4953mark

is there a way to fix enlarged holes in plastic surround pieces where screws just pass thru the plastic

thanks,

Mark

BrandensBeast

You could use a screw and washer (that's what I did) but there's also a pen out there that melts down plastic and you can use it to repair plastic, I forget what it's called, one of the other forum members told me about it

confab

I use these and a black #8 trim screw.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

4953mark

thanks so much, If someone know the name of the pen that would be helpful, i am trying to keep car original

Hot Rod Roy

Plastic parts are getting old, and plastic gets brittle with age. I've found the best way is to reinforce the damaged area around the screw hole by using a high-strength (slow cure) epoxy with a small piece of aluminum or fiberglass p.c. board material on the bottom of the damaged part. Scuff up the plastic to get rid of the shiney slick surface of the plastic to improve the bond. Clamp the piece gently to restore the original flat exterior surface of the repaired area.

Melted plastic parts will be even weaker than the original plastic, and won't look as nice as the original texture.

jv9999

The Locktite plastic epoxy works great. Even Walmart carries it.

QCVette

I used super glue to position broken pieces in the right spot and then used epoxy (JB Weld) to reinforce the area. So far so good.

VikingTrad3r

thanks for this.

i was wondering if the jb would be too brittle.

also did you sand or apply any acetone ot other cleaner to the plastic trim parts before either or of the superglue or jb weld?

QCVette

I used alcohol to clean.

Acetone can melt many types of plastics. Even if it does not apparently damage the plastic it can make the surface very smooth and reduce adhesion.

I was concerned about too brittle also. I used this method on some of the mounting screw bosses in the dash and for a broken side gill panel next to the battery. Both repairs are holding up ok for about a year now. I was especially concerned with the side gill panel since it was the top mounting tab that was broken and it sees some stress and vibration, but so far so good.

Good luck.