COMPLEMENTS OF

THE BOOK O F P L A S T I C R E PA I R

A comprehensive guide to identifying, repairing

and refinishing virtually any plastic.

10 t h Ed i t i o n
Copyright 2016 © Polyvance All Rights Reserved
table of contents
Page 2 www.polyvance.com

Every step of the way, Polyvance has what you need!

Born as Urethane Supply Company in 1981, Polyvance has been at the forefront of automotive plastic repair technology ever since. We
introduced the industry’s first and most popular airless plastic welder back in 1983. Since then, our list of plastic repair innovations have
continued to grow. In 1999, we developed Uni-Weld FiberFlex; a universal rod that eliminates the need to identify plastic while being very
strong with its fiber reinforcement. In 2000, we introduced the PlastiFix Rigid Plastic Repair Kit, a revolutionary method for repairing rigid
plastics like ABS and polycarbonate. In 2002 we introduced the revolutionary line of Bumper and Cladding Coat paint and in 2006 we
introduced the world to welding plastic with nitrogen gas, a quantum leap in plastic repair. Through our continual quest to innovate, we have
created products to make plastic repair easier, stronger and more profitable for the user, year after year!

Plastic ID Reference Chart.......................................... 3 Nitrogen Welding - crack repair .......................... 10-11

Unidentified Plastic ID Flow Chart ............................. 4 Nitrogen Welding - bumper slot repair ............... 12-13
Preparing the Repair Area .......................................... 4 Nitrogen Welding - living hinges and tabs ......... 13-14
Thermoplastic Fusion Weld Repair ........................... 5 Two-Part Adhesive Repair ........................................ 15
Uni-Weld FiberFlex Repair .......................................... 6 PlastiFix Rigid Plastic Repair ................................... 16
Thermoset Urethane Repair ....................................... 7 Texturing Plastic ........................................................ 17
Repairing Broken Tabs and Torn Bolt Holes ............ 8 Applying Epoxy Filler ................................................ 17
Padded Dash Repair.................................................... 8 Priming and Top Coating ..................................... 18-20
Nitrogen Welding - overview ...................................... 9 Additional Repair Resources ................................... 20
Welding Rod Part Number Chart ............................... 9

plastic repair quick reference chart

Repair Method
AW-1, N2-1 AW-2 AW-3 AD-1 PF-1
Page 5 Page 11-14 Page 6 Page 7 Page 15 Page 16

Identify ABS, HDPE*, LDPE*, PP, TPO, TEO, Thermoset SMC, UP, FRP, ABS, Acrylic,
1 Plastic
Page 3
PA-6 (nylon), PBT, PC,
PP, PVC, TEO, TPE, TPO
TPE, PE, or
other
Polyurethane Fiberglass,
Metton
SMC, Fiber-
glass, PC blend

2 Clean
Page 4
Clean part with soap & water and plastic cleaner

Thermoplastic Uni-Weld Thermoset Two-Part PlastiFix Rigid

Airless Welding FiberFlex Urethane Weld Adhesive Plastic Repair
Repair Step

Kit

Repair
3 Page 5 - 13

Nitrogen Welding

4 Fill
Page 12
Grind, then apply filler that matches the hardness of the substrate

5 Prime
Page 13 -16
Prime

6 Paint
Page 16
Apply Top Coat *

* Polyethylenes cannot be painted without special preparation. Go to www.polyvance.com for complete instructions.
 identify plastic & determine repair method
800.633.3047 Page 3

Identify the type of plastic by looking for the plastic ID symbol on the backside of the part. Match the symbol on the part with the table
below. The recommended repair method is listed first. See the next page for tips when the identification symbol or abbreviation is missing.

Recycling Symbol Description/ Typical Suggested Repair

Symbol & Type How to Identify Applications Repair Method Tips
PUR, RIM, RRIM Usually flexible, may be Flexible bumper covers (esp. on Method AW-3 w/ urethane Don’t melt base material!
Thermoset Polyure- yellow or gray, bubbles & domestics,) filler panels, rocker (R01) rod or method AW-2 Melt rod into v-groove like
thane smokes when attempting panel covers, snowmobile cowls. with Uni-Weld FiberFlex a hot melt glue.
to melt.
Thermoset

SMC, UP, FRP Rigid, polyester matrix Rigid body panels, fenders, Method AD-1 Two-part adhe- Use backing plate over
Fiberglass reinforced with glass hoods, deck lids, header panels, sive repair with fiberglass holes, layer in fiberglass
fibers, sands finely. spoilers. reinforcement cloth for extra strength.
DCPD, Metton ® Rigid material, no fibers, Large truck and tractor panels Method AD-1 w/ 2510 Use backing plate over
gray in color. and hoods. PlastiFix two-part methacry- holes, layer in fiberglass
late adhesive cloth for extra strength.
XPE, XLPE, PE-Xb, Semi-flexible, waxy or Gas tanks, kayaks, canoes, trash Method AW-3 with Applying filler or painting
PEX, Crosslinked greasy feel, softens when cans, use is declining polyethylene (R04) rod, use is difficult or impossible.
Polyethylene heated but does not melt. as hot melt adhesive Browns when heated
ABS Rigid, often white but may Instrument panels, grilles, trim Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ ABS PlastiFix is an optimal
Acrylonitrile Butadi- be molded in any color, moldings, consoles, armrest sup- (R03 series) rod or methods repair method. Weld
ene Styrene sands finely. ports, street bike fairings, canoes, PF-1 or AD-1 repairs may be backed with
aircraft wing tips and interiors. epoxy for extra strength.
PBT Polybutylene Semi-rigid or rigid, sands Automotive panels, electrical con- Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Crystalline type plastic. Has
terephthalate finely. nectors, under-hood parts slivers cut from scrap low coefficient of friction.
(polyester) Use heavy pressure and
reinforce with 2045 mesh.
PA, PA-6 Semi-rigid or rigid, sands Radiator tanks, head lamp bezels, Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ Preheat plastic with heat
Polyamide (Nylon) finely. exterior trim parts, mirrors, plastic nylon (R06 series) rod gun before welding, mix
engine parts. completely with base mat’l.
PC + ABS Rigid, sands finely, usu- Door skins (Saturn), instrument Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ PC Preheat plastic with heat
Pulse (Polycarbon- ally dark in color. panels, street bike fairings. (R07 series) rod or methods gun before welding.
ate & ABS) PF-1 or AD-1
PC + PBT Very rigid, sands finely, Bumper covers (84-95 Ford Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ PC Preheat plastic with heat
Xenoy (Polycarbon- usually dark in color. Taurus, Aerostar, some M-B and (R07 series) rod or methods gun before welding.
ate blend) Hyundai). PF-1 or AD-1
HDPE Semi-flexible, melts & Overflow tanks, inner fender Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Applying filler or painting is
Thermoplastic

