How to restore automotive plastic with a heat gun

[@WizardOfChicamunga]

I'm 66 and retired now from auto collision repair and customizing cars. And that is the slickest and coolest trick I've seen in years! THANKS!

[@Zeeangelofdeath]

Kelly Medley at least the old man can form a proper sentence. "It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt" Mark Twain

[@davidcaruso9123]

SledgeHammer 👎🏽

[@aaronfidelisrecine]

all this hate because a guy said, "this is really helpful. Thanks."

[@CPMinchew]

This is the worst thing you can do to your plastic. You can easily change the texture and warp the piece. Just try it and you will see what I mean.

[@VerbalGraphiti]

I've been doing regular repair, custom modifications and full on custom fabrication and ground up HP builds for more than twenty years... In my whole life I've never seen what you did with the heat gun! It is truly amazing! It also proves a point I have made for years ---> No matter how talented someone may be; there's always some tip/trick/amazing thing out there to learn! Thank you for sharing this awesome technique.

[@Hellsong89]

I picked up couple tricks from here and there. First is that with ABS you can make slurry/paste from melting ABS with acetone and use that to create new shapes, fill in spots (thin layers at the time as bigger blobs cause voids inside due acetone turning into gas), weld the plastic chemically and smooth it up after sanding.. tough this creates white areas in black plastic. What i'm thinking here is that combined with pattern tool like mesh you could melt the surface, create pattern with your tool and then bring back the natural black color with the heat gun. I need to test this, but i think this is possible to do.

[@caleb11859]

I am a porter and I did this on my mustang first. I had a whole panel that was just awful and this actually worked quite well. It's a tan interior as well. Thank you for this very useful and helpful video.

[@hgpo27]

To those thinking about this, I have done it and it is very difficult to actually do it correct and restore color. Heatguns distribute pretty unevenly, and you can see the spots where the plastic grain has been slightly melted and less defined. get a good vinyl/plastic paint and paint the pieces for the best outcome.

[@Kavie93]

What about for scratches ?

[@jcataldo1988]

This is user error and not an issue with the technique, I use this frequently with no issues. Make sure to use a good quality heat gun and don't overlap too much. You're applying way too much heat if you're melting the grain.

[@changeseeker6102]

A million times better than wrapping. Saves money, retains the original looks. And for maintaining the looks regular waxing and buffing will do the job. Thanks for sharing this idea. Definitely doing this

[@willdatsun]

done this on a steering column, i recommend scrub and jetwash first to remove loose chalky residue , else it will get embedded in the surface when you melt it.

[@snzjavi]

just wanted to thank you for driving a geo tracker! those things look awesome to drive haha.

[@TubeScience]

My guess is that two things could be happening. One, the heat could be causing the plasticizer from the deeper parts to vaporize to some extent, reinhibiting the surface where the plastic has evaporated or decomposed over time due to heat. Second, it could be re-melting the broken-down polymers on the surface as well (to some extent). This breakdown happens primarily due to ultraviolet (UV) decomposition. We don't see this as much in new cars because they have better UV inhibitors in plastics and the windows all provide better UV-filtering (they didn't used to). Still, a very neat way to refinish the material. It should last as long as the plasticizer sticks around, which would be dependent on the amount that rises to the surface. It looks effective though.

[@mrstanskaggs1]

It's the heat more than uv. Remember from basic physics that uv wavelength will not penetrate glass crystalline structure.

[@drmorb]

Ya from physics, who are you Einstein? I assume you've been in a car right? In the daytime? Were you able to see? Did you need to use the visor? Did you know left sided cataracts and skin cancer rates are partially attributed to driving in America? The windshield blocks most UV-A/B because of the laminate. Side windows allow in 50% in some cases.

[@TubeScience]

For those of you asking about clear plastic, the answer is probably not. This is vinyl, which is a polymer. Clear lenses in cars are almost exclusively made from polycarbonate, which is a thermoplastic. This means that if you apply heat to it, it will deform and melt. Polymers are monomers cured with a catalyst, and permanently keep their form. I mean, yeah you can melt it if you go too far, but it may as well burn first. Thermoplastics melt at around 300F.

[@rodkali2863]

where do you find information like that which you know? any books on the topics or you went to school? real question. love working with various materials especially plastics.

