How to apply touch up paint on plastic parts

Long past are the days of the great metal machines many of us grew up driving. In today's world of
automobiles, plastic reigns supreme. From bumpers to body kits, side skirts to side mirrors - you can't
go far along the body of a car these days without stumbling upon plastic. So when it comes time to
touch-up the surface of that new car, be sure to follow these steps for a professional finish on all
plastic parts:

1. Preparation

As with any touch-up project, the first step is preparation. With both plastic and metal parts, this
involves properly cleansing the car of all contaminates. For step-by-step instructions, please refer to
our article on Surface Preparation before proceeding.

2. Sanding

(Note: Skip this step if you are working with new, unpainted factory parts)

Begin by sanding the area with a 600-grit sandpaper.

As soon as you can feel that the surface is considerably smoother, switch to a 1000-grit sandpaper
and continue sanding until the area is completely free of defects.

Once the sanding is complete, wash the area with clean water and allow for the surface to dry.

3. Masking

Before applying paints and primers, it is very important that you properly mask the area surrounding
the part of your car which is being refinished. The use of masking paper will help prevent overspray
from getting onto parts of your car that are not intended for painting.

Be sure to always mask from a bodyline. For example: if you're painting a bumper, make sure that the
entire bumper is exposed and that everything else in the surrounding area is sufficiently covered.

Often times, people will create too tight of a mask around a small area that is being refinished. If you're
not careful, this will cause primer, paint and clear to be sprayed not only within the area taped off, but
also outside of the taped area. Once the masking paper is removed, it will be clearly visible that you
have sprayed past the desired area.

I highly recommend using a hand masker. With these convenient little helpers, you can simply tape
around the desired part (making sure that no tape is actually on the part) and then unfold the attached
paper for protection of the surrounding areas.

4. Flexible Primer
(Note: Brand new factory parts and plastic parts with only slight damage may not need an application
of Flexible Primer. Flexible Primer is needed anywhere bare plastic is showing.)

The application of a Flexible Primer will help to prevent cracking once the plastic begins to expand in
the heat of the sun.

First spray 2 - 3 medium wet coats of Flexible Primer over the repair, waiting 10 minutes between the
application of each coat.

One hour after the last coat is sprayed; the primer should be dry.

Once dry, sand the primer smooth with 1000-grit sandpaper.

After sanding, wash the area with clean water and allow for the surface to dry.

5. Basecoat

Spray 2 - 3 medium wet coats of basecoat over the primer, waiting 10 minutes between the application
of each coat.

Try to create smooth, even strokes with a 50% overlap upon one another. This will prevent what's
called "Tiger Striping."

One hour after the last coat is sprayed; the basecoat should be dry, dull and ready for clear coat.

6. Clear Coat

Spray 2 - 3 medium wet coats of clear coat over the basecoat, waiting 10 minutes between the
application of each coat.

Try to create smooth, even strokes with a 50% overlap upon one another. This will prevent what's
called "Tiger Striping."

One hour after the last coat is sprayed; the clear coat should be dry.

Note: To allow the finish to fully harden, Do Not wax or power wash the refinished area for at least 30
days.

If you should have any questions or need of assistance along the way, don't hesitate to contact the
knowledgeable team at Paintworldinc.com. Customer Service 1-888-250-4936