Thread: restoring plastic interior trim

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I found a really nice set of kick panels for my car with no scuffs or scratches. The problem is that they are fragile, meaning dry and if you scratch it with something it turns to dust.

So I am wondering, is there any kind or restoration product that would seal the surface or rejuvenate the surface so it wouldnt be so prone to damage?

I hate to sand them because you lose that factory molded orange peel finish.

Thanks.

Never tried it but how about some clear coat.

Nothing you can do about this. Seal it and it will look like crap. Sorry to say but you need new one's. I have to do the same thing to my 85 Chevy pickup because of this. I sanded it for now but like you said, I lost that orange peel look and it looks like crap IMO.

I was afraid of that. Is'nt it about time somebody develop a good product just for this type of thing? It's a shame to see nice looking parts like that go to waste....they keep screaming "take me home!"...

Thanks people.

It would only cost about 10 bucks to try the clear and then the spray dye and see what it looks like.

Good point....I can try it out on the dry crappy ones that I have in my car now. They couldnt turn out any worse than they look now.

I had a buddy that had a Dr.Vynal business ,and the Older GM truck door panels did the same thing .
I watched him scuff the dried up surface with a grey scotch brite pad with a little lacquer thinner , then he would use chip guard spray to get the vinyl effect back ( blended in kind of dry ) , then sprayed the door panel with vinyl die .
Looked darn good !! Could hardly tell it was repaired
Might try that

Is that the same stuff, kind of like undercoating that you paint over, that I have seen on the rocker panels and lower 1/4's of some newer vehicles ? (I say "newer", they probably have been doing it for the past 10-15 years)..

Sounds like a very good suggestion.

Yes , but make sure its not the real course/thick kind , He used Sims product . 3M has a chip guard product in a spray bomb too .
Just stay away from the panel when spraying it , and dust it on , dont go heavy ! may take a few trys to get it just right but all you have to do , is lightly re-scuff and try again
I did it a few time when he was busy and couldnt get to us .

There ya go, that sounds like a great idea. I painted mine with the plastic paint that is for these things but it sucks and comes of pretty easy. I am going to just buy new one's since I dont ever have time to work on my own vehicles anymore. You can also cover them with vinyle from an upholstery shop too if they are plain and dont have heaps of lines and crevesis (sp) to them.

Originally Posted by 65cayne

Is that the same stuff, kind of like undercoating that you paint over, that I have seen on the rocker panels and lower 1/4's of some newer vehicles ? (I say "newer", they probably have been doing it for the past 10-15 years)..

Sounds like a very good suggestion.

yes the sems clear stone guard is what i have used to fix hard plastic and dash pads try a test panel to get it to look the way you want. you can get plastic prep for them you what to wash them good with poly cracker or spic in span soap if they are dry like you say they will not need sanding if you want run over them with a scotch pad. when done re paint to the color you what .i did mine the same way

Thanks Pat. I am pretty sure that outer layer will come right off when I hit it with the scotch pad. They are pretty dry. Is there any reason to sand versus use a scotch pad? Is the scotch pad just easier (less damaging) on the plastic?

When you guys apply this stuff, do you dye or paint afterwards? I have never used the dye so I dont know much about it.

Originally Posted by 65cayne

Thanks Pat. I am pretty sure that outer layer will come right off when I hit it with the scotch pad. They are pretty dry. Is there any reason to sand versus use a scotch pad? Is the scotch pad just easier (less damaging) on the plastic?

When you guys apply this stuff, do you dye or paint afterwards? I have never used the dye so I dont know much about it.

yes it is paint if it is that dry then just try shooting them i think it mite be to late to try to save them. sanding it will not help much on the bond you are looking for a chemical bond the color is made in to the part so there is no dye and some have release right in the part so you do not want to cut in to deep with sanding .washing good and using scrubbing pad. to get any thing off the top layer like i said they make plastic prep. you need to make sure all dirt and oils are off it and use a poly-cracker or spic-span soap you need this clean

Like Pat said, if they are that bad then sanding them will leave sand scratches and it will have pits in it and such. Try to just use the grey (light) scotch brite pad to scruff the dust like particles off and paint over it... If they are too bad though and will crack easy then I'd buy new ones if money allows, but I dont see any problem with the paint idea for now.