This 2005 Stratos bass boat dash panel has several cracks and holes in it.
This dash panel is made of ABS, a very brittle, rigid plastic.
Being exposed to outdoor elements, like UV rays, over time can make rigid plastics even more brittle.
In this video, we will demonstrate how to repair cracks and holes in ABS plastic
using Polyvance's 2503 black PlastiFix repair kit.
To get started, clean the plastic with plastic cleaner or soap and water.
Next, align the cracks and apply aluminum tape on the front to hold the cracks together.
On the back side, grind a v-groove about halfway deep into the plastic,
making sure the v-groove is centered along the crack.
If the crack extends to the edge of the part, make sure to v-groove along the edge,
about an inch on each side of the crack.
This edge v-groove provides extra reinforcement for the repair.
When grinding around a hole, bevel the edges of the plastic all the way around the hole.
Next, prepare the PlastiFix.
Fill the cup with the black PlastiFix powder, and fill the dropper bottle with the liquid.
Attach the dropper needle to the bottle.
We'll be using the dropper method to fill these cracks and holes.
Squeeze a few drops of liquid into the powder.
This will make a small ball in the powder.
Use the tip of the needle to stab the ball.
Hold the ball slightly above the v-groove,
and squeeze the dropper to release the ball of powder into the v-groove.
Apply enough material to fill the v-groove.
Once all the liquid has evaporated, fill any gaps or imperfections with more PlastiFix,
making sure the v-groove is completely filled.
When finished with the repair on the back side,
wait about thirty to forty-five minutes for the PlastiFix to cure completely.
Once the PlastiFix has cured, remove the aluminum tape from the front side,
being careful not to stress the repair areas.
Use plastic cleaner to remove any adhesive residue.
Using a pointed carbide grinding burr, v-groove halfway through the plastic.
Again, fill the grooves with PlastiFix using the dropper method.
Once all the liquid has evaporated, fill any gaps or imperfections with more PlastiFix.
Once all the v-grooves are completely filled, allow the PlastiFix to cure for about thirty to forty-five minutes.
Use a Roloc disc on an angled grinder and 80 grit on a DA sander to sand the repairs flat.
Sand around the repair areas with 180 grit sandpaper to eliminate any shine.
Apply Plastic Magic to the raw plastic areas to prepare the part for primer.
Allow the adhesion promoter to cure for 15 minutes.
Apply one to two fine coats of primer, allowing the primer to flash between coats.
Once the primer is dry, hand sand with 400 grit sandpaper,
being careful not to sand all of the primer off.
Blow or wipe the part off to get rid of any sanding dust.
Mix and apply filler over the repair areas.
Here, we're using Polyvance's 1047 Putty Flex.
If wiping in tight contoured areas, sometimes it works best to mix small amounts of Putty Flex
and wipe multiple times.
Allow the filler to cure for the recommended amount of time.
Once the filler has cured, begin sanding using 180 grit sandpaper
and finish sanding using 320 grit sandpaper.
If any raw plastic is exposed after sanding the filler, apply a thin coat of Plastic Magic.
Once the Plastic Magic has cured, apply two to three coats of primer,
allowing the primer to flash between coats.
It may be necessary to block-sand and re-prime the repair areas to achieve desired appearance.
Rigid plastics, like ABS and polycarbonate, are often found on motorcycles, boats, and vehicle interior panels.
Sometimes replacement parts are expensive or difficult to find,
and in some cases, they may not be available at all.
Polyvance's PlastiFix rigid plastic repair kit
is an easy-to-use, effective way to repair these types of brittle plastics.
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