Polyethylene smears when grinding, panels, ATV fenders, RV water high density polyethylene impossible.
usually semi-translucent, storage tanks, gas tanks, kayaks (R12 series) rod
waxy or greasy feel. canoes, playground equipment
PE/LDPE Semi-flexible, melts & Overflow tanks, inner fender Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Applying filler or painting is
Polyethylene smears when grinding, panels, ATV fenders, RV water polyethylene (R04 series) rod impossible.
usually semi-translucent, storage tanks, gas tanks, kayaks,
waxy or greasy feel. canoes, trash cans
PP Semi-flexible, melts & Bumper covers (usually blended Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ Use 1060FP Filler Prep
Polypropylene smears when grinding, w/ EPDM), inner fenders, radiator (R02 series) or method AW-2 before applying two-part
waxy or greasy feel, usu- shrouds, gas tanks, battery cases, with (R10 series) Uni-Weld epoxy filler.
ally a bit stiffer than PEs. pallets FiberFlex
PPE, PPE+PS Semi-rigid, sands finely, Fenders, exterior trim, rear hatch Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Preheat plastic with heat
Polyphenylene usually off-white or black panels. slivers cut from scrap AD-1 gun before welding.
Ether in color. or PF-1
PPO+PA, PPE+PA Semi-rigid, sands finely, Fenders (Saturn & GM), exterior Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Preheat plastic with heat
Noryl GTX usually off-white in color. trim. GTX (R15 series) rod or gun before welding.
(Nylon blend) nylon (R06 series) rod
PVC Rigid, sands finely. Usu- Pipe, siding, window frames, Method AW-1 or N2-1 with
Polyvinyl chloride ally white or gray but can decking, gutters, speed bumps PVC (R09 series) welding
be made any color rod or AD-1 or PF-1
TPE Semi-flexible, usually Bumper covers, filler panels, Method AW-2 with (R10 Use 1060FP Filler Prep
Thermoplastic black or gray, melts & underhood parts. series) Uni-Weld FiberFlex before applying two-part
Elastomer smears when grinding. epoxy filler.
TPO, TEO, PP/ Semi-flexible, usually Bumper covers, air dams, grilles, Method AW-1 or N2-1 w/ PP Use 1060FP Filler Prep
EPDM, TSOP black or gray, melts & interior parts, instrument panels, (R02 series) rod or TPO (R05 before applying two-part
Thermoplastic smears when grinding. snowmobile cowls. series) rod or method AW-2 epoxy filler.
Olefin w/(R10 series) FiberFlex rod.
TPU, TPUR Flexible, sands finely. Bumper covers, soft filler panels, Method AW-3 w/ (R01 series)
Thermoplastic gravel deflectors, rocker panel rod or method AW-2 with
Polyurethane covers. (R10 series) FiberFlex rod
PETE, PET Flexible, strong Soda bottles, various yarn fibers, Method AW-1 or N2-1 with Can’t make as strong as
Polyethylene headliners, fuse boxes, door PET (R13 series) rod original part; manufactured
Terephthalate panels in crisscrossed layers and
can’t be duplicated
identify plastic & determine repair method
Page 4 www.polyvance.com

If you can’t find the Plastic ID Symbol... Identification Process

for Bumpers

Identification Process Note: welder Note: welder

must be very Is the plastic
for Plastics in General extremely rigid? must be very
hot to per- No
hot to per-
form this test form this test
effectively. Is the effectively.
Yes
Is the part very No backside of the
rigid with lots of part yellow?
glass fibers in the No
broken area? Xenoy (PC/PBT).
Does it smoke a lot, bubble, or Repair using Method
brown when you try to melt it and Does it bubble
Yes AW-1 or N2-1 with
generally not behaving as you would and smoke when
Polycarbonate (R07
expect plastic to melt? you try to melt it
Probably series) Rod.
Yes then remain tacky or
SMC. Repair using
gummy when cool?
Method AD-1 with No
2020 or 2510 rigid Yes
adhesive
Judging from the feel and Yes No
Flexible or Rigid? appearance of the plastic,
Flexible test weld** with one that
Rigid matches best. Polyurethane.
Repair using Probably TPO, TEO,
Probably Very Rigid - R07 or TPE. Repair using
No Method AW-3 with
Polyurethane. Repair Thermoset Rigid Rigid - R03, R06, R13, Method AW-2 with Uni-Weld
using Method AW-3 Plastic, like Metton. R14, R15 Urethane (R01
series) Rod. FiberFlex or Method AW-1
with Urethane (R01 Repair using Method Semi-Rigid - R02, R04, R05 or N2-1 with (R02 series)
series) Rod. If waxy AD-1 with 2020 or Flexible - R04 If Rigid, repair with
Method PF-1 PlastiFix polypropylene rod.
feeling, may also be 2510 rigid adhesive
Crosslinked Polyeth- or Method PF-1 Do any of these rods stick Rigid Plastic Repair
ylene. Repair using PlastiFix Rigid Plastic well? System. More than 95% of late model
Method AW-3 with Repair System If Semi-Rigid, probably bumper covers are made from
PE (R04 series) rod TPO, TEO, or TPE one of three materials. The
Yes Repair using Method approximate breakdown is:
AW-2 with Uni-Weld TPO, TEO, PP ...95%
Repair with FiberFlex or Method AW-1 PUR...................3%
**To perform a test weld, clean and sand a small or N2-1 with (R02 series)
area on the backside of the part. Make a small selected welding rod Xenoy ................1%
using Method AW-1 or polypropylene rod. Other .................1%
spot weld on the surface. After the weld cools, try
to pick it off with your fingernail or a screwdriver. N2-1.
The one that sticks best is the one to use. NOTE: SEE PAGE 9 FOR WELDING ROD
PART NUMBERING CHART

preparing plastic for all repairs

Clean Surface
In order to maximize strength any repair, thoroughly clean contaminants from the surface in the damaged area.
Step 1. Clean both sides with 1020 Scuff Magic soap and water. Dry with a clean cloth or compressed air.
Step 2. Spray 1000 Super Clean or 1001-4 EcoClean Plastic Cleaner onto the surface and wipe off while wet with
a clean, lint-free cloth. Wipe in one direction to avoid spreading contaminants back over the clean area.

Align Damage, Remove Dents and Deformation

If the plastic is distorted, heat with a heat gun and reshape the distorted area. When heating plastic, it is important that the
plastic be heated all the way through. Hold the heat gun on the area until the opposite side of the plastic is uncomfortable
to the touch. Once heated, force the plastic back into position with a screwdriver handle or other blunt tool, then cool the
area with a damp cloth. Stretched areas can be shrunk with the bumper cold. Keep working until smooth, then sand overall
with 80 grit to help identify remaining low spots. Push out remaining low spots and repeat the process.
Thermoset polyurethanes (PUR, RIM) have a “memory” that will often cause them to go back to their original position if
held under a heat lamp or in a heated spray booth.
If the part is cut or torn to the edge, align the cosmetic surface with 6481 or 6485 aluminum body tape and begin the repair
process on the back. By aligning the outer surface, you minimize the amount of filler required to restore the proper profile
to the part.
 Repair Method AW-1: fusion welding
800.633.3047 Page 5

Repairing Thermoplastics with Fusion Welding

Excluding urethane bumpers, all bumpers, and nearly all other plastics on automobiles and
nearly everything else made of plastic, are made of thermoplastic materials. This means they
can be melted with the application of heat. Thermoplastic parts are made by melting pellets of
plastic and injecting the melted material into a mold, where it cools and solidifies. This means that
thermoplastic parts can be melted.
The most common thermoplastic automobile bumper material is TPO. TPO is fast becoming the
most popular material for all sorts of interior and underhood plastics as well. TPOs can be welded
using the fusion technique described on this page, but our FiberFlex rod often makes an easier
and stronger repair on TPO (see Repair Method AW-2, Page 6). The strongest way to repair any
thermoplastic is with our nitrogen welding process (see Repair Method N2-1, Pages 9 - 14). Thermoplastic
The third most common bumper material, Xenoy, is best repaired using the following thermoplastic
fusion technique.

