Glass beading plastic body parts ?

[ratbikesforever]

Does anyone know if you can glass bead the paint off of plastic body parts without damaging the plastic underneath ?

[Dr Rockso]

i have a feeling that would destroy your plastics , i could be wrong , but i wouldn't do it .

[billy_awesome]

Yeah, not a good idea.

If you want to repaint. Lightly sand the paint so it's no longer shiny, but smooth.

Prime, and paint, there ya go, a easy paint job!

[Modified96]

I wouldn't do it. Most likely the beads will be made of a harder material than the fairings, which will cause damage to them.

Glass bead blasting is great for metal because the beads are alot softer than what is being blasted, so no marks would be left.

[Modified96]

Your final result would most likely look like horrible orange peel, that you can't sand out

[Modified96]

And they do make plastic media blast material.

[ratbikesforever]

The reason I asked is because whoever owned this bike before me painted it with some kind of flat black textured paint without roughing up the stock paint and it is about .010" to .015" thick and it chips off any time the part flexs. It looks like a lot of work to take it all down by sanding so I am looking for a easy button. Any ideas ?

[putskey]

Yeah I have an idea....smack to PO upside the head! The PO of my bike took the easy way out on alot of things. I am now paying for them! Literally

[reelrazor]

Me? I would give it a try. Glass beads aren't all that aggressive.

You don't need to mash the gun right up against the part. Start off by hitting it from a few inches away and see what it does.

It's gonna put a LOT of crap in the media-and whoever owns the blast cabinet may not be all that thrilled. I would definately offer to clean the bag out (and do it).

You also CAN buy crushed walnut shell media-which won't even etch cast aluminum

[touch]

I would recommend heat and peel for removing textured paint. If it isn't gripping well, then it should come off easier than a vinyl sticker.

[putskey]

I have all sorts of walnut shells in my yard. You don't even have to buy them-just come and pick it all up. LOL!!

[yamaha_george]

Dont they make plastic beads of some type? Turn down the pressure a little?

God Made the soft stuff for blasting they are WALNUT Shells :-}