dull plastics

[Benman]

anybody got any advice on how i can bring old dull, scratched and faded plastics ie; everything but the tank back to life without painting them??? They are 18 years old but in good condition apart from the obviously aged look.
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Ben1972

[Benman]

sorry forgot to mention that they arent painted. just molded colured dirt bike plastics.
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Ben1972

[thx1138]

hydrogen peroxide?

[EXC-Rider]

cant find the video but i watched this guy use a razer blade to remove all the top layer of the plastic which was a dull wighty colour to a shiny red, if i find the video ill update

edit found it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJb5IPOx2l0&feature=related
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owned bikes: DR50, Thumpsta 110 , Honda CR85, Speedfight 100, Yamaha XT125X, Honda CRF450, Honda Hornet '07
current bikes: KTM EXC525 AKA the wheelie machine
A friend in need is a friend indeed but a friend with weed is better!

[Benman]

Wow that was a really cool vid. Like major surgery!! Lucky for me mine aren't that bad!! Mine look more like his did after he finished the scraping part. Just dull with no shine. Want to try a good wax and a power buffer I think. That's what a guy at work suggested. So might try that first but thanks again for the vid bro!!!
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Ben1972

[Benman]

Oh and thx what am I supposed to do with the peroxide???
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Ben1972

[thx1138]

[jamesrs250]

there a vid on youtube he uses a blade and a paint stripper heat gun looks easy to do

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=motorcycle+plastic+restoration&oq=motorcycle+plastic&gs_l=youtube.1.2.0l5j0i5l5.579.6191.0.9087.17.13.0.2.2.0.305.2593.3j3j5j2.13.0...0.0...1ac.1.YUE5l5q0k2c

[silky666]

I did mine using the following method - result was lenghty but really good.

1) Clean plastics with white spirit / all sticker soff etc etc.
2) Rub down with medium grade wet and dry to get rid of any scratches.. then continue doing this with finer and finer grades.
3) Final one use with washing up liquid.

all very much like preparing bodywork to paint.

plastics will now look terrible and dull.

4) get a heat gun ... and carefully test / practice on a part you cant see.
This will allow you to leanr just how much to melt to top layer.

End result .. shiny new plastics

oh! and take the petrol out of the tank !
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There's nothing that shouts "Poor Workmanship" more than wrinkles in the Gaffa tape.

Gaffa tape is like "the force" - it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

[silky666]

like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKxpM7CVY-4
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There's nothing that shouts "Poor Workmanship" more than wrinkles in the Gaffa tape.

Gaffa tape is like "the force" - it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

[Matt B]

Can't you buff/mop plastics with a cutting compound the same as faded car bodywork?
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