Paint Plastic Window Frame on Stanley Steel Doors

Q: I am refinishing my exterior steel stanley doors.  What should it do to get the paint to adhere the the palstic window frame?  I primed it with an oil base paint but it chips off faily easy.

A:

I don't know anything about your plastic window frame, but at the very least you should scuff sand it to produce a surface profile.  Then wipe the plastic with a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol, or perhaps even acetone to slightly etch the plastic.  Since I don't know what plastic has been used, I can't tell you whether or not the solvent will attack the plastic; therefore I suggest that you conduct an experiment on a small section of the window where nobody can see it.  After solvent etching you should be able to apply an exterior acrylic latex paint.   

If neither the solvent wiping nor the sanding enhances adhesion, then you can try using a two-part epoxy primer followed by either an acrylic latex or a two-part polyurethane. If you use an acrylic latex, you will first need to allow the solvents in the epoxy primer to evaporate. Wait at least 6 hours, but no more than 24 hours before applying the latex.

I hope this works. 

Regards,

Ron Joseph