Paint ATV body

[BUKNDUK]

Hello 

I want to paint the body on my 1999 Suzuki King Quad 300. The original color is Tan. Does anyone have any experience in painting smooth plastic. What preparations need to be done,maybe sand body to ruff it up so paint sticks or some type of chemical cleaner also can you please recommend the correct paint I need I would think something flexible 

Thanks

[Frank Angerano]

 

Take a look at this and let me know what you think.  

[Ted Craig]

 

Ive been flirting with this idea. Ive done the sanding and hit it with a heat gun after, but that was on my black Honda 450r plastic. It was ok, i ended up wrapping it in vinyl, that gave me the best results.

[Frank Angerano]

Wrapping is always the best way go and get the best results. Problem is its super expensive and a lot of members look for inexpensive alternatives.  We also pick up atvs that are long dead and bring them back to life, old ones so some painting ideas and some restoration is part of the reward.   It's interesting to see what one can come up with from there garage! 

[420rancher]

Has anyone tried plastidip. It's nice because if you don't like it you can just peel it off.

[Frank Angerano]

Its a good way to go  but the problem is the atv plastics are so big its hard to find something that big to dip them in and sheets that large.
I've tried it on small parts and it works great.      

[420rancher]

You can get plastidip in a spray can at most walmarts

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plasti-Dip-Black-Blue-Multi-Purpose-Rubber-Coating-Spray-11-oz-Can/46089053?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=9001904&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=46089053&veh=sem&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgZWf3pDz6AIVCLLICh2vWQBgEAQYAiABEgLtQ_D_BwE

[Frank Angerano]

Yep i see.  I was off plane today and thinking hydro dipping.  
losing my mind lol. 

[420rancher]

I think we're all going a little crazy right now. Lol

[Erik Plug]

Highly underrated but o so important is that if you do go the way of spraying is to take a decent primer, preferable a 2K primer.

[Mild Bill]

I've tried sanding, torching and primers/adhesion promoters (sometimes all at once) I like the slightly rough, matte look, One reason I prefer to keep the surface slightly "rough" is it leaves lots of tiny nooks and crannies for the primer and paint to cling to.

I've used the below technique on old quads and numerous Barbie Jeeps, Razor mini-bikes and other assorted ride-on toys.

Depending how old and abused the quad is, you may need to scrape in a few places, particularly if it has spent years outside in the sun. 

- Sand with a 150+ grit sandpaper.
- Hit it with a torch. This will help burn off mold release chemicals in the plastic as well as smooth the surface out a bit.
- Spray with adhesion promoter/ primer.
- 2 coats of spray paint

Because the  original panels are molded with colored plastic, scratches show the same color as the panel itself. Once painted, deep scratches show as the original plastic color. But, they're easy to touch up, and frankly I do this to toys that still have a lot of life left in them, but don't look like it.

[Ted Craig]

I had gotten this vynl for I think $120 9 years ago. It held up real nice on trails. I put it over Maier plastic to protect it. Frank is right though, it will get expensive on a big bike. 

[MarkinAR]

All the prep work in the world will only allow paint to stick for so long. That ABS on ATVs isn't quite auto bumper ABS so it won't quite last the same. You might get a year of it looking good. There has to be some heat or other method to really bring life back plastic...it just hasn't been found yet. 

Oh, and tried plastidip. It comes off at your heels in 2 hours. Sticks decent as long as it doesn't get rubbed. 

[BUKNDUK]

I ended up buying body covering from Green Mountain Outdoors works great and looks amazing