Author Topic: I want to re-paint my plastic headlight bucket (Read 867 times)

grcamna2 · « **on:** February 11, 2021, 10:30:45 AM »

I have an OEM Honda plastic headlight bucket which has had some sun/fading damage and it's showing more plastic than black factory paint unfortunately.I want to use a decent primer(a rattle can job)that is ABS plastic friendly then paint it with gloss black(I'm not sure what brand yet..) and final coat it with clear.What paint have you used ?
thanks,Bill

Alan F. · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2021, 11:20:32 AM »

I've used Duplicolor wheel paint with no primer. It's had no issues and looks great, but it's never been out of the shop in a dozen years.

PeWe · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2021, 11:37:21 AM »

I painted my stock CB750 K6 headlight with 2k paint as the tank and side covers got that held up well in the 80's.

2k solid red followed by Sikkens 2k clear that made surface more scratch resistant.
No specific plastic primer.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2021, 12:07:46 PM »

I want to make sure to coat the bare plastic with a paint that will not cause the gloss black to not look 'splotchy'.I hope there's a primer that will seal the bare plastic.

markmyodb · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2021, 01:32:16 PM »

I have painted several headlight cans thru the years, best results with catalyzed urethane/clear. Worst result with heat light applied too close to enamel finish, it is still in use, just a little out of shape.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2021, 02:24:35 PM »

Quote from: markmyodb on February 11, 2021, 01:32:16 PM

I have painted several headlight cans thru the years, best results with catalyzed urethane/clear. Worst result with heat light applied too close to enamel finish, it is still in use, just a little out of shape.

What did you use for priming the bare plastic ?

CB750R · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2021, 03:52:06 PM »

you can have a lot of paint supply places make spray bombs of "real" auto paint.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2021, 04:34:11 PM »

I understand.
The question I am asking is: Which rattle can Primer will work best over bare ABS plastic

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2021, 04:59:10 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 11, 2021, 10:30:45 AM

I have an OEM Honda plastic headlight bucket which has had some sun/fading damage and it's showing more plastic than black factory paint unfortunately.I want to use a decent primer(a rattle can job)that is ABS plastic friendly then paint it with gloss black(I'm not sure what brand yet..) and final coat it with clear.What paint have you used ?
thanks,Bill

Different answer. I purchased an aerosol can of gloss black paint it my local auto parts store. It’s specifically for the plastic bumpers and trim on any car. I lightly sanded two buckets and gave them both several cots (no primer). They still look great......

grcamna2 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2021, 06:48:38 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on February 11, 2021, 04:59:10 PM

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 11, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
I have an OEM Honda plastic headlight bucket which has had some sun/fading damage and it's showing more plastic than black factory paint unfortunately.I want to use a decent primer(a rattle can job)that is ABS plastic friendly then paint it with gloss black(I'm not sure what brand yet..) and final coat it with clear.What paint have you used ?
thanks,Bill

Different answer. I purchased an aerosol can of gloss black paint it my local auto parts store. It’s specifically for the plastic bumpers and trim on any car. I lightly sanded two buckets and gave them both several cots (no primer). They still look great......

John,What brand paint,Duplicolor ? I called my local O'Reilly's and they sell a specific "Duplicolor Trim & Bumper" gloss black w/ Fadex Technology and it's a dark black is what the salesperson told me.I would like to be sure the black will match(I'll go by there tomorrow with the headlight bucket:it still has a good amount of stock black paint on the underside of it) the other black like the vintage OEM Honda frame paint,etc.I always remember the black is a deep black.

Mark1976 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2021, 07:55:12 PM »

Any primer sealer should work, don't lay it on heavy, a couple of light coats just to cover. Once its applied let it flash for 5 minutes and then look to see if any lifting occurs. The sealer should prevent the different textures you see when just applying paint to a non-sealed surface. If you see any dryness or lifting on the surface, sand (dry or wet, 400 dry, 600 wet) the affected area and lightly apply the sealer again. Most rattle can paints have so much retarder in them that when you apply them too heavy it has a tendency reactivate the paint underneath. If you get a good result after the initial application you can apply paint once it flashes or you can wait a day, let dry completely and then scuff it and paint with your color of choice.

markmyodb · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2021, 02:22:29 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 11, 2021, 02:24:35 PM

Quote from: markmyodb on February 11, 2021, 01:32:16 PM
I have painted several headlight cans thru the years, best results with catalyzed urethane/clear. Worst result with heat light applied too close to enamel finish, it is still in use, just a little out of shape.

