wonton15

Hey guys, the previous owner of the 2012 TSX I just bought plastidipped the grill black and it was poorly done. What would be the safest way to take off the dip without damaging the grill? I heard about using paint stripper but that sounds a bit excessive for dip removal. Also heard about goo-gone but I wanted to hear your opinions before I do anything to it

Thanks!

thunderbt3

Easiest way:
http://bfy.tw/6up4

ceb

Yeah, paint stripper will be very good for the plastichrome beneath . It should just peel off unless the prior owner did something stupid.

thoiboi

pressure washer

TacoBello

1. remove grill.
2. smash grill.
3. buy new grill.
4. replace grill.

Harper

Why stop at grill, replace whole car.

CTNYC

Get some duct tape, and then duct tape the grill. This will both hide the plastidip and prevent rock chips on the grill itself.

TacoBello

I've thankfully never had to deal with plastidip, but I've heard it can be a serious pain to remove. While, yes, it is touted as being a removable product, doing so is not necessarily that easy, especially if it has been in place for a while and sunbaked. I could be wrong, but as mentioned, already, I could see damage happening to the faux chrome finish on the grill.

OP can go to town trying to remove it in whatever fashion he'd like (pressure washer, pealing by hand, whatever), but it may end up being best and easiest to just replace the grill.

Harper

Yeah, don't listen to this guy. Don't use paint stripper. Goo gone makes it pretty messy. You're just gonna have to take your time peeling it off bit by bit.

TacoBello

???

i think you're quoting the wrong guy...

xtcnrice

TacoBello

What about brake cleaner?

Harper

Butt you said you never used plastidip and only read about it on the internets.

thoiboi

it's wheel cleaner you EEE-diot

wonton15

I googled it beforehand but I just wanted some advice from TSX owners. It's my first car and I have never dealt with plastidip before but it's nice to see this community has a sense of humour (??)

Thanks for the serious answers. I guess I'll be spending my afternoon peeling it off manually!

ceb

On a serious note - anything you wouldn't put your hand in shouldn't be used to remove plastidip because it will damage the underlying material.

Taco was actually right - you'll end up buying a new grill. There was a reason the prior owner painted it. It was either chipped or the old owner sanded the plastichrome off before painting.

cu2wagon

*or because plastidip looks hellasick.

The dip should come off by peeling it. Once you get it started, if it doesn't come off in a single piece, you might be in for a bit of manual effort rubbing it to get it off - use a rag.

Acetone will liquefy the plastidip. You might have some moderate success using an acetone dampened rag, but be cautious of the surrounding plastic parts - acetone will likely wreck those.

And, curiously, the suggestion about duct tape might actually work. You could try sticking some duct or gorilla tape to the dipped parts and see if it might adhere to the dip better than the dip adheres to the chrome-ish.

Good luck!

thoiboi

Or...

TacoBello

Or...

cu2wagon

Or...

xtcnrice

inception much

Rdub81

Lol I love this place. But seriously guys, let's help the dude out. Hey OP, are you familiar with the episode of myth busters where they try to remove the cured concrete inside the cement truck with explosives? Well in theory, the same principles apply to your issue. If the plastidip has been on the car for sometime, it cures to a very hard, cement like coating. If you are a good shot with a rifle, and are familiar with Tannerite or equivalent product, I recommend that route. BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE A GOOD SHOT, you don't wanna have to replace a radiator or headlight ya know. But yeah, otherwise you'll be chipping away at it for days... Good luck with which ever process you choose.

Ps we like pictures of new members cars

ceb

Let's hope the OP isn't of some foreign persuasion or we'll be visiting him in federal lockup. I can see the charging documents now:

"The subject attempted to purchase the explosives claiming a website had directed him to buy them to remove some sort of rubberized coating from the grill on his car. Special Agent Humptyhump, of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, offered to sell the subject said explosives, believing the subject to want these items in support of a terrorist organization called CU2 - a possible offshoot of ISIS"

thoiboi

nahh.. with an SN like wonton he'll be fine


oh .. these damn asian engineers, always blowin' stuff up

Rdub81

Ha. Yes, let's hope not.