Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

[Bill Davidson]

If you want to rejuvenate the black look to a piece of plastic can you let it sit in a bath of All Season Dressing for a while. Let's say overnight... a couple days etc.

Do you think it might soften/weaken the composition of the plastic?

I was thinking of bathing the plastic wheel-nut covers. I'm kind of worried that the threads inside my end up turning to mush.

p.s. I know this isn't necessary to do, but if I can do it to these, then perhaps I can do it to other parts in the future.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Not sure just how permeable that material is of if soaking in ASD would compromise the material at all. When my wife still had her '92 Camaro, which had with factory wheels and these plastic lug covers, I just cleaned 'em up with a little APC and spray painted them semi-gloss black.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

I just cleaned 'em up with a little APC and spray painted them semi-gloss black.

Maybe I'll do the same. Even though mine are fairly new, they just don't look "fresh". I think it's the color of the plastic that is used, it's not very "black" looking. I did one with ASD and I'm still not a fan of the look.

Just looking at them, there are a lot of angles and levels to paint. This will require patience and very light coats.

[Tuck91]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Bill,

I would pour some M40 in a cup then throw them in there and let them sit.

ASD may leave a bit too greasy of a finish, so maybe try M40 first.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

I really do not believe it will have much effect. Go ahead and try it out. I really do not believe any harm will come.

[boiler7904]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Just looking at them, there are a lot of angles and levels to paint. This will require patience and very light coats.

I'd be wary of painting them. Paint may chemically degrade the plastic and will definitely wear off when changing / rotating tires and doing brake work. If you do go that route, take a piece of wood and drive 3" screws about an inch into it - one screw per cap. Set the caps on the screws and you won't be worrying about the paint sticking or tearing/peeling when it dries.

When I had those on a 94 Pontiac Grand Prix, I had to buy a few because they were missing and previous owner didn't replace them. I want to say a bag of 12 was 5 or 6 bucks at the dealer. At that price, it's worth it to replace them assuming one of the dressings doesn't work.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Honestly, painting them was a piece of cake. Krylon makes a rattle can product for plastic and it worked beautifully. I just lined up all the little buggers on a length of 2 x 4 sitting atop a pair of saw horses and went at it (I did clean then thoroughly first though) slowly, and with multiple light coats. Primer first, of course. Never did any of them chip, peel or crack.

Now, am I the only one who finds little plastic screw on covers for the lug nuts to be a rather odd thing?

[boiler7904]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

They look better than exposed rusted lug nuts.

[CHzo6]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

They may look a bit odd, but they also help to keep salt and slush off the lug nuts during the winter, and help prevent the lug nuts from rust-welding themselves to the wheels!

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Now, am I the only one who finds little plastic screw on covers for the lug nuts to be a rather odd thing?

I think they are pretty ugly actually, that's why I've been driving around for 2 weeks without putting them back one. My existing lugs are only a bit oxidized. It almost looks better without them, but truly I'd need acorn nuts for a finished look.

+1 for ugly

BTW I tried All Season Dressing and M40. I liked the M40 better, as Tuck mentioned not so greasy. Too difficult to wipe to matte with ASD.

[cnfowler]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

I like the idea of painting them. Its a lot cheaper than replacing and they look great. Here's a set I did on a '98 Camaro. Turned out looking great and made a world of difference.






Colin

[Tuck91]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Thats really good Colin.

Was this one of your clients cars?

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Thanks for the picture Colin, I never realized they could get "that" ugly. They looked brown. I'll definitely keep mine dressed, so they don't get that bad. I'll paint them when they start going... obviously they will. Mine are only 2 years old, but I was convinced they did really look "black".

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Soaking Plastic in All Season Dressing

Great idea Colin. They look great.