During operation of the car the owner faces such problem, as the appearance of scratches on the plastic. A fair question arises, how to remove scratches from plastic and return the car to its former appearance. In this article, we will look at the most popular methods of scratch removal.
Scratches on the plastic bumper
List of basic ways to remove scratches
There are several methods of removing scratches, the choice of which depends on the complexity of the damage and the type of surface. Here is their list:
- hair dryer repair;
- smoothing of roughnesses by means of open fire;
- polishing scratches;
- masking by special means;
- complete repair of plastic.
It is important to know! Embossed plastic parts can be repaired only with the latest methods. Any other action may lead to further deterioration of the material.
Hairdryer repair
You can remove small scratches on the plastic elements of the car with a regular hair dryer - you don't even have to use a construction tool. The essence of the process is, that when the surface is heated, shallow damage is delayed by itself. If you use a construction hair dryer, you need to distribute the air flow evenly over the surface, to prevent overheating. Ideally, the defects will be completely delayed. If not, their size will decrease, thus facilitating further polishing.
Construction hair dryer
To begin with, the plastic must be thoroughly washed, that in its pores there was no dust and dirt. After the surface dries, you need to turn on the device in low mode and direct warm air to the problem area.
Remove scratches with open fire
Galvanizing the body with your own hands
The essence of this method is the same, as before. You need to heat the plastic, so that the damage itself is prolonged. To do this, bring an open flame to the surface for a short time, then wait for it to cool. Do not touch the car eraser, until it cools completely. Traces of soot should be removed with a cotton swab, soaked in alcohol.
Plastic scratch removal
Polishing
The safest and most effective repair of car plastic is polishing. It will require a special disperse agent. Do not use car body polish - they will only damage the plastic. Repairs can be done manually or with a typewriter.
It is important to know! High revs of the grinding wheel can overheat and damage the plastic, therefore it is better to polish by hand without proper experience.
Step-by-step instructions for polishing
- Wash the plastic. It is better to use detergent to remove dirt.
- Dry the surface in a closed dark room.
- Manually apply a layer of paste and wait a bit.
- When applied the tool will look like a plaque, you can start polishing. Usually, repairs take no more than five minutes.
- The surface should be polished in a circular motion with light pressure until then, until all the plaque is erased. After removing the scratch, you need to carefully remove the remnants of the paste.
Removal by camouflage means
The simplest method of removing scratches on plastic cars is to mask with a pencil. Such removal is quite expensive, but in this case the pencil can be used many times. Its shelf life is almost unlimited. The tool itself is a container, filled with a special substance, which fills deep scratches of the car and makes them invisible. The main criterion for choosing such a tool is the color of the car.
How to fix a dent on a wing without painting
Scratch pencil
Making repairs is easier than simple. As in any other case, you should wash the plastic of the car and dry it, then apply the substance to the defects and wait, until it hardens. Then - get rid of excess composition by polishing.
Complete repair of plastic
This option is the most difficult and expensive. It is used in those cases, when deep scratches appeared on the plastic of the car, hide which is impossible with any of the above methods. But with its help you can completely remove visible defects and even change the color of plastic parts of the car.
Fine sandpaper
- Such repairs require dismantling of plastic elements.
- Once the desired element is removed, it should be washed thoroughly, using a special detergent for plastic car parts.
- Sand the damaged surface, removing deep and small scratches. This can be done manually or with a circle. It is better to use a fine sandpaper as an abrasive.
It is important to know! Embossed surfaces can be sanded, therefore, this step should be skipped for them.
- Apply a layer of primer from a spray can. It is better to choose a tool, does not react with plastic cars.
- Wrap the car plastic with a fine abrasive, until you get a perfectly smooth surface.
- After priming, you can start painting the car plastic in the desired color. If desired, the surface can be varnished.
It is important to know! Varnished surfaces reflect sunlight, therefore, certain elements should not be covered.