Painting bumpers

[MatthewDavid]

I realized that the previous owner painted a lot of the car to cover up small dings and scratches... the problem is he wasn't very good at it... AT ALL... but yeah... I figured I'd start with the bumpers cause they're starting to crack... the paint not the bumper ... anyways... what's the best way to do it?... I'm gonna go hopefully low budget on it... but I'd like some pointers...

So far my game plan is... to sand it down and primer it... and then take some bumper paint (stuff that comes in a can)... I know... spray paint?!?!?... sorry like I said low budget... have any of you guys done this before?... is there any brands that work better?... and do I need to wet sand it afterward?

 

[billcu]

What color and year is your car?

I repainted my red garnet glaze bumper. I bought the original tricoat paint. It was basecoat red, then a clear magenta color, then the clear coat.

I sanded the old paint off. My bumper had been repaired before, so I sanded all that paint off. Some little chips and imperfections, I filled with flexible spot putty made for plastic bumpers. Then I applied flexible primer, then the 3 coats of tricoat. I haven't wetsanded it yet, but it needs it, as the paint came out a bit orange peeled because it was too hot when I painted it.

On my green Mark, I just touched it up, using the duplicolor rattle cans of deep jewel green and clearcoat. I haven't wetsanded that yet either.

I did the lower doors and rockers too.

Here's some before and after photos. It's not perfect, but it's my 192k mile winter car.

 

[MatthewDavid]

Hmmm... er... ummm...

It's black... 97' LSC... just like most ... but yeah it's pretty scratched up... so I was plannin on sanding it down... just never done it before... read a lot so far on the best steps to go about doin it... what grit sandpaper did you use?... I was thinkin maybe start with around 200... then sand it again with 500... then paint it... and wet sand it with 1500 or 2000?

 

[billcu]

That sounds about right.

I started with 280. After I primed it, I used 600. The paint cans usually say what grits should be used.

 

[MatthewDavid]

sweet peanuts

Sweet... thanks for the advice... I figure I can't really make it look any worse than it already does... and I'm pretty good at painting... used to paint all the kids bikes when I was little ... too bad this is a little bigger though

 

[Frat-man-du]

Sweet... thanks for the advice... I figure I can't really make it look any worse than it already does... and I'm pretty good at painting... used to paint all the kids bikes when I was little ... too bad this is a little bigger though

Exactly! This is the attitude you need - you will be suprised at what you can do. you are doing the research, taking time and learning what you need:wrench


Just remember that prep work is 90% of the job, more time with prep the better the paint will turn out. remove what you can and tape the rest carefully. Watch for overspray - on your drivway, your car and any other cars, houses, dogs that might be around - trust me...

 

[MatthewDavid]

Sounds like someone's dog got a little too close ... I think if I'm gonna do it I might go to a big parking lot somewhere... so not too much is around.... there's a couple near by that are usually empty on the weekends... thanks for the confidence!!!

 

[Frat-man-du]

Yeah - I painted the inside of my trunk on one of my T-Birds and one of my younger Labs was on the ground behind the car and got a little dusting of Frost Turquise base coat. Took a month to get it all off - I felt horrible.

 

[MatthewDavid]

That poor dog!... hehehe... funny though... it's a green lab!! don't see that around that often!