V-Groove Damaged Area

• Line up the outer surface of the tear with 6481 or 6485 Aluminum Body Tape or
with clamps.

• V-groove halfway through the part with either the 6121-T Teardrop Cutter Bit and
a rotary tool or the sharp edge of the plastic welding tip.

• Remove the paint in the area surrounding the v-groove and radius into the
v-groove with coarse sandpaper.

Melt the Rod Together with the Base Material

• Set the temperature setting of your airless plastic welder to the setting that’s
appropriate for the welding rod you selected in the identification process. In
most cases, the welding rod should melt cleanly and not be discolored (the only
exception would be nylon, where the rod should turn a light brown).

• Lay the welder tip on the surface of the plastic and slowly melt the rod into the
v-groove. Pull the welder toward you so you can see the welding rod fill the
v-groove as you make your pass.

• Lay down no more than 2 inches of welding rod into the v-groove at a time.
Remove the rod from the welder tip, and before the melted rod has time to cool
down, go back over it with the hot welder tip and thoroughly melt the rod together
with the base material. It helps to press into the plastic with the edge of the
welder tip to mix the materials, then go back and smooth it out. Keep the heat on
it until you have a good mix between the rod and base.

V-Groove and Weld Opposite Side

• After the weld on the backside cools, repeat the v-grooving and welding process
on the opposite side.

Grind Weld to a Smooth Contour

• If you need to refinish the plastic, grind weld to a smooth contour with coarse
sandpaper. Grind the weld slightly flush so that filler can cover the welded area
completely. Follow instructions for filler application. (Page 17)
Repair Method AW-2: FiberFlex
Page 6 www.polyvance.com

Repairing with Uni-Weld FiberFlex Universal Rod

Uni-Weld FiberFlex is a unique repair material in that it sticks to any plastic substrate. It is not a true welding rod, but rather a ther-
moplastic or hot-melt adhesive. When you do a repair with the FiberFlex, you will actually be using the heat of the welder to apply
an adhesive. FiberFlex has a very strong bond and is reinforced with carbon and glass fibers for outstanding strength.
FiberFlex is a popular way to repair TPOs (aka TEO, PP/EPDM, TSOP), the most common automotive bumper material. The
reason is that there are no two TPOs that are exactly alike. As a result, our TPO (R05 series) welding rod will not match any TPO
exactly.
The FiberFlex can also be used to repair virtually any plastic. It will stick to urethanes and Xenoy also. When you are not sure
what type of plastic you are repairing, try the FiberFlex.

V-Groove Damaged Area

• Line up the outer surface of the tear with 6481 or 6485 Aluminum Body Tape or
with clamps.
• Grind away plastic into the shape of a broad V-groove halfway through the
backside of the part using a die grinder with the 6122 heavy duty round burr,
6125 heavy duty tapered burr or the 6134-R round cutter bit. You’ll want the
v-groove to be about 1-1/2 inches wide when you get done.
• It is very important to put some “tooth” in the plastic by grinding the v-groove
with 50 grit or coarser sandpaper. Use a low speed grinder. Grinding at high
speed will tend to melt many thermoplastics.
• Using 80 grit in a DA sander, feather back the paint in the area around the
v-groove and radius smoothly into the v-groove. This will give you a better
featheredge when you get ready to sand the FiberFlex.

Melt on the FiberFlex

• With the airless welder set to the highest temperature setting, use the 6031
Teardrop Welding Tip to melt the (R10-04) FiberFlex welding rod onto the sur-
face. Best adhesion is achieved by pre-melting one side of the end of the rod,
then flipping the rod over so that the melted portion sticks to the plastic. Cut
the melted part of the ribbon off using the edge of the welder tip and spread the
FiberFlex into the v-groove. Do not attempt to melt the base material together
with the FiberFlex. Repairing with Fiber-Flex is similar to a brazing process.
• You may also apply the 3/16” dia. round FiberFlex Round Rod (R10-02) with
the 6030 Speed Welding Tip for faster application.

V-Groove and Weld Opposite Side

• After the FiberFlex on the backside cools (you may force cool with water),
repeat the v-grooving and welding process on the opposite side. Build the Fiber-
Flex slightly higher than the surface. FiberFlex is also a sandable filler.

Finish Sand
• After allowing the FiberFlex to cool completely, sand with 80 grit paper in a DA
sander at low speed. Progress to finer grits, ending with 320 grit.
• Fill any low spots with more FiberFlex or with a skim coat of 2000 Flex Filler 2
or 2020 SMC Hardset epoxy filler.
 Repair Method AW-3: thermoset urethane
800.633.3047 Page 7

Repairing Thermoset Urethanes

Automotive urethane, or PUR, is a “thermoset” material. Similar to what happens when mixing body
filler and cream hardener, thermoset plastic is formed when two liquid chemicals come together in the
mold to form a solid. The importance of this is that if polyurethane is “melted” the plastic decomposes
and prevents adhesion of repair materials. DO NOT TRY TO MELT URETHANE BUMPERS WITH
THE WELDER!
A positive way to identify urethane bumpers is to press a HOT welding tip into the backside of the
bumper. If it’s a urethane, the plastic will liquefy, bubble and smoke. (note: welder must be extremely
hot for this to happen). After the heated area cools off, it will remain gummy or tacky. This is an
indication that the heat broke down the chemicals in the plastic. Thermoset urethanes can be easily
repaired with the airless plastic welder, but the repair will be more like brazing rather than a true Thermoset
fusion weld.
V-Groove Damaged Area
• Line up the outer surface of the tear with 6481 or 6485 Aluminum Body Tape or with
clamps.
• V-groove halfway through the back side of the part with the 6121-T teardrop cutter bit
or the 6125 tapered burr. You cannot use a hot tool to melt the v-groove into urethane
because it will decompose.
• Sand the v-groove with coarse sandpaper (80 grit or coarser) to put “tooth” into the
plastic. Also, remove the paint in the area surrounding the v-groove and radius the
edges of the v-groove for extra strength.

Melt the Rod into the V-Groove

• Turn the temperature setting of your airless plastic welder to the “clear” or “R01” rod
position. Using the (R01 series) Polyurethane welding rod, the rod should come out
of the bottom of the welder’s shoe completely melted and clear, not discolored or bub-
bling. Turn your welder up or down as needed, until you get this result.
• Holding the welder’s tip slightly off the surface of the plastic, melt the rod into the
v-groove. Don’t overheat the base material, simply melt the rod onto the surface. Again,
you are NOT trying to melt the rod and the bumper together; the bumper material is
NOT meltable!
• Lay down no more than 2 inches of welding rod into the v-groove at a time. Remove the
rod from the welder tip, and before the melted rod has time to cool down, go back over
it with the hot welder tip and smooth out the well. You can touch the bumper with the
welding tip, but keep the tip moving so you don’t overheat the base material.

V-Groove and Weld Opposite Side

• After the weld on the back side cools, repeat the V-groove and welding process on the
cosmetic side. V-groove deep enough to penetrate the welding rod on the back side.

