Found this video on youtube and went to home depot and bout a heat gun and it actually works like the video showed. The Wife bought a xterra and all the plastic was faded from the hot texas sun and i did this with the heat gun and it looks brand spanking new!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dtb...layer_embedded

 

Is there any explanation as to how this works?

Looks like a promising solution for us since so many guys have trouble with this. Surprised no one has thought of or found this already. Nice post!

 

It must rebond the oxidated perticals back to the origional finish.
Or it may bring the oils in the resin to the surface. I do think it would be one or the other.

 

going to buy one right now!

 

Hmmm, might hafta try this on my fender flares...

- NCSU

 

sweet! now th question is how long will it last and how many times you can do it.

 

Glad you guys like the idea, i was thinking to myself when i saw the video yea right, then started thinking about it and went out and bought one and started on her suv and it WORKED Perfect . I do Not have any pictures, the digital camera decided to commit suicide when it fell out of the truck a couple days ago

 

Did it change the texture of the plastic any?

- NCSU

 

Good find. I have heard about that before and I think that the heat pulls the oils through to the surface. I'm curious to see how long it lasts also. My 08 doesn't have anything faded yet but I'll have to keep this in mind for when it does.

 

It didn't work when I tried it on my bed rail caps it turned them white, so I ended up painting them.

 

It is a little rough at first because what is actually happening is that the outermost layer is actually melting but all you have to do is rub a cloth or towel over it and it looks as if it was brand new.

I bought a Wagner heat gun from Home Depot one that put out about 1100 degrees and just went to town.You really arent suppossed to leave it in one spot for very long or else you can see it start to melt the plastic. And I have heard that it lasts a few years and then you just do it again i did my whole car in about half an hour. The gun itself takes aboout 60 seconds to heat up to the highest setting. Also, the heat gun is a little pricier of an option but it has a ton of other functions including losening up rust/corosion/dirt/build up on bolts on the underside of the truck.

I am trying to get the pictures posted that i took with my crappy cell phone but i cant get them uploaded right now. I snapped a few before and after.

 

this is the only picture i can get to upload the wife took it with her phone and this was with the first pass.

 

Awesome, I'm going to give this a shot, my truck needs it badly.

 

Its cool to see someone try this. I should try it on my running boards with my 900 degree Wagner gun if I can dig it out from wherever its hiding

 

this confuses me immensely. i live in texas and how is more heat going to replace the finish, when it's out in +90F outside in direct sunlight everyday.