[@AP-bo1if]

I have a dashboard and while the front right passenger airbag was replaced it stretched out the polyurethane foam dashboard and now top has 1/2 inch gap between the airbag cover and dashboard. I can push slightly to make it even but it comes right back up, do you think this method with the heat gun can permanently bring back the dashboard polyurethane foam into alignment? can I pull down on the dashboard while heating it - will that do any damage or some other method? thank you

[@mattfrancis9935]

Yes. You can do this with clear materials , like polycarbonate, and plexiglass. They scorch easily though. Be careful.

[@slow96z]

Kallie, this technique won't remove the scratches but it will soften their edges so the light doesn't break on them and make them much less apparent. If that doesn't work well enough you may have to take it to a professional.

[@hoodoogirl2]

Thanks for the answer. I have decided to buy a heat gun after all though I still have some scratches etc in other panels which I would have loved to have got out. I bought the car used and it was nice aside from the scratches which is why I am going to give the heat gun a a shot.

[@bishopp14]

Sweet dude! That's something I never would have tried if I hadn't seen someone else do it first! Thanks!

It works but it's raising the oils from the middle or the bottom of the material which will cause it to deteriorate faster than just normal wear. It looks great but I wouldn't do that on something that wasn't pretty bad to start with. If your looking to replacing the part or try this then by all means go for the heat gun.

[@bigal2012745]

Nice bro! Great video on showing the results of just a few minutes of work. Going to be using this on my restoration project this weekend.

[@JoseMorales-im2yb]

Great video, love Front 242 in the background...

[@bigbang5026]

Hello sir, I will try it, but what temperature you use for it to avoid any damage for hard plastic or rubber?. Tell me please.

[@davidmcleod6167]

I did this to my 2004 Ford truck and it work great... For about 2 months then the new look is gone again. It turned back to the way it was before I heated it.

[@631se]

Learn something new everyday. Awesome trick

[@ktrez2000]

I did this to a black plastic part on the front bumper of my work truck. I cleaned the plastic with detergent and water and rinsed it and let it dry. It was a rather rubbery type of plastic with a very slight grain finish. While it darkened it, it also left a mottled appearance. Maybe with time it will even out. Also did it on parts like the wheel well and air dam. The variations in the color there are not so apparent. I suspect that cleaning the parts well is important.

[@slow96z]

My guess is that you just needed to go over it more and maybe use a little more heat.

[@johnvineyard1509]

It also helps to rub it with automatic transmission fluid while it is warm. The heat is pulling oil back to the surface, adding more oil to the heated surface will make it last much longer

[@AP-bo1if]

you can also put it in lava for a second.

[@mendenos]

I tried this and it does work! I'll have to hit the spot again because the guy who did my tints dropped the xacto knife into the panel. I'm hoping this will melt it back together again the more I work on it.

[@zakiaziz]

How long would this last on the plastics? I'm wondering if this or a proper cleaning + back to black would be a longer lasting solution

[@mlsmurphylawnservice]

This is efn gold... pure 24K gold 🤩

[@tayninh69]

Now that was slick. I'm going to try this out.

[@thweepz]

I used this on my door card and it’s a bit glossy. In direct sun it looks like it lost texture but in lower lights it appears retained. I think it’s just the gloss but I’m curious if it fades a bit

[@alheath317]

Thanks for sharing, so simple and effective... great work

[@prairiecracker214]

Brilliant, huge improvement, I have some parts that this will definitely work on. PS..... your camera work did just about make me fall off of my chair a couple of times,,,lol

[@daviddempsey7309]

Thanks for the tip, anybody that listens to Nitzer Ebb is awesome.

[@edbass2769]

Fantastic. I will be using this on my 91 Capri restoration.

[@NZMOPAR]

I use tyre shine on my parts like that it don't last to long a few weeks but if you keep doing it it will look good for ever . But cool trick

[@crnogor]

Which temp is the best to use ! Some car had a simple plastick , some , vinill over plastic and some , vinil over hard poly surface . Nice result !

[@r.mattcoker4184]

Wow, thanks. What other automotive plastic does this work with? I need to restore a door panel (faded by gasoline spill) and a console discolored by metal rubbing against it. Also there are those outside window corner things that fade.

[@mostwant3dgov]

Whats the song playing in the background?

[@dwayner2518]

never seen this b4, thanks for the tip. JFYI: a good squirt of INOX mx3 does a great job of restoring the gloss in plastic too, I'm thinking with both methods used should make them look almost new again.

[@julietsierra22]

I have a tan interior that has been faded into a really horrible dark brown rust color in spots. It looks super dirty. I wonder if this method would restore it to the original color?

