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Blasting Plastic Panels?

Bruzilla

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I was watching Graveyard Carz, and they had some plastic kick panels with the age-old issue of chalkiness and peeling these things get over time. They put them in a blasting booth and hit them with walnut shells. Apparently that takes off the oxidized plastic but not enough to lose the graining.

Not a bad idea.
 
Walnut shells, the magic media.
Did they "dye" them afterwards.
I like that because I figure it protects the plastic from the evil ozone UV demons.:eek::rolleyes:


Just bought my wife one of these vintage pens for our anniversary.
Classic.

http://www.parker75.addr.com/Reference/Cisele/Crosshatch_grid.htm

The early versions, however, had the lines filled with black enamel so that the grid was accentuated. The process of placing the enamel was actually quite simple. The pen was simply coated with this material. To remove the excess enamel off the sterling silver, the pens was placed in a washing machine-like device with a drum containing a rotating agitator; it was filled with chips of walnut shells. The action of the chips rubbing against the pens caps and barrels would remove the excess material but, being larger than the line widths, the chips could not touch the enamel within the lines. The process was completed with polishing the pen.
 
I saw that episode and I don't believe they did anything more than clean them after the blasting. The walnut shell treatment is extremely effective in maintaining the original look and texture of those interior panels. I hit mine with SEM trim black after the walnut shells on my E-body and they look like new.
 
Always do the fingernail test in an area that will not be seen.....Viable kick panels are hard to find and the repops are junk....

Careful with NOS one as well.....I is all how they were stored through the years...
 
Walnut shells, the magic media.
Did they "dye" them afterwards.
I like that because I figure it protects the plastic from the evil ozone UV demons.:eek::rolleyes:


Just bought my wife one of these vintage pens for our anniversary.
Classic.

http://www.parker75.addr.com/Reference/Cisele/Crosshatch_grid.htm

The early versions, however, had the lines filled with black enamel so that the grid was accentuated. The process of placing the enamel was actually quite simple. The pen was simply coated with this material. To remove the excess enamel off the sterling silver, the pens was placed in a washing machine-like device with a drum containing a rotating agitator; it was filled with chips of walnut shells. The action of the chips rubbing against the pens caps and barrels would remove the excess material but, being larger than the line widths, the chips could not touch the enamel within the lines. The process was completed with polishing the pen.
Nice! I have two of those engraved Parkers. Nice feel to the hand.
 
Ehh I tried the walnut media on some 70 e body rear quarter interior panels that were dry chalky and flaking off. The media ruined them by creating small holes in them. I'd make sure they are not pitted prior to attempting the media.
 
I've done it and it does work, the problem is you never get the texture back.
 
I watched that episode and I'm prepping to do that to some fender guards on a 86 Nissan 4X4 sport Truck I am restoring....

IMG_0952.JPG
 
I am working on some rear qtr interior panels for a 70 conv. I have made some repairs and am researching how to remove the paint from them. I was thinking of going with Soda blasting....anyone ever try this instead of walnut shells? :) I have used the shells before but I thinking the soda would be less agressive than the shells?
 
I've soaked plastic dashboard panels in brake fluid. The paint came off, plastic remained unaffected.
 
I think that is the same plastic (ABS). I used some epoxy for repairs so I will need to test that for a reaction but I see that working very well. It worked great as paint remover on my inner fender wall from my master cylinder:thumbsup:
 
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