Paint recommendation?

[andy230]

I am tiding up the universally scruffy skorpion.

can I pick anyone here's brains about painting plastic?

I want a satin black tank and seat unit.  Which paint (type) will be fuel resistant without a laquer?  It will also need to be a bit flexible as the same will be applied to the fibreglass single seat I have.

I am thinking rattle cans... (sadly)

The tank is plastic.  Which primer should I use? (I will remove all of the many previous layers)

Thanks in advance!

a

[squirrelciv]

Don't know for sure, but I think the key thing is the primer. Get that right and the top coat will stick. Not to sure anything in a can will be petrol proof without lacquer. Even then you'll been a petrol proof lacquer.

Painting is a bit of a sore point here... Everything went well on the project right up to the last lacquer coat which wrinkled in two places. Waiting for things to fully cure before flattening back and re-doing.

[guest1670]

I've just been through this recently myself. I used an etch primer and then gloss black, all rattle cans from a local autopaint supplier.

The chap there said that two-pack is the way to go if you want a petrol resistant finish, which is obviously out of the question for most diy'ers. He didn't know of any petrol-proof lacquer.

I think you have two choices - go with rattle cans and just be very careful when filling up with fuel, or get someone in the trade to do it for you with two-pack. When you add up the cost of materials for the former, you may find the latter is more cost-effective than you might think.

[Furry John]

Hi, I found Halfords sold a petrol proof lacquer rattle can when I did the GB's tank some 4years ago, it has lasted for 4 years now with fuel spills etc. Don't know whether it is still on the market, it sprayed the same as their normal clear lacquer with the same result but did need to come up right under the filler cap to prevent seepage under the edge and into the base coat silver. there might be a part used one in the garage I can look up the Halfords reference numbers if you wish.

Furry

[andy230]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the info.  I want to do it satin black.

On saturday, I was out with Boy, and spotted a little local back street place near me.

He said yes he can do it, and suggested I did prep work and give it to to him with a 800 grit finish, and minimal prep by him.

(Fine, I am not looking for a show finish anyway!!      )

He said yes, plasticisers in the pain will give it flex (like bumpers), and he said the best would would be colour, then a matt laquer.  The laquer will be petrol resistant, if not completely petrol proof.

Thanks for all the info guys, will post pics when its done.

a