[@jeromemorin4016]

Watchout with this technique. Sometime plastic trim will shrink and bend od wont fit anymore when you install them back. If possible doing it while it is installed will prevent the shrink. Happened to me once.

[@seatrepairs3253]

This works great on dirt bike fenders

[@judy4792]

I need to fix burn Mark's from someone laying smokes on the edge of my cup holder centre console in my 2013 ram truck..ideas?? Need to hurry I've got 2days to repair 4burns please

[@pammvi]

Very nice video indeed. Well done. How does one prevent distortion of the thermoplastic when the heat is applied - I observe the hot air gun is a simple dual stage one, without temperature / airflow control

[@slow96z]

The prevention of distortion is done my keeping the appropriate distance from the substrate.

[@lazurm]

Could this technique work on the plastic lens found in front of the instrument gauges which were fogged due to the use of Armor All?

[@wolfgang4136]

It works! Just did it to some scratches in my car

[@mrstanskaggs1]

Need to seal it though because you are oxidizing the plastic top layer by heating up. Remember the sun cooking it the same way is what caused it to fade (oxidize) in the first place.

[@rieksstevens]

+Stan Skaggs its not the heat of the sun that's doing it , its the Ultraviolet light that's the problem .Fading colour has nothing too do with oxidizing , its the UV light breaking down the colour by destroying chemical bonds within the plastic.

[@bobhaha]

+rieks stevens What should you seal the plastic with after heating it?

[@rieksstevens]

***** nothing , every sealing U use will result in a thin coat over the plastic and will not look great , modern day cars use a coating on top of the plastic but its going to look awful in a few years and will peel of . most coatings aren't resistant to sweaty hands and will turn soft leaving scratches .

[@toobij]

Great video, how many watts do you use? do you use a special temperature?

[@takishabaker7520]

What if you don't have a heat gun? Will a blow dryer work?

[@Ka3Ty]

That's a geo tracker cup holder, does it hold a 30 oz. Yeti cup? or one of those knock offs that are exactly the same? I have an Lsi tracker that did not come with cup holders but willing to search and find one if they'll hold that cup.

[@zdravohello]

Can we use heat gun to restore steering wheel material?

[@steelweels38]

You know if this works on colored plastics too? I’ve got a blue interior in my 68 olds

[@MrFreeze79]

is that rob zombbie in the bankkground ? nice! and great trick, I need to use that on my exterior trim

[@Bluessoulful]

Is this working with weathered door openers on the outside of the car too?

[@benmoate4618]

Can I use this on the back of my side mirrors and also can I use this to straighten my warping dashboard

[@gavincarroll2553]

Go over it with a torch like just quick swipes works faster same results but be carefull

[@elitez3013]

Dose this fix only black plastics or can you do it with really faded gray plastics

[@slow96z]

The parts in the video were really faded dark grey.

[@lizgarmendia864]

my friend tried this and it did remove the scratches but the area turned white (discoloration) how do you fix that?

[@michaelstovall23]

Will it soften can you remold it

[@SonnyGTA]

Instructions not clear....burned down entire house.

[@CarAudioInc]

Burned my toe off reading your comment. I'm calling the police.

[@ndngabe74]

LOL

[@chewchewtrain5504]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

[@death4326]

What temperature do you use for this? Mine starts from as low as 280 to 1080.

[@alitiger5554]

Great video loved it ...Thanks

[@raczyk]

How long will that last though? Can u di that to door trim also.. believe it's vinyl

[@billiumward]

Cool trick mate. Goodonya.!

[@southwestxnorthwest]

Wow, is this permanent? I just bought a heat gun last night, not for this though

[@colincrooky]

An aerosol product called Back To Black does the same thing! But that would cost - no a lot!

[@TheChipmunk2008]

+Colin Crook Back to Black doesn't last well... this does. (that being said, I have done both, because back to black contains silicone waxes that will build up with repeated use)

[@SonnyGTA]

'No a lot'

[@colincrooky]

My son-in-law just confirmed what you said, I have a heat gun but my car doesn't need it yet but I'll remember the benefits. Thank you!

[@queensexpress]

It works, because I just did it.

[@michaelmixon1099]

That is neat! How long does it last?

[@slow96z]

Years.

[@7lifes7]

awesome thanks keep up the good videos.

[@verniejuarez7265]

Can you do this on painted metallic silver

[@laloellatino]

How long does it last?

[@slow96z]

Eduardo Ruiz I did my Jeep panels 2 years ago and they were trash before I did them. They still look like new today.

