plastic body repair
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plastic body repair
So, ive seen alot of questions on how to fix our plastic bumpers and plastic parts. I was in the autobody business for about 10 years prior to my current occupation. So, some of you have seen my bumper grafting thread, and i took a lot of pics of the process, so some of these pics may be familiar. I took out some of the more detailed ones to show the mending process. I will explain what i did as i post the pics, there are going to be alot!! but i think it explains the process better than words.
So, lets begin. this works very well, and i have done it for years and years now. The trick is all in the process. If you dont prep right it will not work!
So, here is where i need to shorten my air dam, so im cutting out the space i need and am going to mend it back together.
So, lets begin. this works very well, and i have done it for years and years now. The trick is all in the process. If you dont prep right it will not work!
So, here is where i need to shorten my air dam, so im cutting out the space i need and am going to mend it back together.
Last edited by KBD85; 02-13-2014 at 09:40 AM.
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Re: plastic body repair
This is cutting it apart. Here I just used a cut off wheel on my electric grinder. You can use what ever you want, but the seems need to be rough (sanded) so cutting it with sissors is ok, but creates a slippery edge, you will want to sand that with very agressive sand paper, 24 grit is ideal. Sometimes I use 36 grit.
Last edited by KBD85; 02-13-2014 at 09:41 AM.
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Re: plastic body repair
More pics of it being cut appart. Also here ive started sanding up the surface to be bonded. I screw it to a wood board so I can get a good sanding without it flying all over the place. Just screw it down with some grabber screws.
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Re: plastic body repair
Alright. now we are cleaning up the parts i cut out. I am going to use them as a backer. Now this is very important if you have the space. It will make for a very strong bond. Sand all surfaces to be glued together with very agressivev grit.
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Re: plastic body repair
Now I am lining up the front part to the back part. This is without the backer, just the front and back lined up to where i want them. the next post will be of the backer pieces.
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Re: plastic body repair
Alright. Its all lined up. Here all parts are sanded and ready to be bonded together. I like to screw the part if possible, to a wood base with short grabber screws. Dont worry about all the holes. These will help with bonding anyway. The bonder i am using is a panel bond from 3M. You use a two part epoxy gun to apply the epoxy. You also can pump it out on a surface without the mixing tip on if you want to mix it with a bondo spreader and apply it that way.
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Re: plastic body repair
This is just the parts bonded together. Also a look at what the epoxy looks like without the mixig tip on. I like to spread it like bondo to smooth it out.
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Re: plastic body repair
In the previous post you can see how I bonded the sides to the nose cone. See the screws holding it all together. You realy want to mash these part together tight with screws or clamps or some way that you can leave it for cure time. I like to wait a day. It will be very hard when it is cured.
Here we are switching to a different area. It shows some different ways you can use this process. As you can tell this is quite extreem, but you can see how you can repair a simple tear if needed.
O.K. a little catch here that i think i should put in. The gun used for this product is kind of expensive. You can get it at a shop for body supplies, but it does cost a bit for the guy who may only use it once. could be a show stopper. maybe if your lucky they may rent it for a few bucks.
Here we are switching to a different area. It shows some different ways you can use this process. As you can tell this is quite extreem, but you can see how you can repair a simple tear if needed.
O.K. a little catch here that i think i should put in. The gun used for this product is kind of expensive. You can get it at a shop for body supplies, but it does cost a bit for the guy who may only use it once. could be a show stopper. maybe if your lucky they may rent it for a few bucks.
Last edited by KBD85; 02-13-2014 at 05:54 PM. Reason: added note about gun cost
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Re: plastic body repair
Now we have it all bonded, we have the shape we want. Now you want to grind a rough surface and smooth out the epoxy. Make sure there are no shiny spots. It all needs to be sanded down. we are getting ready for a finnishing cream for flexible bumpers. I used a product from valvoline, part number 8003 called plio grip.
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Re: plastic body repair
We now have it roughed in, and put down the first layer of my finishing cream. You want to repeat this process untill the surface is to your satifaction. All low spots filled in. Ignore the color difference. the first spread was some old 3M stuff i had laying around and finished it off.
Last edited by KBD85; 02-13-2014 at 09:49 AM.
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Re: plastic body repair
Now im to the point of basic body work. You want to make sure you are using products for flexible surfaces. right to the clear coat. Base color is just normal. Your primer you want to use a nice high quality flexible filler. The clear coat i put a flex agent in it.
