Panel Sectioning

1 - EXISTING PANEL

2 - NEW PANEL

3 - PANEL ADHESIVE

4 - BONDING STRIP

If it is required to section a large panel for a plastic repair, it will be necessary to reinforce the panel. To bond two plastic panels together, a reinforcement must overlap both panels. The panels must be "V'd" at a 20 degree angle. The area to be reinforced should be washed, then sanded. Be sure to wipe off any excess soap and water when finished. Lightly sand or abrade the plastic with an abrasive pad or sandpaper. Blow off any dust with compressed air or wipe with a clean dry rag.

When bonding plastic panels, follow repair material manufacturers recommendations. Be sure that enough adhesive has been applied to allow squeeze out and to fill the full bond line. Once the pieces have been brought together, do not move them until the adhesive is cured. The assembly can be held together with clamps, rivets, etc. A faster cure can be obtained by heating with a heat lamp or heat gun. After the parts have been bonded and have had time to cure, rough sand the seam and apply the final adhesive filler to the area being repaired. Smooth the filler with a spreader, wooden tongue depressor, or squeegee. For fine texturing, a small amount of water can be applied to the filler surface while smoothing. The cured filler can be sanded as necessary and, as a final step, cleanup can be done with soapy water. Wipe the surface clean with a dry cloth allowing time for the panel to dry before moving on with the repair.