So, there is powder coating for metals. What about plastics/fiberglass?

[Devaclis]

Looking for a VERY sturdy and clean paint application for fiberglass and plastic. Is a marine grade gelcoat safe or will it crack under flex?

[TFOGGuys]

My understanding is that gelcoats are by nature very brittle, and thus prone to cracking and chipping. There are supposedly flex agents that can be added to conventional base coat/clearcoat paint systems for use on flexible plastic and urethane body panels that make the paint pretty chip resistant when cured, but I have never used them. Anybody in the bodywork biz care to comment?:dunno:

[rybo]

If you're going to use gel coat you want to use it on a very strudy piece, it doesn't flex well.

If you don't mind sticking with the "flat black" theme, then the truck bed liner that you can buy at wal-mart in an aerosol can is really pretty tough and it looks good. It's thinner than the stuff you would have professionally applied, so you have to watch for drips and runs. Prep your pieces with some light sanding and a good cleaning with acetone and it will stick like no ones business

[Devaclis]

Thanks Scott. Any advice on a protective coat to the paint? Matte black tends to get shiney on areas that are rubbed a lot.

[rybo]

Dana,

I don't think you'll have that problem with this stuff. Give it a try and see how it works for you.

[wulf]

Any bumper paint should have enough flex to stay on. They are available at checker and such.

An alternative to the truck bed stuff is rubberized undercoating, also available in spray form. But it comes out a little chunky. Hard to describe.

[daemon]

i use "krylon" fusion paint for my plastic bits.
works well and cover's well.
no sign of cracking

[Devaclis]

Have you tried it on the tail or any are where your gear rubs a lot? My matte black is actualy now a semigloss around the tank and the sides of my seat.

[daemon]

there are a couple of little diamond pieces on the sides of my bike that my legs rub against quite a bit.
no excessive notable scarring.
i layed it on quite thick though.
with sanding between and a good clearcoat afterwards.
i have yet to try it on fiberglass,but it does come highly recomended from some of the guy's who do use it.
i also did the radiator covers.
they though do get chipped often from road debris.
easy enough to recoat them though.
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/4353/p42000028natr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sortarican]

....a good clearcoat afterwards....
That's whats missing from yours D, don't think they clear coated it.
That's also probably why the gas peeled the paint on the tank.

They make gloss/semi-gloss/flat clear coat too.
(I have some semi if you want to test it.)
Use the flat or semi and it should hold up pretty well.
I did a couple light coats with semi on the RD stuff and it didn't get too shiney.

Also, +1 on the Krylon Fusion plastic paint.
Haven't painted any bike parts with it but have used it on some pretty flexible peices and never had it crack.
(I think it actually dyes the plastic as opposed to just coating it.)

[Devaclis]

Cool, I have some free time comming up and Will try it on the front fender. If it works out, I will shoot the entire bike with it.

[bluedogok]

On Two Wheeled Texans (http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14713) there is guy who redid his BMW-GS in bed liner. The tank is plastic on the GS as well.

http://texbiker.com/pics/gs20.jpg
http://texbiker.com/pics/gs21.jpg

[reddeth]

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/4353/p42000028natr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Sorry to get off topic, but where did you get that logo/sticker?

I've got a shirt with a very similar one but the website thats printed on it faded away and I can't figure out where its from.

[daemon]

www.wickedjester.com (http://www.wickedjester.com)
i had the guy at EGMO graphics in the mall transfer the logo to vinyl


Sorry to get off topic, but where did you get that logo/sticker?

I've got a shirt with a very similar one but the website thats printed on it faded away and I can't figure out where its from.