[@AP-bo1if]

Hi slow96z, I have a dashboard and while the front right passenger airbag was replaced it stretched out the polyurethane foam dashboard and now top has 1/2 inch gap between the airbag cover and dashboard. I can push slightly to make it even but it comes right back up, do you think this method with the heat gun can permanently bring back the dashboard polyurethane foam into alignment? can I pull down on the dashboard while heating it - will that do any damage or some other method? thank you

[@JoitaConstantin]

Andrew P I wouldn’t try to put the heat gun to polyurethane. You can do worst.

[@mmoiez2001]

You are a magician😮

[@dalerojo33]

is it for any plastic color or just black?

[@kevin.afton_]

How much watt your heat gun had?

[@Zombie-adventures]

Bought a former rental car with deep scratches in the plastic from people throwing in their luggage...how to repair??

[@thxmateoli]

Will this work on my 1994 chevy truck dash that came navy blue from the factory?

[@slow96z]

I'd be hesitant to try it on a dash just because of how much sun exposure there is. I'd be afraid that the plastic would be too brittle and would just crumble. That being said, you could try it in an inconspicuous area and see how it does.

[@antonios4926]

Hi looks great but how does it look now

[@slow96z]

I can't speak for the Tracker now, as I sold it, but it looked as good as the day I did it when it drove away. I also did my 1994 Jeep Wrangler door panels at least a year and a half ago and they still look new.

[@TheYakuza56]

Will this fix texture changes on vinyl? I accidentally used the wrong chemical to clean my door panel lol.

[@slow96z]

Don't use this technique on vinyl. It'll melt the vinyl.

[@robertcameronjones]

impressive

[@khalodh]

be careful when you doing it close to carpet... the heat will damage it

[@Antonis_Skondras]

Temp?

[@JeremyBorumComposer]

Many thanks for this!

[@normaprice5577]

do you think this will work on a rubber bumper?

[@slow96z]

I would be willing to bet the bumper is plastic so it should work. Try it On a spot that's not easy to see and if it works there then do the whole thing.

[@kindbud5991]

Is that the hard plastic or soft

[@slow96z]

KIND BUD it’s hard plastic. Soft is vinyl and this would destroy that pretty quickly.

[@kindbud5991]

@@slow96z ok friend thanks

[@millionkilliati6140]

Incredible!

[@CarAudioInc]

Dude.. You're a fucking genius.

[@slow96z]

I'm glad you liked it

[@Byakuya79]

can it help remove build up from my leather seats?

[@slow96z]

Please do not use this on your leather seats. Make a solution of Woolite (I use a 6:1 water to woolite ratio) in a spray bottle and use that with a nail scrub brush to clean the leather. After you spray and scrub wipe the dirty detergent with a microfiber rag. Put some clean water in another spray bottle for rinsing, spray that on after the wipe and wipe the water off with another microfiber. Buff them with a third microfiber and then add a protectant.

[@fatsolutions]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

[@wilderunner09]

would this work with a blow dryer?

[@slow96z]

Hi Sara. I don't think the blow drier will get hot enough.

[@akbuilder7626]

Its like magic!!

[@movie7ns]

industrial/front242 army 4eva

[@ariesuribe]

magic !!

[@13illyxmaze]

I figured this out a year ago and I’m kinda mad people already knew 😩

[@hemo1001]

Awesome. Thanks very much

[@trainscronce6269]

Is this a permanent fix?

[@slow96z]

It should last as long as it did the first time.

[@pd1jdw630]

nice trick for +EricTheCarGuy

[@firstcaptaindutch5686]

how hot does that heat gun get?

[@slow96z]

I'm not sure how hot it gets. Hotter than a hair dryer but make sure it's not so hot it melts the plastic.

[@firstcaptaindutch5686]

did u put anything on prior to the use of the heat gun?

[@slow96z]

No, just clean the part thoroughly.

[@seymore1532]

Why didn't this work for me?

[@raiderman28]

Nice !!!

[@ОлегХ-л5м]

Спасибо !!!

[@larrynewingham1494]

Sweet

[@mariopozou952]

def doing this to my miata. the center console is close to breaking. thanks for the video! ive recently made a video of my miata on my channel. come check it out

[@SteveFloresCoach]

Great tip, but the camera work....well...

[@DFWAuto_Hack]

amazing n beautiful

[@allanhughes7859]

if its in the u.s.a. its good on ya fella if its from the uk its I dont think that will work thats why the yanks are better than us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!