How to Fix Plastic Car Body Parts
Plastic is a common material used in car body parts, such as bumpers, fenders, and side skirts. It is lightweight, durable, and resistant to corrosion. However, plastic can also be damaged, such as by scratches, cracks, or dents. If your car’s plastic body parts have been damaged, there are a few things you can do to fix them.
1. Assess the Damage
The first step is to assess the damage to the plastic body part. This will help you determine the best course of action for repairing it.
- Scratches are the most common type of damage to plastic body parts. They can be caused by anything from keys to tree branches.
- Cracks are more serious than scratches and can be caused by hard impacts, such as collisions with other cars or objects.
- Dents are caused by blunt force impacts and can range in severity from minor to major.
2. Choose a Repair Method
Once you have assessed the damage, you can choose a repair method. There are a few different ways to repair plastic car body parts, depending on the type and severity of the damage.
- Sanding and polishing can be used to remove scratches from plastic body parts.
- Plastic welding can be used to repair cracks in plastic body parts.
- Fiberglass can be used to repair dents in plastic body parts.
3. Gather the Necessary Materials
Once you have chosen a repair method, you will need to gather the necessary materials.
- Sanding and polishing requires sandpaper, a polishing compound, and a polisher.
- Plastic welding requires a plastic welder, welding rods, and a heat gun.
- Fiberglass requires fiberglass cloth, resin, and a hardener.
4. Prepare the Plastic Body Part
Before you can begin repairing the plastic body part, you need to prepare it.
- Sanding and polishing requires that you clean the area around the scratch with a mild detergent and water. Then, you need to sand the area with sandpaper, starting with a coarse grit and working your way to a finer grit.
- Plastic welding requires that you clean the area around the crack with a mild detergent and water. Then, you need to bevel the edges of the crack with a file or a Dremel tool.
- Fiberglass requires that you clean the area around the dent with a mild detergent and water. Then, you need to sand the area with sandpaper to create a rough surface for the fiberglass to adhere to.
5. Repair the Plastic Body Part
Once the plastic body part has been prepared, you can begin repairing it.
- Sanding and polishing requires that you apply the polishing compound to the area around the scratch and then polish it with the polisher.
- Plastic welding requires that you heat the welding rod and the edges of the crack with the heat gun. Then, you need to press the welding rod into the crack and hold it in place until it has cooled.
- Fiberglass requires that you mix the resin and hardener together and then apply it to the area around the dent. Then, you need to lay the fiberglass cloth over the resin and smooth it out. Finally, you need to let the fiberglass cure for 24 hours.
6. Finish the Repair
Once the repair has been made, you need to finish it.
- Sanding and polishing requires that you sand the repaired area with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Then, you need to polish the area with a polishing compound.
- Plastic welding requires that you sand the repaired area with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Then, you need to apply a primer and paint to the area.
- Fiberglass requires that you sand the repaired area with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Then, you need to apply a primer and paint to the area.
Conclusion
Repairing plastic car body parts is not a difficult task. With the right tools and materials, you can easily repair scratches, cracks, and dents. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can get your car looking like new again.
