OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: relfy on May 25, 2013, 11:22:47 pm

Title: Plastic Restoration
Post by: relfy on May 25, 2013, 11:22:47 pm
Hi I am doing a resto on a 1984 kx 125 and was wondering if anybody could give me some tips on plastic restoration . (bringing the tank etc back to life) regards Stephen
Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: Rookie#1 on May 26, 2013, 01:50:33 am
Hi I am doing a resto on a 1984 kx 125 and was wondering if anybody could give me some tips on plastic restoration . (bringing the tank etc back to life) regards Stephen

Gimme a bell on Monday mate, I'll take ya through it  :)
Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: Maicoman on May 26, 2013, 09:58:17 am
I know of a guy up in NSW best vietnamese plastic polisher around ;)
Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: kdx Geoff on May 28, 2013, 07:05:53 pm
hi,

just started on my 81 kdx plastics and needed to remove the chalky oxide of plastic on the rear in particular.

l saw the scraper method and other than looking a bit tedious, it left flat sort of marks on it.

Having detailed plenty of cars over the years and having that sort of stuff in the shed l started off with a fairly fine steel wool and washing powder in hot water to get the worst of it off.

Then went to paint cutters by hand, that got things smooth though dull,good for getting into the corners where the steel wool missed.

Next to a fine hand polish and finished of with the buff in the vice with a wool pad and very gentle buffing as not to burn or melt the plastic

Maybe an hour each if that.

The tank , l started to buff it with a wool pad and polish, havent finished that yet but the bit l did looked good.


(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG0338_zpscdf35a9d.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG0338_zpscdf35a9d.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: EBT on May 28, 2013, 07:23:47 pm
hi,

just started on my 81 kdx plastics and needed to remove the chalky oxide of plastic on the rear in particular.

l saw the scraper method and other than looking a bit tedious, it left flat sort of marks on it.

Having detailed plenty of cars over the years and having that sort of stuff in the shed l started off with a fairly fine steel wool and washing powder in hot water to get the worst of it off.

Then went to paint cutters by hand, that got things smooth though dull,good for getting into the corners where the steel wool missed.

Next to a fine hand polish and finished of with the buff in the vice with a wool pad and very gentle buffing as not to burn or melt the plastic

Maybe an hour each if that.

The tank , l started to buff it with a wool pad and polish, havent finished that yet but the bit l did looked good.



I would like to see photos of that method, as I do it different but it is also a lot slower than your way of doing it, if your plastic's look the part I will give it a crack also.

Cheers Mick.

Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: kdx Geoff on May 28, 2013, 08:17:07 pm
Hi Mick,

l didnt take a before shot but l did take a shot of the finished front guard with the rear one after ld done it with the cutters before polish and buffing.

Very happy with the result after using the buff, nice and easy. Never done this before, just looked on utube to see what other people did.

l put a little polish in the centre of the buff where the speed was slowest for the bits that needed a bit of extra work, l use two hands on the guard and always buff away from the edges.

l have a very nasty looking front guard on my parts bike, l might have a go at it with photos as l go.

Geoff



(http://i1297.photobucket.com/albums/ag23/kdxGeoff/IMAG0338_zpscdf35a9d.jpg) (http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/kdxGeoff/media/IMAG0338_zpscdf35a9d.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: EBT on May 28, 2013, 08:29:11 pm
Hard to tell for sure, but they look pretty good mate, I have 2 KDX 250's I plan to resto and so will have plenty of plastic resto to do I reckon I will give your idea a go.

Cheers Mick.
Title: Re: Plastic Restoration
Post by: relfy on May 28, 2013, 09:39:30 pm
Hey kdx Geoff I also like your method I have got the plastics clean of the house paint but they had a very dull finish so I will give them a  buff and polish to see how it goes . cheers and thanks for the tip. Stephen