Save your fading plastic parts

[Ncdan]

I recently obtained a 2004 Jeep Wrangler X.
The overall condition of the Jeep is great shape with low mileage for a 20 year old. The only eye sore is the add on fender flares were badly faded.
An old Jeep  savvy buddy of mine informed me that I could bring the black color back by taking a heat gun to the plastics.
Sure enough it works! After the material heats up it starts to change back to a nice black color and stays that way.
This procedure will also work on motorcycle plastic parts.
Just use caution and not hold the heat to long in one spot.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I used the heat gun trick on a vintage MSR plastic tank for my XT500, after carefully scraping away old powdery plastic with a single-edge razor blade.

[Ncdan]

I used the heat gun trick on a vintage MSR plastic tank for my XT500, after carefully scraping away old powdery plastic with a single-edge razor blade.

Did it come out ok, Charlie?

[Perazzimx14]

After heating the plastic dress with Mother’s back to black. Looks better than new

[Ncdan]

After heating the plastic dress with Mother’s back to black. Looks better than new

I will definitely get some Mothers, great tip 👍

[Wayne Orwig]

Turtle Wax 53838 Hybrid Solutions Graphene Acrylic Trim Restorer

This stuff works well and lasts a very long time. But it turns everything black that it gets on.
I have a friend's car that has some faded plastic, that is originally a dark grey color. So, I don't what to use the black restorer that I normally use. I will be trying the heat gun trick.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Did it come out ok, Charlie?

Yes, looked great for as long as I had the bike.

[Perazzimx14]

I will definitely get some Mothers, great tip 👍

Here are a couple before and after's showing the magic og Mothers B2B. I like the aersol version. Easy to apply and overspray does not effect surrounding paint, windscreens, dgauge faces etc. Spray on, let dry for a few minutes thenwife/buff lightly with a clean micro fiver towel.

[Dirk_S]

I like the heat gun idea, will keep that in mind. All the other ‘plastic rejuvenator’ products seem superficial and don’t really fix the issue of the plastic drying, right? Merely covering it up? I personally enjoy the cheap thrill and fleeting sense of accomplishment anytime I spray the bikes down with WD40, gun lube, etc. Boy that plastic looks gorgeous…until it doesn’t.

[Perazzimx14]

I like the heat gun idea, will keep that in mind. All the other ‘plastic rejuvenator’ products seem superficial and don’t really fix the issue of the plastic drying, right? Merely covering it up? I personally enjoy the cheap thrill and fleeting sense of accomplishment anytime I spray the bikes down with WD40, gun lube, etc. Boy that plastic looks gorgeous…until it doesn’t.

Agreed that the plastic dressings are topical and do not change the underlying plastics properties, but they do make things look a ton better. What I use lasts for a long time and survives multiple washes and is if you do periodic maintenance doses the plastic stays looking good. There is no free lunch. Even the heat method if you do nothing else after heating it will start fade and get chaulky again. If the plastic is outside and subject to the UV rays from the sun the fading comes faster.

[Dirk_S]

Forgot to mention, I used a couple Cerakote Trim Coat wipes on my Subaru Forester’s black bumper guard. That coating is supposed to last a loooong time (claim over 200 washes, I think), but I’ve since sold the Subaru and can’t share any updates.

Link to the product on Amazon below. Perhaps a heat gun treatment + this stuff could yield a beautiful sheen that could outlast the Apocalypse?

https://a.co/d/6Ys6x8m

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

S100 Engine Brightener works very well on some black plastics. I did the "dash" of my Convert 7 years ago and it still looks great.

[Ncdan]

I just completed the project, it is time consuming.
One must get a fairly large area to a very warm temperature first. Then start the process of moving the heat gun tips slowly back-and-forth, watching the material change to a deep black or whatever color the material your are treating is. Be very careful and not allow the plastic start bubbling.
I had to go over an each piece a couple times to get a good cover of non splotchy finish.
It’s not as perfect as when new but from a few feet away it looks flawless, I call it the 15 ft rule, from 15 ft minor imperfections are not noticeable. This is fine for a totally original 20 year old vehicle.

[Ncdan]

Here are a couple before and after's showing the magic og Mothers B2B. I like the aersol version. Easy to apply and overspray does not effect surrounding paint, windscreens, dgauge faces etc. Spray on, let dry for a few minutes thenwife/buff lightly with a clean micro fiver towel.

Wow!! That’s quite impressive!
I wonder how long it will last?

[Dukedesmo]

Quote from: Ncdan on December 07, 2024, 07:28:25 PM

I call it the 15 ft rule, from 15 ft minor imperfections are not noticeable. This is fine for a totally original 20 year old vehicle.

___________________ ___________________ _____

Good from afar but far from good...

But thanks for the tip, I will be trying that on the faded wheelarch flares on my old Land Rover.

[chuck peterson]

Wow!! That’s quite impressive!
I wonder how long it will last?

It will fade so slowly you don’t notice, but about a season

[Perazzimx14]

It will fade so slowly you don’t notice, but about a season

This is a fair statment. I find that maintnence doses keep things looking good indefinitely. Wash and dry then a quick mist of B2B on the plastic and rubber bits (nott eh tars) quickly wipe/buff and done.

[guzziart]

I did the heat gun thing on the Lawn Boy tank.  I didn't take before & after pics but before I started the tank had already faded to a chalky white color.   The old HF heat gun got a good work out on that tank. The shroud was a different story, I eventually rattle canned it and picked up re-pop stickers.

[Ncdan]

I did the heat gun thing on the Lawn Boy tank.  I didn't take before & after pics but before I started the tank had already faded to a chalky white color.   The old HF heat gun got a good work out on that tank. The shroud was a different story, I eventually rattle canned it and picked up re-pop stickers.

Good deal, glad it worked for you.