Painting Lexan Bodys....

[Brooklyn Nights]

Hi all.

I've been talking about paint the last few days as I'm sure a lot of you will have seen and this got me thinking....and forgive me if this has been covered before!

What would happen if normal car spray say from halford, was used to spray the inside of a lexan bodyshell? Now I'm guessing that it wont stick to the plastic as it would maybe need a primer of some sorts? But these days some cars have plastic panels so now my mind is whizzing round! Has anyone tried doing this though?

Would love to hear your thoughts guys!

Cheers

Rich

[twisty]

It doesn`t stick to the lexan properly and can flake off in chunks.

[tamiyoman]

Flakes off anywhere its rubs on the body and will probably react with nitro fuel too.

[simondo]

It`s funny you should mention this............

Back in the day tried numerous types of paint, including auto paint on bodyshells without success. I recently started thinking about the plastic bumper sprays and other sorts car/motorcycle paint,mainly because the formulas have changed a lot in recent years for environmental issues.I might try a couple different paints out on some scrap lexan sometime, see how it goes.

I will not expect any miracles, but hey, if i don`t try I won`t know........ besides, if it sticks reasonable it would probably be OK for an occasional runner.

[simondo]

It doesn`t stick to the lexan properly and can flake off in chunks.

Flakes off anywhere its rubs on the body and will probably react with nitro fuel too.

Going by that info i`ll probably give it a miss.........

[Brooklyn Nights]

Flakes off anywhere its rubs on the body and will probably react with nitro fuel too.

Well I use electric only so thats not a problem. How about sanding the inside lightly with 2000 grade sandpaper to get a key? Would that work? Can't help thinking that there must be some way to do it.

Cheers

Rich

[Brooklyn Nights]

It`s funny you should mention this............

Back in the day tried numerous types of paint, including auto paint on bodyshells without success. I recently started thinking about the plastic bumper sprays and other sorts car/motorcycle paint,mainly because the formulas have changed a lot in recent years for environmental issues.I might try a couple different paints out on some scrap lexan sometime, see how it goes.

I will not expect any miracles, but hey, if i don`t try I won`t know........ besides, if it sticks reasonable it would probably be OK for an occasional runner.

Well I will be cutting my RX7 body soon and I'll try some methods on the scrap from that. I fail to believe that in this day and age that only polycarb paint will stick to lexan shells.

You dont try then you dont make progress.

Cheers

Rich

[larbut]

The problem is that "normal" paint will dry to a very hard substance, that will brake and loosen from the lexan at any bending.

Lexan paint is very flexible even after it has dried.

I have not tried "plastic bumper paint" but as long as bumpers are not as flexible as lexan, I am sceptic...

-Lars

[Brooklyn Nights]

The problem is that "normal" paint will dry to a very hard substance, that will brake and loosen from the lexan at any bending.

Lexan paint is very flexible even after it has dried.

I have not tried "plastic bumper paint" but as long as bumpers are not as flexible as lexan, I am sceptic...

-Lars

Maybe a plastisizer would work if it was mixed.....or backing it with a polycarb paint. I know a lot do this anyway to add different lighting kind of effects so maybe that would work? Say silver or smoke.

Hmm thats got me thinking again....

Cheers

Rich

[mr. Rallying]

There are also transparent plastic primers you can use....

[dimblum]

I know guys that have had success using BullDog Adhesion Promoter - they sell it in rattle cans. It sprays on clear and works as a flex agent for standard enamel or lacquer spray paint. All I know is that is needs to be sprayed very thin and it was not really intended for use on Lexan..

Nowadays you can find nearly any color in the rainbow for Polycarbonate spray cans.. Why would you want to use a non-flexible paint on a lexan shell?

[Brooklyn Nights]

There are also transparent plastic primers you can use....

Oh? Who makes them and do they work with car spray paint?? Where can I get some to try?

Cheers

Rich

[Brooklyn Nights]

I know guys that have had success using BullDog Adhesion Promoter - they sell it in rattle cans. It sprays on clear and works as a flex agent for standard enamel or lacquer spray paint. All I know is that is needs to be sprayed very thin and it was not really intended for use on Lexan..

Nowadays you can find nearly any color in the rainbow for Polycarbonate spray cans.. Why would you want to use a non-flexible paint on a lexan shell?

Well they dont do the colour I have in mind in polycarb, plus I've always done things differently in everything I do. Or at least I try to!

Seriously my headstone will have engraved on it "I am not a sheep, and is that the time already?"

Cheers

Rich

[mr. Rallying]

Oh? Who makes them and do they work with car spray paint?? Where can I get some to try?

Cheers

Rich

There are several makes. Check with your local body repair shop and see what they use. Bring a piece of lexan so they can do a test spray to see the primer don't damage the lexan.

Here's an example: INNOTEC Repaplast Primer

[WillyChang]

all above is true, its hard to get paint to etch properly into the lexan to stay stuck - like PS spray does.

However that is all before... PS55 Flat Clear

Its made for painting outside of the black Porsche VIP to make it look matte but its still a bonafide PS family member

so use it as a primer coat underneath and paint whatever else you want on top of that.

Your alien paint still needs to be flexible so may need added plasticisers etc &/or paint in very light coats.

Works well within reason (eg TS paints), just don't use bondo or highbuild primer and expect it to holdup.

[Brooklyn Nights]

Well I think I`ll try a few things when I cut the RX7 and get the scrap bits from that.

Thanks for the input everyone its given me some great (if slghtly mad) ideas!

Cheers

Rich