Thread: Anyone painted a Rhino?

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I'm doing my first, with basecoat/clearcoat urethane. I'd like to know if anyone has experience, and can tell me if I need flex or adhesion additives?

The plastic is pretty ridgid, but seems like it might be a vinyl.

Done a couple of Giraffes and a Baboon or two, but never a Rhino.



You KNEW somebody had to do this, so I thought I'd get it out of the way.


Don

It had occured to me. :-)~

........of course I mean the Yamaha Rhino.

I'd be tempted to use adhesion promoter just to be safe, after a good, good cleaning and scuff.

I plan on using Dupont 222s, which is pretty aggressive stuff, unless I hear that I definitely need something like "Bulldog" adhesion promotor/crosslinker/flex agent.

What do they do on plastic parts used on cars, like bumpers and air dams? I remember at the body shop our guys used some flex agents, and possibly some adhesion improvers.

What does your paint vendor say?


Don

I just did one recently with PPG Hugger Orange and white Camaro style stripes. I agonized over the same issues. At the suggestion of my local paint supplier, I wet sanded the plastic, shot it with DP epoxy primer, then shot basecoat clearcoat.

It's been almost a year and not one crack or problem. Basic paint seem pretty flexible without flexible substrate additive.

i would say some flex for sure , as for adhesion additives you wont need any . You'll be sticking fine to the painted surface . Do a good scuff and paint prep.

Adhesion promotors are a good idea on new plastic and interior pieces where it will attach to the grain.

I had painted plastic fender flares on my jeep. I dont know who painted them, or what they used. I noticed it was somewhat flexable, but when rock would get stuck in the tire and sling out ... It left stars in the painted flares. I dont know if your rhino will have any reversed exposures like this. I was told that spraying "Rhino Liner" on the under side would have prevented it from starring. I painted a golf cart a few months ago, but it was tin. Wish I could help more ...

Gary

Thanks, everyone for the input. Actually I am mostly concerned about adhesion. I decided to "ere on the side of caution". I've already decided to go with a product that I've used in the past, called "Bulldog". It will be on there today.

The "starring" problem is an old one on street rods, especially for the years when I used lacquer paints. I started undercoating fenders to prevent that. I'm sure Rhinoliner would help in a similar fashion, though urethanes aren't as bad for this.

A local ATV dealer paints them all the time. I can ask them if you still need me to.

Originally Posted by youther

A local ATV dealer paints them all the time. I can ask them if you still need me to.

Please do.

This is being done for a business that is building Rhinos for resale. They are putting me on a tight budget, but it will mean doing many projects for them.

I would like to just use urethane primer or paint, but don't want to risk the job just to save on time and materials.....and thanks!

I called the guy up (I've known him for years) and he said that he used bulldog and used a flex aditive in either the primer or paint. He also said that when he used the bulldog that he didn't even have to sand the plastic. Of course they were putting custom paint jobs on brand new ones that didn't have any scratches on them either. If you have any other questions you can give him a call at 304 425 9111. His name is Rodney Holcomb and just tell him that Robert told you about him. He has quite a bit of talent and has been painting some killer bikes over the years.

Hope this helps.

A big thanks to you, Robert! That is what I was looking for. Someone who had painted them, and had some results to share. I appreciate your effort. Jay

HRP, let me know how the paint comes out on the Rhino....Want to do some paint stuff on my Mule this spring!!! Sure appreciate you doing all the R&D for the rest of us!!!!!!