Fixing warped plastic??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 2
Fixing warped plastic??
Hey folks. Is there any way to straighten warped center consoles and glove box doors. Someone posted some info a few weeks ago about plastic parts from molds retaining a "memory". He put a warped bumper cover in hot water and it returned to original shape. Any possibility this may work with thrashed interior parts? Also another member, I think one of our Austrailian friends posted some info about manufacturing replacement center consoles. Possibly in carbon fiber look. Has this moved foreward? Any info is appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,117
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Jim,
I have seen good results with the "remove the parts and stick 'em in your 140F attic for the summer" method (patent pending).
All joking aside, I have seen it work for many of the panels on a 928/951. The question is, can you live without your interior for, say, 3 months?
(and this method holds no absolute guarantees)
Greg
I have seen good results with the "remove the parts and stick 'em in your 140F attic for the summer" method (patent pending).
All joking aside, I have seen it work for many of the panels on a 928/951. The question is, can you live without your interior for, say, 3 months?
(and this method holds no absolute guarantees)
Greg
928 Collector
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,270
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From: Seattle
If your centre console and dash were made out of PVC, then you would be able to do this. However they are made of steel with foam injection-molded, and very thin pvc on top. If you cook these parts in your hot tub or attic, you will rue the day :-) Don't do it.
The only way to do what you want, is to replace the part, or reomve it and stick it under a heavy weight for a long time, but that would probably result in crushing the foam and cracking the pvc. So .... replace it. For 928 centre consoles, you can glue the <thicker> vinyl back on and hold it with a g-clamp.
Heinrich
The only way to do what you want, is to replace the part, or reomve it and stick it under a heavy weight for a long time, but that would probably result in crushing the foam and cracking the pvc. So .... replace it. For 928 centre consoles, you can glue the <thicker> vinyl back on and hold it with a g-clamp.
Heinrich
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,477
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From: No Turbo, No SC
Anything made of PVC does not hold a "shape memory", it will just melt and stay in what ever position it is in when it cools down. Something else to keep in mind, if you use heat to reform, say PVC at 140 deg F than when your interior reaches 140 deg F, it will want to reshape itself once again (in what ever direction force or gravity is pulling on it at the time.
When many plastic parts are molded, the plastic is melted some where in the 200deg F (+) range, high pressure is used to inject the now molten plastic into a water cooled mold, than kicked out into a box (now picked out by a robotic arm and placed in a box).
Bumpers are made of a different material, our 928 bumpers are made of PUR, which is a thermo-set urethane.
When many plastic parts are molded, the plastic is melted some where in the 200deg F (+) range, high pressure is used to inject the now molten plastic into a water cooled mold, than kicked out into a box (now picked out by a robotic arm and placed in a box).
Bumpers are made of a different material, our 928 bumpers are made of PUR, which is a thermo-set urethane.
Last edited by T_MaX; Sep 5, 2003 at 05:04 AM.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 2
From: No Turbo, No SC
G_man, I'm not saying the interior parts on our 928 cars can't be fixed.
In fact Heinrich's statement was more of a question than an answer "If your centre console and dash were made out of PVC,...."
I was only responding to a possible misconception that PVC might have a "Shape Memory" and should you decide to try doing the repair, there maybe a few thing you may want to take into consideration.
I personally am not sure if the hard plastic in our interiors are made from PVC. More research would have to be done to make a final determination.
It is some thing worth looking into!
In fact Heinrich's statement was more of a question than an answer "If your centre console and dash were made out of PVC,...."
I was only responding to a possible misconception that PVC might have a "Shape Memory" and should you decide to try doing the repair, there maybe a few thing you may want to take into consideration.
I personally am not sure if the hard plastic in our interiors are made from PVC. More research would have to be done to make a final determination.
It is some thing worth looking into!
Last edited by T_MaX; Sep 5, 2003 at 05:07 AM.