What did you use for priming the bare plastic ?

I used a SEM(brand name) non sanding primer in a rattle can.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2021, 06:33:34 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 11, 2021, 06:48:38 PM

Quote from: BenelliSEI on February 11, 2021, 04:59:10 PM
Quote from: grcamna2 on February 11, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
I have an OEM Honda plastic headlight bucket which has had some sun/fading damage and it's showing more plastic than black factory paint unfortunately.I want to use a decent primer(a rattle can job)that is ABS plastic friendly then paint it with gloss black(I'm not sure what brand yet..) and final coat it with clear.What paint have you used ?
thanks,Bill

Different answer. I purchased an aerosol can of gloss black paint it my local auto parts store. It’s specifically for the plastic bumpers and trim on any car. I lightly sanded two buckets and gave them both several cots (no primer). They still look great......

John,What brand paint,Duplicolor ? I called my local O'Reilly's and they sell a specific "Duplicolor Trim & Bumper" gloss black w/ Fadex Technology and it's a dark black is what the salesperson told me.I would like to be sure the black will match(I'll go by there tomorrow with the headlight bucket:it still has a good amount of stock black paint on the underside of it) the other black like the vintage OEM Honda frame paint,etc.I always remember the black is a deep black.

Can’t find it, but I think it was Duplicolor. The one I had was a high gloss.

Don R · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2021, 11:47:15 AM »

Duplicolor has an adhesion promoter, I've used it on sidecovers with good results.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2021, 12:24:38 PM »

Here's a pic of it, I'm adapting this headlight to a different bike.There is sun damage(the pic makes it look worse:plus,it may have gotten brake fluid on it as well) I think it was sitting in one position outside for decades.. I want to sand it,prime it,possibly a couple times:then finish coat it black.The sanding may take care of most of it so I could just be able to shoot it with the black:I don't have a shop or access to a light bondo 'skim coat' in this present situation,so paint will have to do.. What do you recommend ? Bill

jaytee-nz · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2021, 12:40:23 PM »

I've used good quality etch primers on plastic (including headlights). Although they are primarily for metals, they work well on plastic as well and give a nice solid cover for your top coat. Just make sure you sand the headlight well to give a good "key" for the primer to adhere to.
Sorry, I'm in New Zealand so the brands available here will likely not be the same as in the US.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2021, 01:09:26 PM »

Bill ...... Duplicolor makes a “Filler Primer” in their aerosol cans. A few coats of that (with a bit of sanding in between) will fill a lot of imperfections! It sticks to anything, in my life experience. Then just cover with their regular gloss black.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2021, 02:11:54 PM »

I understand

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2021, 03:25:29 PM »

Good luck!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2021, 05:36:04 PM »

Well,I prepped it and sanded it down quite a bit into the plastic.I bought this off Ebay for small $ and it looks like it had been sitting out in the woods on a bike that was tipped-over and had brake fluid dripping down into the plastic for decades.I kept sanding but the plastic was still discolored in the heavy area.. I would have needed to sand it down real deep. I primed it with Duplicolor 'Filler' primer,then painted it nice with Duplicolor gloss black.I let it dry for about 4 hrs. then put it in a hot area for about a 1/2 hr. to help it cure and removed it to put outside in my old car to cure for the duration.I looked close at the top-side of it and it looked to be bubbling-up around that same brake fluid damaged area.. Ahh

I imagine it will lift the paint in that area once I put it into service.
Does anyone have a decent plastic headlight case for a CB400F # HM-26M-S that they could sell to me that hasn't been soaked with brake fluid ? The rest of this headlight case is in good shape.. but that brake fluid soaked-in too deep.

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Author Topic: I want to re-paint my plastic headlight bucket (Read 867 times)