Grind Weld to a Smooth Contour

• Using coarse sandpaper, grind the weld to a smooth contour. The urethane welding
rod will not feather very well, so it will need to be covered with 2000 Flex-Filler 2 epoxy
filler to refinish completely. Grind the weld slightly below flush so that filler can cover the
welded area completely. Follow instructions for filler application. (Page 17)

Repairing Torn Bolt Holes on Urethanes

• Taper the plastic all around the hole down to a point on both sides using a Roloc disc.
• Use 6481 or 6485 Aluminum Body Tape to create a bridge across the torn mounting
hole. Melt (R01 series) urethane welding rod into the area. Drill out hole when finished.
repairing broken tabs & torn bolt holes
Page 8 www.polyvance.com

• Repairing Flexible Tabs on TEO Plastics

Many TEO bumpers have mounting tabs that have to flex during installation. These can be repaired
very durably with the mesh and FiberFlex. First, rough grind the area with a coarse sandpaper disc.
Cut 2045W Stainless Steel Wire Mesh to size to fit in the corner areas on both sides of the tab. Using
the hot welder tip, bury the mesh directly into the plastic. After you’ve melted the mesh into the plastic,
scuff the melted plastic with coarse sandpaper to remove the gloss.
Melt on a thin layer of FiberFlex over the mesh just to cover. In this repair, the mesh provides the
strength and flexibility while the FiberFlex just gives a cosmetic covering.

• Repairing Torn Tabs

Rough grind the area surrounding the crack with a coarse Roloc disc.
Cut 2045W Stainless Steel Wire Mesh to size to fit in the corner areas. Using the hot welder tip, bury
the mesh directly into the plastic. (This won’t work on urethane parts since they don’t melt. See Page 7).
After you’ve melted the mesh into the plastic, scuff the melted plastic with coarse sandpaper to remove
the gloss.
Melt either the FiberFlex or the matching standard plastic rod over the mesh. If using the standard rod,
keep the heat on the plastic to make sure the rod melts thoroughly with the base material. Keep adding
more rod to make a bigger fillet and increase strength.

• Repairing Torn Bolt Holes in TPO with FiberFlex

3
1 2
Taper both side of plastic to a point with a Melt 2045W Stainless Steel Reinforcing Allow FiberFlex to cool completely. Open
coarse sandpaper disc. Grind and taper Mesh into the plastic across the gap if the hole with a die grinder or drill bit, then
around the edges of the entire bolt hole. desired for extra strength. This step is often sand with 80 grit in a DA at low speed to
Taper back about 1 inch on all sides. not necessary because FiberFlex is blended finish the repair.
Remove paint and radius into taper with 80 with glass fibers for strength.
grit in a DA. Apply FiberFlex to area using the instruc-
Apply 6481 Aluminum Tape across the gap tions on Page 6. After cooling, remove
to support the melted rod while it’s hot. aluminum tape and repeat on opposite side.

• Padded Dash Repair

Clean the damaged area with 1000 Super Clean or 1001-4 EcoClean Plastic Cleaner. Bevel the edges
of the area to be welded with a drum sander on an electric die grinder and open up a cavity at least 1/4”
deep in the foam backing and vinyl cover. Sand and bevel the vinyl cover around the cavity to allow for
featheredging of filler.

Using the (R01 series) Urethane Welding Rod, start your weld at the bottom of the cavity using your Air-
less Plastic Welder. Fill the cavity up with melted plastic and spread it out so that it overlaps the edges
of the vinyl cover about 1/4”.

After allowing the weld area to cool, grind the weld area smooth with a drum sander. Rough up the
surrounding area to improve adhesion of the filler. Mix 2050-9 Padded Dash Filler and apply with plastic
stic
squeegee. Cover an area larger than the weld in order to feather out the repair to a smooth contour.

Allow the filler to cure at least 15 minutes, then sand to a smooth contour. Finish sand with 220 grit
paper. Retexture the panel with 3803 Flextex VT texture material according to directions on Page 17.
Do not try to spot retexture. Retexture and blend the leading edge or most visible area of the pad all the
way across. If there is a noticeable difference in texture, retexture the entire pad.
 repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / overview
800.633.3047 Page 9

Basic nitrogen welding process

Welding with nitrogen involves the coordination of both hands, one controlling the torch and the other feeding the rod. When
you weld, you just want to melt the bottom surface of the rod and the top of the bumper. You don’t “puddle” the rod like you do
in metal welding. This makes for a stronger repair because it leaves the basic structure of the rod intact. When you’re making
your weld, make sure you melt both the bumper and the rod at the same time and fuse them together with the downward
pressure on the rod. Remember the four important factors for plastic welding: “T.F.P.A.S.”, an acronym for Temperature,
Flow, Pressure, Angle, and Speed.

• For temperature, set the temperature on the nitrogen welder’s

dial to the proper setting. For example, the PP/TPO setting will Temperature
generate an air flow of about 700°-800°F.
700°- 1000°F
• The flow should be set between 8 to 15 liters per minute de-
pending on the plastic’s thickness; less for thinner plastics, more Flow
for thicker. 8 - 15 L/min
• An angle of 45° between the torch and the bumper is optimum.
Aim the stream of hot air a little in front of the rod; for thick rod
like the 06 profile, focus a little more heat on the rod.
Pressure
• Put as much downward pressure on the rod as possible to
help the rod fuse with the bumper. Keep a steady downward pres- Angle = 45° = 1 - 2 lb
sure on the rod and keep the rod moving slowly. Don’t overheat
the rod and let it fold over backwards.
• The speed of your weld should be about 4 to 6 inches per
minute. With thin rod like the 03 profile, it’s difficult to go this slow. Speed = 4 - 6 in/min
With thick rod like the 06 profile, it may go even slower. The im-
portant thing is to move steadily while keeping proper downward
pressure on the rod while making sure the bumper and the bot-
tom surface of the rod are both melted before they come together.

Welding Rod Part Numbering System

R02 01 03 BK

Material Rod Profile§ Package Size/Qty Color

R01 Urethane
01 1/8" 01 5 ft. BK Black
R02 Polypropylene
R03 ABS 02 3/16" 03 30 ft. BL Blue
R04 Polyethylene 7/16" 04 1 lb. GN Green
03 x 1/16"
R05 TPO GY Gray
04 3/8" x 05 Small spool
R06 Nylon 1/16" NT Natural*
R07 Polycarbonate 5/8" x 08 Bulk*
05 1/16" OR Orange
R09 PVC
06 1/2" x RD Red
R10 Fiberflex 3/32"

R12 HDPE 13/64" TN Tan

07 x 1/16"
R13 PET 1/4" x
YL Yellow
R14 ASA 08 1/4"
WH White
R15 GTX
§
Not all rod profiles are * Sold by the pound.
available in all plastic types (10 lb min.) * No pigment added.
repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / crack repair
Page 10 www.polyvance.com

Repairing a cracked bumper

Let’s assume you have a PP/TPO bumper torn to the edge. This section will take you through the whole process—cleaning, prepping, and
welding. This describes the basic repair technique that can be adapted to other speciality repairs on tabs and mounting holes.

• Clean the bumper before you grind it. Before you touch the bumper with sandpaper or a die grinder, make sure it’s
clean first. First, clean the entire bumper by washing with 1020 Scuff Magic soap using a red scuff pad to spread the soap and scuff
the plastic. This will put small sanding scratches into the bumper to help further improve adhesion. Rinse the soap off and allow
the bumper to dry. Once dry, clean the bumper with Urethane Supply 1000 Super Clean plastic cleaner or 1001 EcoClean This will
remove all solvent-soluble contaminants like silicone, wax, mold release agents, etc. Spray on in a heavy, wet coat, let it sit on the
surface for a few seconds, then wipe dry with a clean paper towel before it evaporates. Don’t just soak a rag and wipe it around—
that only moves the contamination around on the surface and does not remove it.

