Restoring trim via heat gun

[Knuckles]

I'm considering borrowing the heat gun from work for the weekend as I've heard (and read online) faded trim can be rejuvenated with heat then sealed with a trim dressing.

my questions are

Is this safe/recommended? (I'm not going to go hell for leather and melt it, I'll be careful)

are there any tips/guides etc

does anyone have any experience with this.

​Cheers

 

[JD]

Or use a trim restorer.

 

[Knuckles]

Lol, the ones I have only last a few weeks, I figured I'd try this as I can before buying some of the higher end stuff

 

[Scrooge]

Do it properly with the g techniq gear Scott.

 

[Knuckles]

Ah, I didnt realise heat guns were the pikey (for lack of a better phrase) option.

Which of the g techniq range do I need? Can't check now as I'm at work

​cheers

 

[Gally]

Cquartz dlux with dicsount code or Gtechniq C4.

 

[Magic Detail]

Heat gun them first to revive the plastic, then protect them with a trim restorer / protectant - such as CarPro DLUX. This is the best long term solution. Be careful with the heat gun though, too close and you'll melt the plastic, not close enough and it wont do anything!!

 

[Jay.S]

Guy at work has just done his T4 and it's looks a million times better, brings all the natural oils back to the surface or something.

I've got a Makita heat gun in my van

 

[Daniel]

You need to be very uniform with your strokes (!!) or it will be very patchy.

​(tbh, that only really applies to massive black bumpers on non colour coded cars, not the tiny bits of plastic on a clio)

 

[Knuckles]

I've read this is a 'one time fix' I.e, it brings the remaining oils out to rejuvenate them, so once they're gone they're gone.

i think the one I lifted from work is a Makita jay, I need an extension though lol fml.

cheers Daniel

 

[Jay.S]

I've read this is a 'one time fix' I.e, it brings the remaining oils out to rejuvenate them, so once they're gone they're gone.

i think the one I lifted from work is a Makita jay, I need an extension though lol fml.

cheers Daniel

110v?

I've got a 240-110v transformer, 110v lead and 240v extension if you need to borrow them.

 

[Knuckles]

240 mate, I'll just go pick up a 240 extension from Asda

cheers though

i dressed all the plastic today so I'll have to wait a few weeks for it to fade to heat them

 

[jamievt]

i got fed up with restoring mine then them fading so theyve all been satin blacked and im my opinion they look spot on

 

[Knuckles]

That means removing stuff and I CBA lol

Id rather buy some of the products mentioned in this thread than paint too

 

[jamievt]

i guess so i thought the same but got fed up of re-doing it every couple months so bit the bullet got some beers waited for a sunny day and got it done