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Re: plastic body repair
Alright. I just threw this together. I hope this helps some people. There were alot of questions on this matter that inspired me to help out. This site has helped me in so many ways, so I need to do my part and put what I know out there to help others. thanks so much TGO!!!!
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Re: plastic body repair
I've read your other thread before! amazing work its always hard doing something for the first time but this definitely helps. I always try to get things pretty from the very beginning but I guess there are steps in between! who knew....
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Re: plastic body repair
-my impact absorber is off. the large opening of the Z cover just happens to lay dead square against the impact bar. and i have angle edges screwed under where the camaro turn signal light holes rest. so it totaly supports itself like it would with the egg crate shape holder.
-the turn signal pockets for now are going to be the fifth gen camaro square headlights. they fit perfectly. If i was rich, a twin turbo system would ue those holes
I dont know if you have read the front bumper thread I did, but it shows this project more clearly as a project. This was just to try to show how to mend this stuff if one wanted to do that. You can go here to see the whole front bumper grafting. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-grafting.html
Last edited by KBD85; 02-14-2014 at 07:49 AM. Reason: added link
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Re: plastic body repair
You name a valvoline product as a flexible filler. Would you list some of the other stuff? Paint etc. that can be used on a flexible bumper cover.
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Re: plastic body repair
Ken
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Re: plastic body repair
I have a 90 camaro front bumper that's sunk or low in the top center where the emblem is. Is possible to heat and push it out? Or can it be filled in with Pliogrip? Or a bit of both?
Seems it would take 3/8 build at center and feather out all the way to the head lights. Any thought? Thank you.
Seems it would take 3/8 build at center and feather out all the way to the head lights. Any thought? Thank you.
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Re: plastic body repair
Here's what I'm Taking about.
Thanks for your posts/information. Your work is amazing.
Thanks for your posts/information. Your work is amazing.
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Re: plastic body repair
I have a 90 camaro front bumper that's sunk or low in the top center where the emblem is. Is possible to heat and push it out? Or can it be filled in with Pliogrip? Or a bit of both?
Seems it would take 3/8 build at center and feather out all the way to the head lights. Any thought? Thank you.
Seems it would take 3/8 build at center and feather out all the way to the head lights. Any thought? Thank you.
Ken
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Re: plastic body repair
Base 91. I some how missed your post. Sorry about that. Allot of the primers and paints have come a long ways, any good brand used by body shops will work great. As for me in my body shop days we used "spies hecker". Its probably one of the best products I've ever used. It is extreemly expensive tho. I love their epoxy high build primer, and a product they call "vario". It is most excellent on these rubber surfaces. Now with that said, and me not being a millionaire, I second love Dupont. It lays so nice and flat, where the spies hecker is quite thick and usually needs a good sand and polish. Now, again with that said... Lately for being as cheap as you can and get a decent product, I've enjoyed using omni products. Mind you that usually the quality of the paint is there. The expensive stuff usually has the best matchability for spot jobs that have to blend to existing color. So the less expensive stuff is usually perfect for a complete paint job as matching isn't an issue. As for the flexible clear coat I do still use spies hecker. Its about 100 bucks for I believe their liter, but it is phenomenal stuff. It lasts forever too. You don't need that much, but I think its the smallest container it comes in.
Whew, that was allot. I hope I covered it all, if not, please just ask. I will do my best to answer. I have been out of the profession for about ten years, so there may be better methods, and stuff out there. If your one who knows allot about this, feel free to jump all over this thread. This is for help to every one, so post away!!
Hope this helps... Ken
Whew, that was allot. I hope I covered it all, if not, please just ask. I will do my best to answer. I have been out of the profession for about ten years, so there may be better methods, and stuff out there. If your one who knows allot about this, feel free to jump all over this thread. This is for help to every one, so post away!!
Hope this helps... Ken
Last edited by KBD85; 02-24-2014 at 09:27 PM.
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Re: plastic body repair
I think i have the start of a fix for the deformed upper center of our flexible bumper.
It goes like this. Make a cooling buck... Whats a cooling buck? A cooling buck is a fixture that you place your hot pliable bumper on.
How do I get my bumper hot and pliable? Its easy if you have a 75,000 BTU heater and welding gloves.
I'll work on the buck this week. hope to have pics by Sunday. I have all ready tried the heating part with good response. Need the cooling buck for it to cool and hold shape.
Like i said. I think and hope. Should work.
It goes like this. Make a cooling buck... Whats a cooling buck? A cooling buck is a fixture that you place your hot pliable bumper on.