• Align the Outer (Cosmetic) surface. Often the plastic

has been stretched or distorted in the damaged area. Before you
weld, get the crack aligned as closely as possible. If the plastic is
dented or stretched, heat with a heat gun and push the plastic back
into position referring to detailed instructions on Page 4. Once the
plastic pieces are lined up, use Urethane Supply’s 6481-1 or 6485
aluminium tape on the outer (cosmetic) surface. It’s best to line
up the outer surface to minimize the need for filler and weld the
Fro
nt
backside of the crack first.
sid
e

• Prep the backside of the crack. Grind the back side

with 50 to 80 grit sandpaper to roughen the surface and remove
any paint overspray. Grind the surface flat if it doesn’t need to be
smooth on the back. Grind a v-groove if the surface needs to be flat
when finished. Grind at a slow speed; if you go too fast the friction
heat will melt and smear the plastic. You want to put a good, rough
sandscratch in the plastic, not melt it.

Bac
k sid
e • Weld the backside of the crack. For maximum strength,
use the R02-05 wide ribbon on the backside. This wide ribbon
spreads the load over a large area for maximum strength. To do the
weld, start by preheating the end of the welding rod and the bumper
at the end of the crack. The plastic will start to turn glossy. At this
point, push the end of the ribbon rod down into the plastic and bend
it toward the welder. Make your pass by melting the bottom surface
of the rod and the top surface of the bumper simultaneously, forcing
the melted plastics together with steady downward pressure on
the welding rod. The proper welding pace is 4” to 6” per minute. It
is most important to melt both the rod and the bumper at the same
time.

side See our plastic repair training videos at

Back www.youtube.com/polyvance
repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / crack repair
800.633.3047 Page 11

• Weld a “Tee”. Upon completing the weld down the crack,

it is advisable to make another cross stitch weld at the end of
the crack along the edge to reinforce the repair. Use the R02-04
ribbon for the edge reinforcement. Because the orignal extruded
structure of the ribbon is not disrupted in the welding process,
trying to tear the bumper is like trying to tear the rod in two. As
long as the rod is welded solidly to the bumper, this will provide a
lot of extra strength.

• Prep the front side for welding. After the backside weld
is cool, peel the aluminum tape off the front side. Using a 6121-T
or 6125 cutter bit in a rotary tool, grind out a v-groove down the
crack in the plastic about 1/16” to 3/32” deep. The width of the
v-groove should match the kind of rod you want to use on the
front side. Most of the time the R01-01 1/8” diameter round rod
is the best choice because it is easier to finish being a narrow
rod. In this case, grind the v-groove about 1/8” wide. For stressed
areas or anywhere you want some extra strength, you may
choose to use a ribbon on the frontside. In that case, grind the
v-groove a little wider than the width of the ribbon. Sand off the
paint immediately adjacent to the v-groove with 80 grit in a DA
sander.
Fr
on
ts
id
e

• Weld the front side of the crack. Using your selected

welding rod or ribbon, perform the weld in the prepared v-groove
the same way you did on the back side. Refer to the basic
nitrogen welding process on Page 9 for complete info.

• Finishing the weld. Once the weld is completely cool, sand

with 50-80 grit paper in a grinder or DA. Be careful not to sand
too fast; this will just melt and smear the plastic. It’s best to use
a sharp, new piece of paper and slow the sander down a bit to
keep the plastic from melting. Sometimes the repair may be
finished out and feathered with the welding rod, but most often
you’re going to need some filler to fill in the low spots. Refer to
Page 17 in this book for more information on how to apply filler
on plastic parts.
Fr
on
ts
id
e Inquire about our I-CAR ® Indus-
try Training Alliance ® Course on
Nitrogen Plastic Welding. Hands-
on training in your shop!
repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / slot repair
Page 12 www.polyvance.com

Welding a broken bumper slot

Because of the strength provided by the nitrogen welding system, you can make strong repairs even when you don’t have a lot of surface area
to weld to. A perfect example is the slots on the edge of the bumper where the bumper snaps into the quarter panel, like on a Honda bumper.
These often seem to break out when the bumper is removed. There’s not enough surface area to make a good repair with either a two-part
system or with the FiberFlex. Here’s how you fix a torn-out bumper slot.

• V-groove or taper the edges. Depending on the

design of the flange, you can use the -01 profile round rod
or the -07 profile narrow ribbon. The round rod needs to be
used on bumpers where the flange is contoured around the
slots. For straight flanges, like the one shown here, you can
use the -07 ribbon since it doesn’t have to curve. In either
case, use a 6121-T or 6125 die grinder bit to grind a channel
into the bumper at least 1/2” long on both sides of the
broken slot. Taper the plastic down almost to a point at the
broken-out area. Remove any paint in the immediate area
with sandpaper

• Apply tape to support rod during weld. Use the

6481-1 or 6485 aluminum body tape underneath the hole to
support the melted plastic welding rod. You can also clamp
a strip of sheet metal or wood along the edge if that works
better.

• Weld across the gap. Use the R02-01 1/8” diameter

polypropylene welding rod. Starting on one side, preheat
the bumper and the end of the welding rod at the start of
the prepared v-groove. When both plastics are preheated,
1/8” dia. PP Rod
touch the end of the rod down to the bumper and apply
downward pressure to fold the rod toward the torch. When
you get to the gap, continue heating the rod just as if you
were melting to the bumper. Continue at the same pace,
spanning across the gap and picking up the process on the
other side. Continue welding until you reach the end of the
prepared v-groove, at which point focus the hot nitrogen on
the rod and twist the rod to break it.

See our plastic repair training videos at

www.youtube.com/polyvance
 repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / living hinge
800.633.3047 Page 13

• Heat until rod turns clear then compress with a

hand seamer. If you’re using our white polypropylene rod,
you can see that it turns clear when it gets to the proper melting
temperature. Heat up the ribbon you just laid down with the
nitrogen welder until it all turns clear. (If you’re using the black
rod, heat it until it all turns glossy black). Immediately use the
6145 hand seamer to gently press the melted ribbon down into the
plastic. This also aligns the repaired section with the rest of the
bumper. If necessary, weld another pass to build up the plastic’s
thickness.

• Restore slot dimensions. Let the weld cool and remove

the tape or metal support. Restore the original slot dimensions
using either a rotary tool with a 6120 or 6123 straight burr, an
airless plastic welder, or a utility knife. This is easier to do when
using the white rod as you can see the underlying plastic’s original
profile.

• Weld opposite side. For maximum strength, repeat the

welding process on the opposite side. Usually the tape or metal
support is not needed, but it can make the process easier. After
welding, press the repaired area flat and straight again using the
hand seamer.

• Restore slot dimensions and finish repair. After

letting the weld cool, restore the final dimensions of the slot and
bumper edge using a rotary tool, airless welder, or knife. Finish
sand the outer surface with 180 then 320 grit paper to prepare it
for paint.

Recreating a tab with a “living hinge”

Many times you’ll see bumpers that have a flexible tab, usually at the bottom of the bumper. These tabs have a “living hinge”, which is a thin
line in the plastic where it naturally wants to flex. These living hinges are very weak and are easy to tear. You can’t repair it at the hinge line
because it won’t be flexible there anymore. To do this, you need to recreate the tab using our polypropylene sheet using the following method.

