot of people doing excellent jobs at repainting plastics and frames on here... So this is a question geared mainly for the painters/refurbishers on here... :)

Any tips on refreshing tired, slightly faded plastics?... I'll probably be buying a complete spare set but I'd like to bring these back up to snuff as backups... I have debated on plasti-diping them also... :)

[BuellyBagger]

If your issue is just some light scratches all over making them appear dull, just give a hand buffing with micro-fiber towels, with some rubbing compound (theres about a million) novus step one and work ur way thru the steps or 3M's system 1-2-3 or ne other polishing product system. If u want u can give them a quick sand with some fine wet sanding paper, 3M tri-zact 3000 is a good one for very light scrates. I'm pretty sure theres some info thats a lil more in depth on my painting thread.Painting and polishing thread (http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/Painting)

[Negative]

Great info... Thanks... But really I meant the plastic is starting to lightly fade... I took some goofy stickers the PO had on the bike and you could tell the color difference...

[BuellyBagger]

O my bad. The color fade you are stuck with unless u paint, sometimes shining them up will make it a bit less noticable, but otherwise that's the nature of molded in color plastic.

[Negative]

Ahhh... Gotcha man... Appreciate the info... Looks like I'll be gearing up for painting soon enough..

[Zeroflat24]

Couldn't he hard sand it with like 500 grit to take off a decent layer? Or does fading sink all the through?

[BuellyBagger]

Might be possible if its very very light fading,but I painted my bike when it had 1000miles on it and after sanding with 320 could still tell exactly where the buell decals were. What color is your bike negative?

[Negative]

Blue...

Pic for reference..

http://i.imgur.com/92KzJNS.jpg

[JJs1125r]

https://www.denniskirk.com/s100/gift-pack-12000c.p31344.prd/31344.sku This stuff is amazing at bringing a shine to your bike. My buddy used it on his faded carbon fiber on his Ducati 1098 and it made it look brand new. The more you use is the better the shine gets as it fills in all the microscopic blemishes. I like it on my 1125r. Plus it removes bugs without even having to use elbow grease.

[Negative]

Excellent... Might give this product a run for it's money and see how it does...

[redwing]

I see you're wearing the ICON Elsinore 1000 boots. You like them?
I've had mine for a couple months now and absolutely LOVE them. Super comfortable and descent price.

[Negative]

Hell yes Redwing... I like them a LOT... Look great, really comfortable... Money well spent... [up]

[Alien]

Spray bomb that thing flat black. It'll look bad-ass tits and will cost you $20!!!

You'd be surprised how well a spray can will work and the fact that Buell bodywork is minimal, the results are even finer. Plus, you can repaint a different color whenever you want. Just take your time and do it right and you'll be golden.

One of many of my spray bomb jobs:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Buell/e258c06180932f6f19d84ccb9345b721.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/jbachetti/Buell/f2a9634b1e05c01197ee4410454d32a6.jpg

[Negative]

...... Rrrrrreally pulling me towards painting now.... After I take that defading stuff to see if it works... =) this forum is great...

[BuellyBagger]

Alien is right its really not to hard and modern spray can is basically automotive paint from twenty five years ago so it does hold up pretty damn well of properly applied.

To clarify I mean its what was used to paint cars 25 years ago not that its 25 year old paint :D

[armyracer]

Instead of painting it why don't you wrap it

[Negative]

Never considered a wrap... I just got a heat gun about a week ago... This is also a nice possibility...