Anyone used PlastiDip?

I stumbled across this product on another (non-motorhome) forum.  There are some motorhome-related videos suggesting uses for the product. Its paint-on insulation / protection for electrical wiring and components might be useful too.  I've absolutely no knowledge of the products, but some Forum Members may have used it?


https://www.plastidip.co.uk/videos/

[url= https://www.plastidip.co.uk/category/news/]https://www.plastidip.co.uk/category/news/[/url]


Cymro

Yeah I've used it a lot over the years, mainly in spray cans.

I've currently got it on my motorbike as a temporary colour change / paint protection (they've produced a newer metallic colour, although the metallic effect is very minimal to be honest).

It goes on very easily but with a matt finish - you can use the 'glossifier' if you want a gloss finish though.  You need a good 4+ coats for it to be durable over paintwork and although it will be touch dry quite quickly, you really need a good week or two before if becomes quite a tough coating.

If you get bored / it gets damaged, it simply peel's off - this is another reason you want at least 4 coats on.  If the coating is too thin, when you try and peel it off it wont come off in a nice single sheet, but will rip and tear and be a pain to take off.

Hi, Ive used it for years, I use to run a company making diamond tools and we used to dip needle files in it to give a more comfortable handle ,we got it from a company called "FROST AUTO REPAIRS"  who sold an absolute array of items for cars and motorbikes-Good stuff!  Regards     Paul

Thanks for the feedback. May well get some.

But have also discovered, from another thread on the Forum,  self-amalgamating tape. That looks even better for what I had in mind: the cable for the alarm goes into the bottom of my Hartal door; AS simply wound some black plastic tape around it, but it often peels away, and doesn't do much to protect the cable. So I thought I'd remove the black tape, and replace it with self-amalgamating tape which I can mould by hand to encapsulate the cable. I assume there's enough flexibility in the self-amalgamating tape to give a little when the door is opened and closed, to allow the cable to open out / close back. Screwfix sell it, I see.

Cymro

Make sure you wind it on really tight and stretch it as far as you can, should be ideal. 

Thanks, Hog.

I've learned so much from this Forum - all freely given.

Cymro

groundhog wrote:Make sure you wind it on really tight and stretch it as far as you can, should be ideal. 

Great advice, it doesn’t really work without following this. I love the stuff.

I had a roll left over from my BT days which I used so sparingly as I couldn’t find it anywhere (I’m talking a few years ago before the internet explosion).
I was so happy when I stumbled upon it in Screwfix.

Thanks from me also, it sounds like just what I need to fix the same issue Cymro has on our van 

Hi Cymro

Another plus for self amalgamating tape.

I've used it on occasion with great success for 50 years, and it does what it says on the tin.

As advised already, stretch to at least double its original length as you wind it round, and squeeze hard to stick each layer to the preceding one.

On the van I've found it very useful for repairing the (apparently inevitable  ) split in the cable sheathing at the bottom of the habitation door - the wires to the door locking mechanism. Constant opening and closing of the door breaks the sheathing, which should have been made of a far more rubbery and flexible material.

S/A tape is just that when properly applied. A flexible and rubbery sheath, which is also about as waterproof as you can get. Plus it doesn't begin to peel off after a time, as insulating tape always does!

Hope this also helps.

Dave

Gromit: you've described exactly the issue with that cable to the hab door, and have now confirmed that self-amalgamating tape would be a better protector than mere sticky tape. Mnay thanks.

How did the product manage to pass me by for all these years? !! Confirms my limited DIY skills and knowledge!

Thank you, all contributors.

Cymro

I think that hard plastic sheathing needs throwing away, to be replaced with a very flexible rubber tube. It's bound to keep cracking, specially in the cold weather.

I haven't looked into the best way to disconnect the wires so a bit of new tube could be slid into place. I wonder if anyone else has done it??

Maybe a new thread to ask this specific question?

(Could you do it please. I'm wrestling with the dog at present - literally!!! Bloody Welsh Terrier hates the clippers, but she dances round like a pup when I've finally manage to shear her!!)

Good idea, Gromit, as this was wandering away from PlastiDip.
Have done so, with new thread at

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t32137-protecting-cable-into-hab-door#270735

Cymro
PS: get a small, jet-black cat next time!

SA tape is great, easy enough to get online these days.

Definitely what you want, plasti-dip wouldn't do a good job for that application unless you spent ages trying to dip that particular part.

I used PlastiDip a while back for a small electrical job, I bought it from Frost. I seem to remember it was rather expensive, but my main complaint was that it didn’t store well. I suppose it uses a volatile agent. The upshot was that when I needed it again for another job the stuff had gone hard.

Hi it uses Toluene as a thinning agent ,not sure you can get it these days ,but im sure Frost sell a thinner. Regards        Paul

Many thanks to all of you for this helpful information.

Keep safe.

Cymro