• Trace out the tab in the polypropylene sheet. If you have the old
tab, lay it down on the 5010 polypropylene sheet and trace the edges and any
holes with a marker. Put a dotted line where the hinge line is supposed to be.
Then create a notch back into the bumper about 1/2” deep and extend the tab
about 1/2” on each side of the tab. Cut the tab out of the PP sheet with a jigsaw,
and drill out the mounting hole.
continued on next page...

Inquire about our I-CAR ® Indus-

try Training Alliance ® Course on
Nitrogen Plastic Welding. Hands-
on training in your shop!
repair method N2-1: nitrogen welding / living hinge
Page 14 www.polyvance.com

• Create hinge line. To create the hinge line, put the tab in a vise and fold it
back and forth several times along the dotted line you drew on the tab. Take it out
of the vise, then fold it over double a few times to make it more limber. This is flex-
ible and much stronger than the original bumper’s hinge. If there’s a hook or fold in
the tab, you can create it by folding it in the vise one time.

• Notch back the bumper. Place the new tab in position on the bumper and
mark the cut line on the bumper with a black marker. Cut out the notch with a
jigsaw.

• Prep the bumper by removing paint and applying sanding scratches the
bumper on the backside.

• Tape the tab in position using 6481-1 or 6485 aluminum tape on the outer
surface.

• Weld the backside of the tab using the R02-04 or R02-05 profile PP rod.
Start by focusing the stream of hot nitrogen about 1/2” beyond the tab until the
bumper turns glossy. Stab the rod down and start making your pass using the
same technique as described earlier.

• Prep the outer surface by grinding a shallow v-groove about 3/8” wide along
the seam. Feather back paint and put down some sand scratches with 80 grit in a
DA. Blow dust free.

• Weld the front side of the bumper with the R02-04 profile PP rod. Lay
one strip down along the long seam, then weld each end and wrap the welding rod
around the edge. If you have an airless welder, you can melt and burnish every-
thing down and make it easier to sand flush.

• Let cool and finish the repair by sanding smooth with 80 grit in a DA.
Use filler if necessary to fill out any low spots, then sand with 180 and 320 grit to
prepare for primer.
 repair method AD-1: adhesive repair
800.633.3047 Page 15

Repairing Plastics with Two-Part Adhesives

• Clean both sides of the plastic in the damaged area with 1000
Super Clean or 1001-4 EcoClean plastic cleaner. Fixture the front
side with clamps or aluminum tape to hold the part together while
the adhesive on the backside cures.

Ba
ck
• Sand the backside of the area to be repaired with 50 grit sand

si d
e
paper or coarser. A v-groove is not required unless you need
to sand the backside flat for cosmetic reasons. Remove paint in
the surrounding area with 80 grit in a DA. Heavy grooving of the
plastic is desirable to maximize the mechanical strength of the
bond. Blow dust free with clean, dry compressed air.

• If the material is TEO, TPO or PP, apply 1060FP Filler Prep or

1050 Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter. Brush or spray onto the
sanded area and allow to flash off.
Ba
ck

• Choose a two-part adhesive system to match the hardness of the

sid
e

substrate per the table:

Adhesive Substrate

2000 Flex Filler flexible substrates, polyurethane, soft TPO

Spread adhesive, 2020 SMC Hardset Filler rigid substrates, semi-rigid TPO, SMC, fiberglass
then reinforce
2510 PlastiFix two-part rigid substrates, Metton ®, SMC, fiberglass, metals
with...

• Select a reinforcing method for the backside of the part. For

flat areas, it is often easiest to cut a backing plate out of scrap
material. For contoured areas, use fiberglass cloth or drywall tape.

• Prepare reinforcement by cutting 1 to 3 pieces of glass cloth to

cover the damaged area about 2”-4” wide. If using a backing
plate, make sure it extends at least 2” beyond damage in all
directions. Rough grind the side of the backing plate that will be
a) fiberglass cloth b) backing plate applied to the surface.

• Mix the two-part adhesive according to package directions.

Spread a generous amount on the backside with a body spreader.
If using a backing plate, press the plate firmly into the adhesive,
allowing a small amount of adhesive to squeeze out from the
edges. If using fiberglass cloth, lay the cloth into the adhesive
and wet the fibers using a 2042-R saturation roller. Apply more
adhesive over the area and embed another layer of fiberglass
cloth if desired.
Fro
nt
sid
• Once the adhesive on the backside is cured, peel the aluminum
e tape off the front and grind a v-groove about 1”-2” wide with a die
grinder and/or a coarse sanding disc. Sandscratch the inside of
the v-groove coarsely. Round off any sharp edges and feather the
paint back with 80 grit in a DA.

• If the material is TEO, TPO, or PP, apply adhesion promoter as

was done on the backside.

Fr • Mix the two-part adhesive and apply into the v-groove with a body
spreader. Slightly overfill the v-groove so that it can be sanded
flush when finished.

• When the adhesive on the front side is fully cured, sand with 80
grit in a DA sander, then progress to finer grits to finish.
repair method PF-1: PlastiFix repair
Page 16 www.polyvance.com

Repairing Plastics with PlastiFix® Rigid Plastic Repair Kit

The PlastiFix® Rigid Plastic Repair Kit is a revolutionary plastic repair system that allows you to repair cracks, fill gaps, rebuild tabs,
and fix stripped threads. The most unique feature of the PlastiFix® Rigid Plastic Repair Kit is the FlexMold flexible molding bar. The
FlexMold bar allows you to replace a broken tab by forming a mold from an undamaged piece, then casting your new part using the
PlastiFix acrylic adhesive system. This system is ideal for ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate and other hard plastics, however it does not
work on olefinic plastics like PE, PP, or TEO. See our PlastiFix training videos at www.youtube.com/polyvance.

Kit Components: Getting Ready

Dispense powder into cup. Use pipet to dispense liquid into Insert dropper tip into bottle and
the dropper bottle. place applicator needle onto
dropper tip.
Application

Squeeze one drop of liquid into Pick up liquid/powder mix with tip Squeeze bottle to apply liquid/
powder. of needle. powder mix to repair area.

FlexMold Molding Bar Use

Place FlexMold bar in very hot Shape FlexMold bar over pat- When FlexMold bar cools, posi- Fill mold with PlastiFix powder/
water until it softens. tern. Caution! Very hot! tion in repair area. liquid mix, allow to cure 30 min.,
remove mold.

Reinforcing

Cut fiberglass cloth to cover Cover fiberglass cloth with thin Saturate powder with PlastiFix Cover with plastic sheet, press to
damage on backside. layer of PlastiFix powder. liquid. shape, allow to cure.

