Faded black plastic trim ( Back to black)

[Sprog]

For my faded black plastic panels, is there some form of liquid that will restore the blackness? I've seen the stuff that you can get for car bumpers but I'm getting the impression that it's only a temporary measure and may not be suitable.

Thanks.

[grr666]

First let me admit I'm a bit of a amateur detailer so have an interest in topics like this.

Whatever you use will only be temporary unless you repaint or vinylwrap.

There are some really high end products by Gtechniq but even those will need re applying from time to time and
their stuff although very very good is a bit on the pricey side.

https://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/gtechniq/c4-permanent-trim-restorer.aspx
£22 for 15ml but it is very good stuff but even that will last 2 years max.

Somewhere in the middle, there are more affordable and pretty effective products.

I use this on my bike, cars and van. One of my favourite products.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/chemical-guys-new-look-trim-gel/prod_143.html

Been using my bottle(often) for several years and have only used a quarter of it, it does tyres, black plastics and much more.
I clean my frame with it (leaves a hydrophobic coating so water beads off, and I even do the matte black paint in my bike with it)
You only need a few drops to do an 18" car tyre so it will last for AGES!

Or 'pikey' method is to use a little smooth (obviously) peanut butter on a rag,
wipe on wipe off. Simples.

If it's specifically paint/coloured vinyl you are trying to restore the blackness of then after first washing down and degreasing (surface preparation)
you could try something like this.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=494

It's a pre wax glaze which is very effective but works best if you wax over the top to protect the finish,
preferably using a wax formulated for dark colours.

For ease of use and value I like this wax.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=11

Hope that's helpful. If you're anywhere near me I'm happy to let you try some of mine before you
commit to buying any of this stuff. (I don't have the Gtecniq stuff though.)
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Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[TheSmiler]

Quite glad this popped up I was thinking of cleaning up the faded panels on my k100. I was going to go down the back to black method. However I think I'll try the peanut butter then the chemical guys link.
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[chris-red]

Use a heat gun.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R9tDq1oRy9U/maxresdefault.jpg

I did it on a Givi Box it works a treat and will last longer than any chemical.
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[grr666]

^^^
Also works, forgot about that, I did a scratched up glovebox lid like that and it did work quite well.
Obviously much safer if you can easily remove the parts first. Not sure I'd advise that method on parts in situ.

Inb4 Smiler sets fire to his bike.
Or gets chased down the road by a pack of rabid squirrels.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[supZ]

edit:
said peanut butter but just noticed it's already mentioned.
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[WD Forte]

Most interesting
Never even got to the pikey stage when it came to making things look nice so gave up.

Peanut butter? hot air gun? I got them !
As for the products I always regarded them as snake oil cos
I never seemed to get any decent results.
(probly cos being a cheap bastard I got the poundshop 99p a litre stuff )
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bikers smell of wee

[Nexus Icon]

Black shoe polish, in the bottle with a little sponge on the top, worked on the black plastic trim on my Mini - of which there was a lot. I applied it over a year ago and it still looked good when it was broadsided at 70mph and all the plastic parted company with the car a month ago.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[WD Forte]

Now before I go and do something silly to my van
Does the hot air gun technique work on grey plastics too?
The rad grille has that faded grey/white powdery look to it.
I'll try peanut butter on the grey dash, not daft enough to use the
hot air gun near the screen.
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bikers smell of wee

[Nexus Icon]

[WD Forte]

Well I was going try hot air and maybe even polish on the grille
but the pikey is strong in me and I ended up just spraying it with
wheel silver and now it looks mmmmm....
different, with finger prints on it too.

Ah fuck it, the cobbler should stick to his last
I'll leave the prettying up to them what does it proper like.
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bikers smell of wee

[TheSmiler]

[grr666]

Looking good Smiler
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[grr666]

[kramdra]

Peanut butter?!? why would anyone try this ?

Used engine oil works very well.

[Casper]

[Sprog]

Wow!

Thanks guys - I really didn't think there was much hope but now you are really spoiling me.

The idea of smearing peanut butter over my trim and not myself this time has really got me going. Yes, smooth of course.

So grr66 would you say that the Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer gives the best result compared with (any in fact) the Chemical Guys one or is it negligible? I think I would like to bite the pillow and go with one of these options since they probably leave a larger carbon footprint, hence more effective.

Hot air gun seems effective as well although I've got a decent area to cover as it's a scooter (sorry) with a foot board.

Thanks again, I really appreciate this.

[grr666]

Oh it's better than the chemical guys stuff no doubt, in all honesty I've not used the Gtechniq myself, but know a few
lads who have whos opinion on these matters I'd trust and it gets superb feedback from them.
They do a double size bottle as well which is 30ml but to give you and idea that's 40 odd quid for less than
a tenth of a can of cokes worth of product. (There's 330ml in an average can of soft drink.)

You get lots more (473ml) of the Chemical Guys stuff for way less than half the money of teh Gtechniq
and I use it as an all rounder product because on my cars. I dress
the tyres each time I clean them.
I also use it for screen seals, window rubbers, internal door rubber seals and any black plastic.
The Gtechniq is a one job product. On my bike as I said I clean the visible bits of frame with it, the
engine covers, all the black plastics round the back wheels and even the matte paint. If you read the
reviews for it in my link it does pretty well and the guys reviewing it are all car cleaning saddos like me.
From a value perspective it's much better and still pretty long lasting once applied, but it's important after
application to wipe it off with an old rag thoroughly or it will be greasy. It's also important to NOT over apply.
I use small pieces of old sponge to apply (I have a specific applicator for car tyres) and a nice bit of cotton rag
to remove excess after letting the product dwell for a short while.

If you do put it on bike tyres, be VERY careful to avoid the tread or you may well regret it.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[ADSrox0r]

Just to add to this, I've applied Qtechniq to my various black bits and the large area on my panniers that had caught a few years of sun and it's pretty damn good stuff! Brought it up like factory fresh.

I would've done some before and after photos but it was one of those 'the bairn is in bed, so is the missus...ah feck it let's use the opportunity to apply some farkles!" jobbies.
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[delsol]

I tried engine oil on grey plastic bumper\spoiler trim on a Ford Transit, fkn mess, took me ages to petrol wash it all off.

I then tried hot air gun, slow and careful, but worked a treat, I have not tried hot air gun on black trim so have no idea how that would work.