Dodgey Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 First year motor homing and loving it! Took the motor to Venice via France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria and still was smiling when I arrived. Mind you nearly ended up in the back of transcontinental HGV when the police motor cyclist jumped out and stopped the traffic for a funeral cortège! Italians are impetuous! Anyway after lazing away a week I managed to reverse into a dwarf wall and cracked the rear panel. Not enough to claim on insurance. Got home and was quoted £370 which seems excessive as I only want the panel glued/welded to whatever. So the question is: How do I repair it? (Is it plastic or polyprop?). Or where can I take it to get it done at a reasonable price near Southampton/Portsmouth? Dodgey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Well bad luck for reversing into a metal ruler :D.....................although I did read in this months MMM about a chap who went to the local bus company for a similar repair and got a good deal ;-) See Daniel I do read the mag................... occasionally :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 As a rule I do enjoy a good quiz. It looks like the way GRP splits to me but to be sure is the inside of it rough or smooth? If its GRP its very simples - just stick a patch on the rear to reinforce the split, clean with thinners to remove any grease, fill all the damage with flexible polyester filler, rub down smooth with wet and dry, wipe off again with thinners to remove dust and grease, mask off at a convenient point above the damage and respray using a matching aerosol. Paint should be easy enough to source once you know the colour which the converter should be able to tell you. If you don't have the confidence any small car repair shop should be able to do for a fistful of fivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:41 PM See Daniel I do read the mag................... occasionally :D Who gave you the mag Dave - or did you (gasp) actually buy it (gasps of wonderment all around the forum)! You're not spending enough time away if you have cash to buy magazines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEALEY-HS102K-Plastic-Welding-Kit-Inc-HS102-Hot-Air-Gun-welder-set-/300700321036?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item460322c50c If its plastic buy one of these plastic weldng kits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Tracker - 2012-10-24 7:44 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:41 PM See Daniel I do read the mag................... occasionally :D Who gave you the mag Dave - or did you (gasp) actually buy it (gasps of wonderment all around the forum)! You're not spending enough time away if you have cash to buy magazines! Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Nice tool Phillip - don't let Mel see it as you know what a sucker for a nice powerful tool she is! Don't use that on GRP though, unless it says safe to do and for 123 squids you can probably get it fixed local? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 No thanks Rich, there's enough hot air on here to keep me happy, besides, I don't intend to prang our van! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgey Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Thanks for prompt replies, as a rule I normally inch my wasy round when reversing but this time I went for the whole nine yards. It's plastic not GRP pretty sure I need it welded but hate to pay for a gun that will be (hopefully) used once. So back to the drawing board. Dodgey :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Basically as Tracker has already said in his first post. But as it looks like it has just split and not broken anything away, I'd superglue it together before laminating it from behind. This will work even if it is ABS plastic. Nobody makes external panels out of polypropylene, its too flexible in thin sheet and degrades like you wouldn't believe in the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:56 PM Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D I'd get it damp-tested, and quickly! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Dodgey - 2012-10-24 7:29 PM So the question is: How do I repair it? (Is it plastic or polyprop?). Or where can I take it to get it done at a reasonable price near Southampton/Portsmouth? Dodgey. ....if its not GRP, then it is likely to be ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) thermoplastic. It used to be almost impossible to find places to repair ABS, and hence quotes, particularly in the leisure industry, tended to be fairly high. Since the increased use of plastics in cars, however, there is also an increasing number of repair shops that can cope with their repair. It might be worthwhile searching on ABS repair, bumper repair or plastic repair in your area. It's also worth noting that many mootrcycle repairs require plastics to be fixed. If you have any confidence in your own abilities, then it is also possible to buy repair kits (such as Plastex) that say they will work well on ABS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Robinhood - 2012-10-24 8:26 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:56 PM Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D I'd get it damp-tested, and quickly! ;-) It's probably my fault as I got over excited in the classic section :$.........................I do hope they never feature a Travelhome as I'll need a lie down for a month :$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Robinhood - 2012-10-24 8:41 PM then it is likely to be ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) thermoplastic. I just luv it when you talk dirty Robin :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-10-24 8:53 PM Robinhood - 2012-10-24 8:26 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:56 PM Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D I'd get it damp-tested, and quickly! ;-) It's probably my fault as I got over excited in the classic section :$.........................I do hope they never feature a Travelhome as I'll need a lie down for a month :$ .....good grief, top-shelf magazines in Sainsburys - whatever next? 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 pelmetman - 2012-10-24 8:53 PM Robinhood - 2012-10-24 8:26 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:56 PM Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D I'd get it damp-tested, and quickly! ;-) It's probably my fault as I got over excited in the classic section :$.........................I do hope they never feature a Travelhome as I'll need a lie down for a month :$ ... so what's new? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Mel B - 2012-10-24 10:24 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 8:53 PM Robinhood - 2012-10-24 8:26 PM pelmetman - 2012-10-24 7:56 PM Yes I bought it in Sainsbury ;-)..............although it was the only one there and it seems to have suffered from delamination, as the front cover was all wrinkly :-S.................I see myself now as a buyer of unloved MMM mags :D I'd get it damp-tested, and quickly! ;-) It's probably my fault as I got over excited in the classic section :$.........................I do hope they never feature a Travelhome as I'll need a lie down for a month :$ ... so what's new? :D Just booked to lie down for 2 months in the sun B-).......................Its hard work being a pouffe stuffer ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Another product worth a try is Plastic Padding's " Gel Coat Filler" you can buy it in a tube any yacht chandler should have it or loads for sale on ebay. It gives good results on wood, fibreglass and ABS I have also used it to repair a chipped stone resin shower tray at home. You will probably need to use it to reinforce the crack from behind with some fibre glass tape. On the front side you apply then cover it with tape I use 50mm clear tape smooth it down when set about 30 min peel the tape off, leaves a nice smooth finish if you have over filled it you can sand it with 2000 or 3000 grade wet & dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 As I see things you have two choices, either get it repaired professionally and pay the price , or do it yourself,by pop riveting a plate behind the crack, clean it up with some wet and dry , get a can of spray paint to colour match and spray it and then put some reflectors over the rivets and live with it, Simples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I would not use pop rivets on a curved surface as they are liable to distort and further crack the plastic and covering the heads will be a real pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Agree with Rich don't use pop rivets if it's ABS you will end up with even more cracks, glass tape applied behind the crack with either Gel Coat Filler or resin will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brit_Stops Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Thanks, chaps - I did pretty much the same thing as Dodgey when reversing into a dwarf wall in Cornwall this summer, so the info is very helpful (I was thinking I'd need to replace the whole rear bumper!) Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Why not arc weld it................................................Well it's almost as sensible as using pop rivets. :D This is the o/p's pride and joy after all and he wants it to look like new. Not a lash up. >:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcywick Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 When I cracked my plastic back bumper a very good job was done by the local Chipsaway repairer. You cannot see the join and it was very reasonable price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 peter - 2012-10-25 1:50 PMWhy not arc weld it................................................Well it's almost as sensible as using pop rivets. :DThis is the o/p's pride and joy after all and he wants it to look like new. Not a lash up. >:-) Well then he will have to do as I did when I bashed my Hymer the same way, go through the Insurance, the total cost to them was £1200 , a new bumper and one rear light cluster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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