Repairing Threads

Drill or file threads from hole. Apply lubricant to screw threads. Apply PlastiFix powder/liquid While adhesive is wet, insert
mixture to screw threads. into hole.
 retexturing plastic
800.633.3047 Page 17

Textures Shown Actual Size

HEAVY MEDIUM FINE

Texturing Reference: Use a test panel for determining the textured desired. Paint
with no reducer and low air pressure at the gun will produce the coarsest texture. For finer
textures, reduce the paint with lacquer thinner up to 100%.
Using 3803 Flextex VT Heavy Texture: Spray Flextex VT straight from the can using a 1.8 mm spray gun
and low air pressure.
Flextex VT is a tough, durable variable texture material Medium Texture: Reduce Flextex VT by adding thinner 25% by volume and spray
with a 1.4 mm gun using moderate air pressure.
formulated to simulate textured automotive plastics and metal.
It can be used over or under most finishes and may be top- Fine Texture: Reduce Flextex VT by adding thinner 50% by volume and spray using
a 1.4 mm gun and a higher air pressure.
coated with Bumper and Cladding Coat paint, base/clear or
Smooth Texture: Reduce Flextex VT by adding thinner 100% by volume and spray
single stage systems. Flextex VT has excellent durability and at the optimal air pressure for the gun used to produce a smooth finish.
may be used as the finish coat where black texture is needed.

a. Clean surface to be textured with 1020 Scuff Magic Prep Soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry with a clean cloth or
towel.
b. Spray on a heavy wet coat of 1000 Super Clean Plastic Cleaner or 1001-4 EcoClean over a 1 - 2 square foot area. Wipe dry with
a clean cloth.
c. Sand surface with 180-240 grit sand paper to remove gloss. Blow dust free with clean, dry air.
d. For repairs on textured TPO plastics, it is difficult to blend the Flextex with the original texture due to the “fuzz” generated when
TPO is sanded. It is often best to sand the entire textured area and apply two coats of 3043 waterborne primer over the area to
fill the texture and bury the fuzz first, then respray the entire area with Flextex. To do so, apply one medium coat of 1050 or 1051
Plastic Magic adhesion promoter. Allow to dry. Apply 2-3 coats of 3043 All Seasons waterborne primer surfacer, sanding with 320
grit between coats. Once the TPO fuzz is buried, you may apply the Flextex according the the following steps.
e. Choose your desired texture using the “texturing reference” box above. Using the suggested gun setup, build texture by applying
3 to 5 light coats of Flextex allowing for flash time between coats. Reduce fluid flow at gun for light coats. Once you achieve your
desired texture, let dry 30 minutes if light coats are applied or 2 to 3 hours for heavier applications before topcoating. Flextex VT
can be topcoated at any time after the minimum dry time.
f. After Flextex VT has completely dried, (if desired) topcoat with a light coat of 3700-series Bumper and Cladding Color Coat
followed by one or two more wet coats. If another type of topcoat is needed, use a lacquer compatible top coat system.

applying epoxy filler

a. Grind area to be filled with coarse sandpaper. Slightly v-groove away from the damaged area. All gloss on the surface should be
removed to maximize filler adhesion.

b. If the material is a polyolefin (PP, TEO, or TPO), apply 1060FP Filler Prep or 1050 Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter.

c. Choose a two-part epoxy filler system to match the hardness of the substrate. Use 2020 Hardset Filler for rigid plastics, like
SMC, fiberglass, ABS and others. For flexible plastics like urethane, PP, TEO, and TPO use 2000 Flex Filler.

d. On a mixing board, mix equal parts of epoxy filler until a uniform gray color with no streaks is obtained. Apply with a body
spreader. Build up slightly higher than the surface to allow for sanding. Sandable in 30 minutes, but for best featheredging
results, allow the epoxy to cure completely before sanding. Complete cure requires 24 hours at room temperature or two hours at
130°F. Allow epoxy to gel before applying heat and to cool completely before sanding. Contour and smooth the surface with 80
and 180 grit paper. Finish sand and apply a high build primer surfacer such as our 3041 or 3043 All Seasons Waterborne Primer
Surfacer.
 priming plastics: primer / sealer selection & use
Page 18 www.polyvance.com
Types of Bumpers

New Replacement Bumpers Repaired Bumpers

RAW TPO Bumpers OEM Primed Bumpers RAW PUR Bumpers OEM Painted Bumpers
Identify Bumper

Toyota, Nissan, Kia and Subaru Domestic bumpers (GM, Ford, May be PUR if Toyota or Lexus High Gloss. Color matches body
are usually raw, unprimed Chrysler) usually have OEM with light gray color. All yellow color. Base material different
TPO. ID symbol is PP, PP/ primer. Color is usually black plastic bumpers are PUR. ID color than top coat.
EPDM, TSOP, TPO, TEO, or with high sheen and uniform symbol is PUR. When lightly
TPE. Usually black with dull appearance. Occasionally sanded with 400 grit sandpaper
finish, sometimes non-uniform gray. Sanding the surface lightly will produce virtually no dust.
in appearance, may have tacky with 400 grit sandpaper will
mold release agent on surface. produce fine dust. The color or
When sanded lightly with 400 grit appearance of the painted side is
sandpaper, virtually no dust is different or if overspray is visible
produced. on the inside of the bumper.
NOTE: Sometimes the inside is 3043 Black Jack ALL SEASONS
primed also. Waterborne Primer Surfacer
3041 E-Z Sand ALL SEASONS
3611, 3612, 3601, or 3602 3050, 3051, or 3052 3050, 3051, or 3052 Light Gray Waterborne Primer
Bumper & Cladding Coat ALL SEASONS Waterborne ALL SEASONS Waterborne Surfacer
Adhesion Primer Sealer Sealer
Product Selection
Surface Preparation

Clean entire surface to be Clean with 1000 Super Clean Clean entire surface to be Clean Bumper with 1020 Scuff
primed with 1000 Super Clean or or 1001-4 Clean plastic cleaner. primed with 1000 Super Clean Magic Prep Soap and a gray
1001-4 EcoClean plastic cleaner. Scuff entire bumper with 1020 or 1001-4 Clean plastic cleaner. scuff pad.
Spray heavy, wet coat over a Scuff Magic Prep Soap and a Spray heavy, wet coat over a
1 to 2 square foot area, wipe red scuff pad. 1 to 2 square foot area, wipe Allow to Dry.
dry with a clean cloth, exposing dry with a clean cloth, exposing
clean surface to plastic with each Rinse with clean water. clean surface to plastic with each Clean entire surface to be primed
wipe. wipe. with 1000 Super Clean or 1001-4
Allow to Dry. Clean plastic cleaner. Spray
Repeat until the entire surface Repeat until the entire surface heavy, wet coat over a 1 to 2
has been cleaned. has been cleaned. square foot area, wipe dry with a
clean cloth, exposing the clean
NOTE: Scuff or sanding is not Clean Bumper with 1020 Scuff face of the cloth to the plastic
required! Magic Prep Soap and a gray with each wipe. Repeat until the
scuff pad. entire surface has been cleaned.

Allow to Dry. Sand overall with 320 grit sand

paper. Blow dust free. Remove
remaining dust with a tack cloth.

continued on next page...

 priming plastics: primer / sealer selection & use
800.633.3047 Page 19

New Replacement Bumpers Repaired Bumpers

RAW TPO Bumpers OEM Primed Bumpers RAW PUR Bumpers OEM Painted Bumpers
Paint Preparation

Shake or stir Bumper and Stir ALL SEASONS Waterborne Stir ALL SEASONS Waterborne Stir waterborne primers, do
Cladding Coat. Pour appropri- Sealer, do not shake. Mix Sealer, do not shake. Mix not shake. If desired, ALL
ate amount into gun to meet the appropriate shade of ALL the appropriate shade of SEASONS primers may be
job requirements. SEASONS Waterborne Sealer ALL SEASONS Waterborne thinned with water up to 5%
using the 3050, 3051, and 3052 Sealer using the 3050, 3051, by volume to optimize spray
toners. If using the optional and 3052 toners. If using the viscosity. If using the optional
catalyst, catalyze only the optional catalyst, catalyze only catalyst, catalyze only the
amount of sealer needed for the amount of sealer needed amount of sealer needed for
immediate use. Once catalyzed, for immediate use. Once immediate use. Once catalyzed,
pot life is about 8 hours. catalyzed, pot life is about 8 pot life is about 8 hours.
hours.
Catalyst Mix Ratio