How do I get my bumper hot and pliable? Its easy if you have a 75,000 BTU heater and welding gloves.
I'll work on the buck this week. hope to have pics by Sunday. I have all ready tried the heating part with good response. Need the cooling buck for it to cool and hold shape.
Like i said. I think and hope. Should work.
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Re: plastic body repair
I think i have the start of a fix for the deformed upper center of our flexible bumper.
It goes like this. Make a cooling buck... Whats a cooling buck? A cooling buck is a fixture that you place your hot pliable bumper on.
How do I get my bumper hot and pliable? Its easy if you have a 75,000 BTU heater and welding gloves.
I'll work on the buck this week. hope to have pics by Sunday. I have all ready tried the heating part with good response. Need the cooling buck for it to cool and hold shape.
Like i said. I think and hope. Should work.
It goes like this. Make a cooling buck... Whats a cooling buck? A cooling buck is a fixture that you place your hot pliable bumper on.
How do I get my bumper hot and pliable? Its easy if you have a 75,000 BTU heater and welding gloves.
I'll work on the buck this week. hope to have pics by Sunday. I have all ready tried the heating part with good response. Need the cooling buck for it to cool and hold shape.
Like i said. I think and hope. Should work.
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Re: plastic body repair
This is pic is from Wednesday. I have finished the fixture today. Sunday I"ll see if it was worth all effort. Even if I can't get all the shrink/warp/distortion out. I will still have something to paint it on.
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Re: plastic body repair
I made some gains in the headlight pocket. The center section not so much as I need to over build the fixture.
I'm probably not going to have time to work on till next weekend.
I'm probably not going to have time to work on till next weekend.
#32
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Re: plastic body repair
WOW!! OK southside, so if im following you correctly here, you will heat up the plastic cover on this fixture? that fixture looks good enough to bolt on the car anyway, i cant wait to see how this is done. good job so far!!
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I heated up one section at a time (like left headlight area, then right, then center) . Then placed it (the bumper)on the fixture to cool one section at a time.
The heating was done by holding it (the bumper) in front of the 135,000 BTU heater. (I know in a previous post I said a 75,000 BTU. heater, my brother corrected me as he should as it's his heater and it's not a wimpy *** 75,000 BTU heater but a 135,000 BTU heater. All this means is if you have a smaller heat source is will take longer to hear some thing up) .
Cooling it on the fixture was done by holding it in place on the fixture.
My expectations of pulling this off was disappointing as I needed 4 hands
The heating was done by holding it (the bumper) in front of the 135,000 BTU heater. (I know in a previous post I said a 75,000 BTU. heater, my brother corrected me as he should as it's his heater and it's not a wimpy *** 75,000 BTU heater but a 135,000 BTU heater. All this means is if you have a smaller heat source is will take longer to hear some thing up) .
Cooling it on the fixture was done by holding it in place on the fixture.
My expectations of pulling this off was disappointing as I needed 4 hands
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Re: plastic body repair
I don't know how we could do it at our level. But the people that refurbish bumpers put the entire bumper cover in a tank of very hot water for several minutes. And when the bumper comes out it's like a noodle and usually returns to the factory shape. On a side note I think the reason some of the bumpers distort like that is because the bumper reinforcement was put on too low and it pulls the crown out of that portion of the bumper.
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Re: plastic body repair
tvc, that is a very interesting thought. I didn't think of that. you are right tho, if these are fastened in a manor that they cant relax in the position we put them on it could cause distortion when they get hot. some times I think it is hard to get them to line up and not be stressed at the same time. what I would love to do, for mine anyway, cuz its customized so much, is make a fiberglass one. that would be new for me tho. very tempting to try.
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I have seen nice/good nose pieces, I have seen bad ones.What the hell is going on? In my option, it is all about the chemical make up of the formual that was given at the day of forming these parts.
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Re: plastic body repair
SS2 i bet there is alot more truth to that than most people think. everything is a little different. Here is a crazy thought. you know that yellow foam we use to fill gaps around the house for holes made by running wire and holes in the foundation ect. I wonder if we sprayed that $#!t behind there for a stable base for the cover to always rest on, then do some body work on the face to fill in the low spots. I wonder if that would hold?? I dont know, just thinking out loud here.
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Re: plastic body repair
I'm going to try something like foam or fiberglass. Something that bonds well. Or if i find a good part... Any way it will look good before I paint it and who knows how long it will last? This is a month or more in the future.
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