oxidized plastics

I saw a trick on youtube to shine up oxidized plastics using paint thinner and boiled linseed oil.  Looked like it worked pretty well.  Has anyone tried it?

Nope, but I have used a heat gun and steel-wool.

Wow that looks great.  If I would have seen that before I painted mine I would have tried it

Wow what a great result, real nice.

what was the process in doing that i need to try that out on mine

I 've used the 4-0 steel wool with good results , but what's the heat gun for      it looks like u got beter results forsure

chalkminer wrote:

I saw a trick on youtube to shine up oxidized plastics using paint thinner and boiled linseed oil.  Looked like it worked pretty well.  Has anyone tried it?

the guy who had my rhino before me tried something similar to this.  DONT DO IT!!!!  Just makes it greasy and it holds more dirt.  It doesn't actually fix the problem...its like spraying it down with WD-40 or Armor-all.  you can buff them and get them to come back also but there is some technique to it also.

This process looks good just a little elbow grease, if you do this make sure the linseed oil soaked rags are stored outside in a metal container, linseed oil can spontaneous combust.

The heat gun re-melts the plastic and bring back the color. the steel wool
will even out any blotching. I also wet sanded with 1000 grit to finish it up.

I suspect the linseed oil would only dry back out after ya let a little mud set on it.

I decided to give it a try.  I have my reservations, but my plastic is looking pretty bad.  I bought it surplus from the local power company it had always been outside and they had company logo stickers and ID numbers on it.  When they were removed the shiney plastic under them made the exposed plastic look even worse.  I have my reservations, but it can't hurt.

Did a king quad I had...3m compound and a buffer. Don't know how it lasted tho...sold the bike.

I did my 06/450 with rubbing compound and fine steel wool a couple years ago, and it was similar in condition to the red rhino. The color turned out well, just not glossy like fresh paint. The next year I slapped some good graphics on it and they have held up like new through their second season.
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Well, it sure looks better, although Chuddly and UnderDawg might still be right.  Could I have gotten the same result by wiping it down with Vasoline?  Who knows I have never tried.

 ..Ya never know till ya try...be sure to let us know how it holds up.

Scott, that turned out nice. What did you end up using, besides a lot of elbow grease and beer..lol....

I used the 60% paint thinner 40% linseed oil mixture with a scotch bright pad.  As you can see in the pictures it worked and did not take what I would consider a lot of elbow grease and beer.  Pretty easy actually, but it does seem a little oily.  As you can see I need to get a little more work to get the rest if the stickers off.  I'll let you know if it gets sticky and attracts dust or if the result don't last.

I have a body shop and have done this to MANY quads for friends.  If you take wax and grease remover and go over the whole thing (Chalkminer esp. because you just put oil on it LOL) then sand it with 1000 grit then with 2000 grit paper.  Then buff it with a buffer it will come out looking great.  It is about 3 or so hours work depending on how bad your ride it....but what it does is take the top layers of plastic off (dont worry it doesnt take much off) and then buffing it brings the shine back.  Low RPM on the buffter and keep it flat and cool.  If you bear down and get the plastic real hot it still start to move under you pad.  But you really gotta try to do that.

here we go guys i tried the heat gun trick and it works pretty good. little left to do but have to share the garage with the wife so the rhino doesnt make it inside very often during winter. 

do your grill and headlamp bezels too...lookin good

yeah i'm going to take them out to do those. i have 4hrs into that much but i was having a few beverages. hopefully get it in tomorrow and finish her up

It's looking good Eric. Well worth the effort, plus you get to have a few beverages while doing it.

thanks. yeah its worth the time. and its always good to have an extra excuse to have a few, other than being married and having two kids. 

That's a great job Erik what a difference,elbow grease and a few beverages good work.

meats wrote:

here we go guys i tried the heat gun trick and it works pretty good. little left to do but have to share the garage with the wife so the rhino doesnt make it inside very often during winter. 

Nice!! be sure to post up more pics  when your done

Do you know if you new finish will last long?