Bumper & Cladding Coat does If desired, mix 3104 catalyst If desired, mix 3104 catalyst If desired, mix 3104 catalyst
not use a catalyst. with ALL SEASONS Waterborne with ALL SEASONS Waterborne with ALL SEASONS Waterborne
Sealer 4% to 6% by weight. Sealer 4% to 6% by weight. primers 4% to 6% by weight.
For example, if you are using For example, if you are using For example, if you are using
100 grams of sealer add 4 to 6 100 grams of sealer add 4 to 6 100 grams of sealer add 4 to 6
grams of 3104 catalyst. If no grams of 3104 catalyst. If no grams of 3104 catalyst. If no
scale is available, then mix 4 to scale is available, then mix 4 scale is available, then mix 4
6 teaspoons of catalyst per pint to 6 teaspoons of catalyst per to 6 teaspoons of catalyst per
of ALL SEASONS SEALER. Mix pint of ALL SEASONS. Mix pint of ALL SEASONS. Mix
thoroughly. Do not shake. Use thoroughly. Do not shake. Use thoroughly. Do not shake. Use
as soon as possible. If thinning as soon as possible. If thinning as soon as possible. If thinning
is required, up to 5% by volume is required, up to 5% by volume is required, up to 5% by volume
of water may be added to of water may be added to of water may be added to
optimize viscosity. optimize viscosity. optimize viscosity.
Paint Gun

Base coat gun with a 0.8 Base coat gun with a 1.3 mm Base coat gun with a 1.3 mm to Base coat gun with a 1.3 mm
mm to 1.3 mm nozzle. to 1.5 mm nozzle. 1.5 mm nozzle. to 1.5 mm nozzle for smoother
finish or a primer gun with a
1.8 mm to 2.0 mm nozzle for
high build.
Application

Apply one light coat. Immedi- Apply one medium coat. If Apply one medium coat. If Apply one medium coat. If
ately apply second light coat if needed, apply second coat to needed, apply second coat to additional coats are needed,
needed to hide thin areas. If hide thin areas. Allow sealer hide thin areas. Allow sealer allow primer to flash off before
second full coat is desired, allow to flash off between coats. to flash off between coats. applying additional coats, sand
Bumper and Cladding Coat to Flash time varies depending Flash time varies depending between coats Flash time varies
flash off before applying second on temperature and humidity. on temperature and humidity. depending on temperature and
full coat. Flash time varies Flash time is usually between Flash time is usually between humidity. Flash time is usually
depending on temperature and 10 and 30 minutes. 10 and 30 minutes. between 10 and 30 minutes.
humidity. Flash time is usually
between 5 and 10 minutes.
Dry Time

Allow at least 60 minutes dry time Allow to dry completely at room Allow to dry completely at room Allow at least 30 minutes dry
at room temperature or 15 minutes temperature or allow to flash off temperature or allow to flash off time at room temperature or
at 130°F. Dry time will vary then force dry at 180°F for 20 then force dry at 180°F for 20 15 minutes at 120°F before
depending on temperature and minutes or 30 minutes at 120°F. minutes or 30 minutes at 120°F. dry sanding. ALL SEASONS
humidity. Bumper and Cladding Dry time will vary depending on Dry time will vary depending on primers may be wet or dry sanded
Coat must be completely dry temperature and humidity. ALL temperature and humidity. ALL after 6 hours dry time at room
before topcoating. Any unused SEASONS Waterborne Sealer SEASONS Waterborne Sealer temperature or after 60 minutes
paint may be returned to the can must be completely dry before must be completely dry before at 120°F. Dry time will vary
for future use. topcoating. The crosslinking topcoating. The crosslinking depending on temperature and
process takes six hours at process takes six hours at humidity. ALL SEASONS priimers
room temperature or one hour room temperature or one hour must be completely dry before
at 120°F. Because drying and at 120°F. Because drying and topcoating. The crosslinking
crosslinking are independent crosslinking are independent process takes six hours at room
processes, ALL SEASONS processes, ALL SEASONS temperature or one hour at 120°F.
Waterborne Sealer may be Waterborne Sealer may be Because drying and crosslinking
topcoated before crosslinking topcoated before crosslinking are independent processes,
is complete as long as it is is complete as long as it is primer may be topcoated before
completely dry. completely dry. crosslinking is complete as long
as it is completely dry.

continued on next page...

priming plastics: primer / sealer selection & use
Page
Page 20 20 www.polyvance.com
Continued from previous page.
New Replacement Bumpers Repaired Bumpers
Top Coat

RAW TPO Bumpers OEM Primed Bumpers RAW PUR Bumpers OEM Painted Bumpers
No sanding required before No sanding required before No sanding required before Finish sand with 400 to 600 grit
applying topcoat. Although applying the topcoat. If applying the topcoat. If sand paper. Apply any sealer,
sanding Bumper and Cladding required, surface may be lightly required, surface may be lightly Base/Clear or single stage
Coat Adhesion Primer is not scuffed or sanded to achieve scuffed or sanded to achieve topcoat system according to
recommended, trapped debris desired smoothness. If sanded, desired smoothness. If sanded, the manufacturer’s instructions.
may be removed with very light blow or wipe dust off surface blow or wipe dust off surface
sanding using 600 grit paper. before applying topcoat. Apply before applying topcoat. Apply
Apply any approved Base/ any Base/Clear or single stage any Base/Clear or single stage
Clear system according to the topcoat system according to topcoat system according to
manufacturer’s instructions. the manufacturer’s instructions. the manufacturer’s instructions.
Topcoating window does not Topcoating window does Topcoating window does
close. Bumper and Cladding not close. ALL SEASONS not close. ALL SEASONS
Coat Adhesion Primer may be Waterborne Sealer may be Waterborne Sealer may be
topcoated at any time once topcoated at any time once topcoated at any time once
fully dry. fully dry. fully dry.

more information about plastic repair

Website - If you’ve got an internet connection, you’re a keystroke away from a wealth of information about plastic
repair on our website. We have tons of instructional videos, the latest edition of The Book of Automotive Plastic Repair,
MSDS’s, and many other resources.

YouTube - Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notifications every time we upload a new instructional video. Go to
www.youtube.com/urethanesupply

DVD - This fast-paced, professionally-produced 50 minute DVD on plastic repair is the best in the industry. Train your
whole crew in less than an hour and start making profits with plastic repair!

Book - “How to Repair Plastic Bodywork” is the world’s most comprehensive publication printed related to plastic repair.
Owning this book will not only teach you how to perform virtually any plastic repair, but it also explains why. You’ll find this
to be a truly valuable addition to your library.

Technical Support - Free technical support from our friendly staff is available at our toll free number. We’ll be
happy to help you identify a type of plastic, the best repair procedure, or help you to solve any problem you might be
having with plastic repair. Give us a call, we will help!

Social Media - Sign up on one or all of our social media accounts for the latest product information and repair tips!
Our “friends” get the latest information first!

Technical Support & Ordering

Information: 800-633-3047
1128 Kirk Rd.
Rainsville, AL 35986-6028 USA
phone: 256-638-4103
fax: 256-638-8490
www.polyvance.com
The Book 2016.indd REV 2016-02