If there were holes in the plastic interior parts, what would you use to shave them? I don't want to use body filler at all...so what can I use? Thanks...

 

Um, what is it you're trying to do? Make the holes bigger (shave them), or fill them in (something you might do with body filler)?

I can't tell.

If I wanted to make a hole bigger, I'd use a drill bit or a razor knife, depending on the size and shape of the hole.

If I wanted to fill a hole in, I'd probably fill it with some sort of epoxy or resin, and then paint it to match the surrounding plastic.

 

You could use smc or fiberglass, then use bondo to smooth it all out with, that would be where I would start. It used fiberglass resin in my latest project painting the interior-done with professional paint (dupont) and a paint gun not spray cans. You would also want a good filling primer after sanding and prepping as well prior to paint. You would be surprised at how much you can fill in without sanding if your primer rocks.

 

Yes, I'm talking about filling holes(shaving...). I was thinking fiberglass but I didn't know how well it would stick. And if I use a thick enough primer(forgot what you call it, been out of the 'loop' for awhile) I could skip any plastic filler couldn't I? I don't really want to use the stuff...weight is an issue and so is durability/longevity.

Thanks for all the info!

 

Maybe I'm the one that's out of the loop, but I'm pretty sure filling holes and shaving are not even remotely similar.

 

I don't get what you are trying to fill in, but I'd used a plastic welder and fill the holes with plastic, then sand down smooth.

 

A plastic welder for pin holes would work. I'm talking holes like the cup holder, or cig lighter etc.

What does shaving mean?

 

Removing material. Making new holes, making existing holes bigger.

Literally shaving away the material, like you shave the hair off your face.

They make plugs for the cup holder...

Get some pieces of donor plastic, cut them to size, and use a plastic welder to make them cover the hole. Then use the aforementioned sanding technique.

 

I think when he says "shaving", he's thinking of how people "shave" their door handles off and fill in/smooth out the hole. But yeah... not the same thing.

 

Ok, well your gonna want to fiberglass it then

 

A nice cheap filling primer is polyprimer, big green gallon cans, nice and cheap, but ruins spray guns if not immediately cleaned out of the gun. Use fiberglass, don't waste your time with plastic welding. I have tried it and it works trust me.

 

 

Wow, thanks for your informative addition to the post. Trolls..


It might not be the exact way you were wanting to go, but you could also wrap a fiberglass matt around your whole shift plate, cut out for the shift mechanism and such when the resin dries, but leave the cup holder area covered in the matt. If you get the resin to soak into the fiberglass matt well enough, you'll have a pretty decent covered cup holder that's nice and strong. Then you'd have to just sand it smooth / use some putty to make it smooth, and then just paint. I've seen it done with great success when people wrap their interior parts with carbon fiber, same concept just different material and finishing steps. No matter what, you'll have to add weight, but "plugging" the holder by filling it with something is going to add more weight than using fiberglass or plastic to cover the cup holder over.

 

Well the cup holder I'm going to just cut off eventually...then I'll plug that hole. Thanks for all the input guys!

 

Mach 3 Turbo FTW