[BigBuck]

My goal was to change the color of my plastics on my Wolverine but have kind of hit a roadblock. I am wondering if anyone else has tried it or has attempted to a have plastic painted on a UTV/ATV.

I was using 3M 1080 (which is an awesome product) to wrap my plastics, but the angles on the nose are just too extreme to make it work. Mainly the crown above the speedo, the high fenders and the post where the roll cage comes out. There are no angles on the hood and it was very easy to do, but the rest would involve making multiple cuts and piecing the wrap together. I even tried using knife-less tape to seam the pieces but couldn't pull it off. It really sucks because the stuff I picked is metallic and looks awesome in the sun. It is also pretty durable and scratch resistant.

I was thinking of seeing if the one of the local body shops can spray it the same color. I do not want to plasti-dip it and I don't think they hydrodip solid colors.
Has anybody had any experience with painting their plastics on any of their machines? Any other ideas?

As you can see from the picture below, it is pretty tough to make some of the crevices and corners on the plastic. You can do it because the material will stretch with heat, but then you have to seam it.

 

[Axo938]

My can am commander had painted plastic from the factory but I don't know anything about doing it, but I guess it could be done.

 

[mimeeks3]

That's gonna look pretty sweet in that color! While I have never dealt with it personally myself, I do know that with the right products and competent paint guys, you can paint plastic and it will look good. Just have to make sure you get paints formulated for plastics and the prep is done right.

 

[veedo]

How was it getting the hood off?

 

[EpicWolverine]

You can clean the surface with a wax and grease remover, or alcohol.. Use bulldog adhesion promoter and paint with normal automotive paint..

 

[BigBuck]

How was it getting the hood off?

Only ten bolts, and the plastic trim screws across the top of dash and on the intake. The problem is the cage supports run through it so you have to partially disassemble the roll cage and roof.

 

[Vital]

I was thinking of seeing if the one of the local body shops can spray it the same color. I do not want to plasti-dip it and I don't think they hydrodip solid colors.
Has anybody had any experience with painting their plastics on any of their machines? Any other ideas?

You can take it to a body shot and have them spray it with the paint they use on plastic bumpers for cars. it's awesome and holds up. It allows the plastic to flex a little and it's durable.

 

[EpicWolverine]

They don't have a special paint for plastic.. It's the prep. So you're not limited on color.. Using an adhesive promoter sprayed on before the paint give a better bond on smooth surfaces like plasics and chrome.

 

[EpicWolverine]

this is the 3m I know people use for wraps. It's stretchs extremely well and don't really stick until it's squeegee down.. I've seen it wrap around stone extreme shapes.

 

[BigBuck]

That is what I was using to wrap with. It is 3M - 1080. It is amazing and does stretch, but only so far. It goes on easily with a felt squeegee. Something like the side of that van is child's play though, or the hood of a Wolverine. If you look at the complex angles on the fenders of the Wolverine, it is very difficult. Not so much to get he material into the crevices, but what it does to the rest of the material behind it that is not stuck down yet. It bunches up and folds, etc. You can stretch it easily, but you cannot shrink it. On the wolverine, there are no seams so you have to seam the material on a corner or valley. Difficult to hide. This material is really durable so I would prefer to use it, probably better than paint but less expensive.

 

[BigBuck]

You can take it to a body shot and have them spray it with the paint they use on plastic bumpers for cars. it's awesome and holds up. It allows the plastic to flex a little and it's durable.

Yeah, I am just wondering how much a body shop is going to charge. I am thinking $350 -$450. You get what you pay for too so maybe more?

 

[mimeeks3]

Man, I keep looking at those pics of the finished hood, and that thing looks sweet! I got my hood over at a custom vinyl shop getting some customization, but it's a lot more subtle than what you're looking at. Will post pics when I get it back.

 

[Wolfie]

Anxious to see it finished.

That hood though. Master Chief