Posted By: 71vert340
Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 04:09 PM
What is the best glue to use on hard plastic dash trim? I need to glue a piece back on to the dash piece. What have you found to be the best way to repair? Thanks
Terry
Terry
Plastic Parts Glu
Posted By: DirectSubjection
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 04:12 PM
If it can be adhered from the back where it won't be seen, I use clear silicone adhesive (aquarium stuff). Will stick anything to anything, holds thru all temps, and can possible be removed if need be in the future.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 04:35 PM
What year and model car, what part exactly? Take a good picture of the part and post it, different plastics require different adhesives or bonding agents
Posted By: tscuda
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 04:51 PM
3M makes a glue for abs plastic.
Posted By: ECS
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 04:57 PM
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Apply it on both sides of the broken plastic parts and gently press the two pieces together. It will literally melt the parts together and be as strong as if they had never been damaged.
Apply it on both sides of the broken plastic parts and gently press the two pieces together. It will literally melt the parts together and be as strong as if they had never been damaged.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 05:01 PM
Dave's right............If it's ABS, we still don't have a positive ID on what's being repaired here.
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 05:01 PM
Quote:
What year and model car, what part exactly? Take a good picture of the part and post it, different plastics require different adhesives or bonding agents
Exactly, there are MANY different types of plastic. Polyethylene is one of the most difficult (like windshield washer bottle plastic),
Styrene (like car models) is easy, ABS will only respond to certain chemicals.
Totally depends on the plastic involved.
Posted By: Devil
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 05:25 PM
I used PC-7. It made it rock hard the repair, and was easily sandable.
Ryan
Ryan
Posted By: Stanton
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 08:02 PM
Chances are that if its a dash piece its either ABS or PVC - not polyethylene. Either ABS or PVC can have parts attached using crazy glue and baking soda. Glue the pieces with crazy glue (you don't have to wait for them to set). Put a small bit of baking soda around the break then add crazy glue so that it soaks into the powder. The powder should turn from white to almost clear if the glue soaks in properly. Keep this up till you're happy with the buildup. It can be drilled, tapped, sanded, painted etc. and will yeild a virtually indestuctable joint. The baking soda actually reacts with the crazy glue so you may see a bit of smoke.
You can get ABS or PVC cement in the plumbing section of any hardware store but the above method will outperform either.
If something doesn't "harden" its not a glue, silcone is a sealant - not a glue
You can get ABS or PVC cement in the plumbing section of any hardware store but the above method will outperform either.
If something doesn't "harden" its not a glue, silcone is a sealant - not a glue
Posted By: 71vert340
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 10:29 PM
Sorry I forgot to mention the part . The plastic piece below the heater controls on a Challenger dash. It's the lower dash piece and the other side covers the lower dash below the radio. I also found a crack in an inside front winshield pillar piece. Thanks for the responses. This is for a daily driver or I'd buy new pieces.
Terry
Terry
Posted By: DirectSubjection
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 10:58 PM
My bad - I wasn't thinking crack repair, I was thinking something like an emblem had come loose and needed to be secured back up in place. 
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/14/08 11:21 PM
That is ABS then. Daves fix with MEK should work but be careful and practice on a junk part first, it can also destroy the part. ABS can typically be glued with an adhesive that is made for styrene (which is the "S" componant of ABS). Home Depot has a nice selection of epoxy products that should do the job.
Posted By: sbhpcb
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 01:46 AM
I have been looking at PLASTEX You can actually make missing parts? Check it out plastex.com I think.
Posted By: larry4406
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 10:53 AM
slightly off topic, but can someone put together a list of the various plastic items and their materials used on the e-bodies and the recommeded glue/repair technique of each? This could then be archived.
Posted By: 68CoronetRT
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 01:41 PM
Quote:
That is ABS then. Daves fix with MEK should work but be careful and practice on a junk part first, it can also destroy the part. ABS can typically be glued with an adhesive that is made for styrene (which is the "S" componant of ABS). Home Depot has a nice selection of epoxy products that should do the job.
Is there an easy and quick way to tell what type of plastic you are looking at or do you have to learn this by experience?
Posted By: CJK440
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 02:17 PM
Quote:Quote:
That is ABS then. Daves fix with MEK should work but be careful and practice on a junk part first, it can also destroy the part. ABS can typically be glued with an adhesive that is made for styrene (which is the "S" componant of ABS). Home Depot has a nice selection of epoxy products that should do the job.
Is there an easy and quick way to tell what type of plastic you are looking at or do you have to learn this by experience?
Theres generaly 2 kinds on our cars. ABS and Polypropylene. ABS is more brittle and "harder" than PP. Cluster bezels, grilles and most dash parts are ABS. Chances are, if you are trying to fix a crack in it, its ABS. The best way to fix it is using a solvent type "glue" to soften the ABS and let it weld itself together. It also works best for clean breaks that nest together tightly.
Polypro is used on ebody door panels and kick panels. Its very durable and seems a little gummy or waxy compared to ABS. its also very chemical resistant hense the reason its difficult to repair and paint.
Posted By: Stanton
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 05:11 PM
Actually most parts will be ABS or Polyethylene. Regardless, the above comment is correct regarding gluing.
ABS is rigid and prone to cracking or breaking if bent, etc. ABS molds very well and so is used on decorative pieces that require a fine finish. It will accept vacuum plating and can easily be painted.
Polyethylene is much more flexible and durable. Subsequently its used for things like scuff plates or kick panels. It too can be repaired using the proper adhesives. It will take paint with a light scuffing but paint won't bite or adhere like it does to ABS.
ABS is rigid and prone to cracking or breaking if bent, etc. ABS molds very well and so is used on decorative pieces that require a fine finish. It will accept vacuum plating and can easily be painted.
Polyethylene is much more flexible and durable. Subsequently its used for things like scuff plates or kick panels. It too can be repaired using the proper adhesives. It will take paint with a light scuffing but paint won't bite or adhere like it does to ABS.
Posted By: 68CoronetRT
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 06:35 PM
Thanks.
The reason I ask is because the plastic handle on my turn signal lever is cracked in two. I need to get it repaired if possible and from what you're saying it will be ABS. Should I try the MEK method on it? The break is clean and fits together nicely.
The reason I ask is because the plastic handle on my turn signal lever is cracked in two. I need to get it repaired if possible and from what you're saying it will be ABS. Should I try the MEK method on it? The break is clean and fits together nicely.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 06:36 PM
I'll bet your TS handle is niether Polypropylene or ABS, it's more likely either Nylon or Butyrate. If you have one you can spare a burn test could be used to figure it out.
Posted By: 68CoronetRT
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/15/08 09:53 PM
No spares. Mine was fine until I was moving some stuff around on the shelf and it fell. 
Posted By: ahy
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/16/08 01:35 AM
Agree the specially formulated epoxies for plastic can work well.
Another option for dash parts is plastic welding. I had several cracked Challenger dash trim parts and sent them to "Mr G" in Texas. He welded them up and restored correct grain where necessary. Good repair and durable so far (about 2 years).
Another option for dash parts is plastic welding. I had several cracked Challenger dash trim parts and sent them to "Mr G" in Texas. He welded them up and restored correct grain where necessary. Good repair and durable so far (about 2 years).
Posted By: 300by500
Re: Plastic Parts Glu - 12/16/08 04:17 AM
Here's a link to a thread I did a while back on a plastic dash fix, some other members had some good ideas, also.
Barracuda Plastic Dash Repair/Modification
If it's plastic, it's fixable...just takes patience. Good Luck!
Barracuda Plastic Dash Repair/Modification
If it's plastic, it's fixable...just takes patience. Good Luck!