Painting plastics. Yay or nay?

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ballisticdoughnut

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I’ve been tossing around the idea of painting the top cover on a 266 I recently put together. It’s pretty rough, I was thinking some kind of camo pattern. Thoughts?
 

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I’ve been tossing around the idea of painting the top cover on a 266 I recently put together. It’s pretty rough, I was thinking some kind of camo pattern. Thoughts?
A big no on painting plastics. It looks pretty bad, pretty quickly. Not so much on the saws, but I've seen guys paint dirtbikes. After one ride, it screams of "I huffed half this can of spraypaint and used the rest on my plastics."

I've seen some good results from the Rit dye. I was planning on trying it one of these days, but there are some Youtube videos out there on how to do it. The best part is it's dye, so it doesn't look crappy right away.
 
Done a few now, latest is this one for a Husqvarna 55 that is drying now. Had to repair a crack and fill in some nicks. The tricky part is matching the paint color. I find that Tremclad works well, it's fuel resistant and fairly durable. So far I've had no problem with adhesion on top covers, but it will scrape off on metal or plastic just like any other paint. I've had Tremclad on a snowblower over a dozen years and it's held up very well, fuel or oil doesn't seem to bother it in the least.
Put it on a bit too thick and got a couple of runs, but it's not bad enough to make me want to redo it.

IMG_20221117_220205.jpg
 
A big no on painting plastics. It looks pretty bad, pretty quickly. Not so much on the saws, but I've seen guys paint dirtbikes. After one ride, it screams of "I huffed half this can of spraypaint and used the rest on my plastics."

I've seen some good results from the Rit dye. I was planning on trying it one of these days, but there are some Youtube videos out there on how to do it. The best part is it's dye, so it doesn't look crappy right away.
Yeah, I’m not entirely set on doing it just something I was thinking about. This particular top cover is pretty rough, it’s what I have for now until I can find a nicer one.
 
Yeah, I’m not entirely set on doing it just something I was thinking about. This particular top cover is pretty rough, it’s what I have for now until I can find a nicer one.


Get it covered in sap and dirt, and you won't notice the sun-fade!

: p
 
Tractor Supply sells a line of paints. Always a perfect match. John Deere, Kubota, Toro, Lawn Boy, Stihl, etc.
They have a heavy carrier and thick pigment. Mist coats. Plenty of dry time. The patient results are stunning......

Assuming the prep is perfect.
 
Yeah, I’m not entirely set on doing it just something I was thinking about. This particular top cover is pretty rough, it’s what I have for now until I can find a nicer one.

Your post inspired me to finally use the Rit Dye on a couple of my saws. It's actually really cool, I mixed 1:1 black and graphite color to end up with a really nice looking black that almost has a hint of "gunmetal look." The best part is that you can scratch it and it remains the same color.

The "murdered out" look isn't for everyone, but what my 500i looks like now..they've got a bunch of different colors. The max flow cover is actually black plastic, so that expains the color difference.

IMG_20221118_182707691.jpg.20756b685bb97a1f084ff057f42986ac.jpg

IMG_20221118_182734445_HDR.jpg.3b385448b27ab33f2df2bbfca95ed532.jpg
IMG_20221118_182750706_HDR.jpg.41990922421400cb231b57a55cbea1f9.jpg
 
Your post inspired me to finally use the Rit Dye on a couple of my saws. It's actually really cool, I mixed 1:1 black and graphite color to end up with a really nice looking black that almost has a hint of "gunmetal look." The best part is that you can scratch it and it remains the same color.

The "murdered out" look isn't for everyone, but what my 500i looks like now..they've got a bunch of different colors. The max flow cover is actually black plastic, so that expains the color difference.

IMG_20221118_182707691.jpg.20756b685bb97a1f084ff057f42986ac.jpg

IMG_20221118_182734445_HDR.jpg.3b385448b27ab33f2df2bbfca95ed532.jpg
IMG_20221118_182750706_HDR.jpg.41990922421400cb231b57a55cbea1f9.jpg
That looks pretty sweet. Nice work.
 
I am Going to Dye the Plastic Air Filter Cover on my Husky 1991 Model 55 Saw. Could anyone Please Advise what Specific Sand Paper or Scotch Brite to Get a Good Finish on the Plastic> Also, am going to Powder Coat the Mag Body & would appreciate any input on Color Code and where to Get Powder Coat Material to do This
 
Your post inspired me to finally use the Rit Dye on a couple of my saws. It's actually really cool, I mixed 1:1 black and graphite color to end up with a really nice looking black that almost has a hint of "gunmetal look." The best part is that you can scratch it and it remains the same color.

The "murdered out" look isn't for everyone, but what my 500i looks like now..they've got a bunch of different colors. The max flow cover is actually black plastic, so that expains the color difference.

IMG_20221118_182707691.jpg.20756b685bb97a1f084ff057f42986ac.jpg

IMG_20221118_182734445_HDR.jpg.3b385448b27ab33f2df2bbfca95ed532.jpg
IMG_20221118_182750706_HDR.jpg.41990922421400cb231b57a55cbea1f9.jpg
Your post inspired me to finally use the Rit Dye on a couple of my saws. It's actually really cool, I mixed 1:1 black and graphite color to end up with a really nice looking black that almost has a hint of "gunmetal look." The best part is that you can scratch it and it remains the same color.

The "murdered out" look isn't for everyone, but what my 500i looks like now..they've got a bunch of different colors. The max flow cover is actually black plastic, so that expains the color difference.

IMG_20221118_182707691.jpg.20756b685bb97a1f084ff057f42986ac.jpg

IMG_20221118_182734445_HDR.jpg.3b385448b27ab33f2df2bbfca95ed532.jpg
IMG_20221118_182750706_HDR.jpg.41990922421400cb231b57a55cbea1f9.jpg
Did you use any kind of top coat like auto clear coat?
 
I've seen a couple painted saws, they look really bad quickly, the paint scratches off really easily.
Dye would be the way to go. A few youtubers dye saws for looks, im not into it but it works well.

If it was mine I'd scotch bite the plastics and rub atf onto it, it'll be shinny for a while and quick and easy to do. We would do this to old atvs to make them shine, it works for a month or two then dries out.
 
I've seen a couple painted saws, they look really bad quickly, the paint scratches off really easily.
Dye would be the way to go. A few youtubers dye saws for looks, im not into it but it works well.

If it was mine I'd scotch bite the plastics and rub atf onto it, it'll be shinny for a while and quick and easy to do. We would do this to old atvs to make them shine, it works for a month or two then dries out.
Use WD-40, lasts a bit longer.
 
Use WD-40, lasts a bit longer.
It does not, atf last much longer than wd40 lol.
We tried wd40, it lasted a week or two, the atf lasted a couple months, it's the oily residue making it shine, wd40 is over 90% varsol.
Dry film silicone spray works good too, it makes faded plastic shinny and last for a while.
 
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