11 replies to this topic

[!3UMBLEBEE]

hi i was wondering what would need to be done to paint the standard plastic arches so they were gloss. special paints needed etc???

thanks

[Carlos W]

Smooth them off with some wet and dry, high build primer, flat them back again, then paint

[myredmini]

I would highly reccommend a plastic primer before high build. Its a 1k product, can get it in aerosol form and in a tin. Its a clear substance which you spray on the prepped plastic. Once dry prime, flat and paint as usual. Its based on xylene and promotes adhesion and prevents flaking etc in the future.

[1984mini25]

All I ever did to my arches was a quick sand with some medium wet and dry (used dry) to take the shine off the plastic. Normally Halfords grey primer (dusted on to build up the layers) and Halfords colour match spray.  And even after being given a light scuff with a scotch brite and another dusting of colour, when the colours faded every few years. The paint on them has yet to flake or peal off after 8 years. In fact it's the plastic arches themselves that are starting to warp, crack and lose there shape.  

[bikewiz]

This is a pretty good article on painting plastic I found when doing something similar to the plastic arches, you don't need their paint but it gives a good idea of how much the prep matters.

http://www.searchaut...-recipe-success

[Baldspeed Racing]

sand, clean, plastic primer then the top coat of your choice. nice dusty coats and build the layers up slowly. Also make sure its warm as with the weather is spraying outdoors isn't the best for painting

[hellom8]

My arches are matt black and I wanted to paint them gloss. Then I discovered putting tyre gel on them makes them shiny.
If you do paint with rattle cans, a trick is to warm the cans up, some people put them in hot water for a few minutes, but obviously be careful heating pressurised cans.

[1984mini25]

My arches are matt black and I wanted to paint them gloss. Then I discovered putting tyre gel on them makes them shiny.
If you do paint with rattle cans....

 

Before you go anywhere near them with any type of paint, you'll need to thoroughly degrease them to remove the silicone left from making them look shiny if you are to have any chance of the paint sticking or reacting.

[hellom8]

 

My arches are matt black and I wanted to paint them gloss. Then I discovered putting tyre gel on them makes them shiny.
If you do paint with rattle cans....

 

Before you go anywhere near them with any type of paint, you'll need to thoroughly degrease them to remove the silicone left from making them look shiny if you are to have any chance of the paint sticking or reacting.

 

Very true.  If I do paint them, I will give them a good going over with a scotch brite and IPA, before sanding.

[!3UMBLEBEE]

Thanks for the reply's people!! I've got to buy new ones anyways as one is broken and the two at the back are different styles, so I take it will still need degreasing....
Thanks again!

[1984mini25]

Its always best to, as there's nothing worse than doing all the prep and then spraying on the primer or top coat on and finding it reacts and needs to be resanded and redone. 

[Big Man]

Way before i knew anything about paint g removed my standard arches sanded them down and used pound shop grey primer and gloss black paint! Used two cans of primer and four cans of black for four arches took my time with no runs and a lovely gloss finish 😊