What Paint To Use On Plastic Car Bumpers

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Painting your car's plastic bumper cover is an easy fashion to requite your machine a facelift. Start by removing the bumper cover and washing it thoroughly. If y'all have any shallow scratches or cracks, fill and sand the damaged area. Wipe the bumper cover downwardly, and then utilize several coats of base coat, drying and sanding the pigment betwixt each layer. Add two layers of clear coat for extra shine and durability, so let the clear glaze dry for half-dozen hours before driving or reattaching the bumper.

1

Remove the plastic bumper cover or mask information technology off with painter's tape. In order to keep from painting other parts of the car, you can either remove and paint the bumper separately or leave the bumper attached and carefully mask off the car trunk. Removing the bumper works all-time when you're repairing any scratches or cracks before repainting.
2
Wash the bumper embrace thoroughly with degreaser and water. Scrub the surface well with a tack cloth forth with soapy water. Using a degreaser similar kitchen soap volition help remove dirt and oil, leaving your bumper cover clean and ready for paint.^[1]
- The paint won't attach properly if in that location's any dirt or waxy buildup on the surface of your car.^[2]
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3
Wet sand the bumper cover with 600 grit sandpaper in alternating directions. Run your paw over the bumper to find whatsoever rough spots. Moisture sand downwards these areas by hand with a spray bottle and some 600-grit sandpaper. Go along a constant layer of water between the sandpaper and bumper by spraying the area you're working on.^[3]
- Make sure to alternate directions as you sand, moving back and forth equally well as up and down, in order to attain a polish, flawless finish.
4

Wipe the bumper cover down with a clean tack textile. Remove whatever dirt and dust from sanding with the soft cloth. The surface should be clean and dry out in order for the pigment to attach properly.^[4]

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1
Use a spray tin or gun to paint on a layer of base coat and let it dry. Hold the gun or can about 12 inches (30 cm) away from the surface and employ steady, sweeping motions to apply the base coat paint, which should be the same colour as the residual of the car.^[5] Overlap each laissez passer by fifty% for smoothen, even coverage. Let the layer dry for 30 minutes.^[6]
- To protect yourself from harmful fumes, make sure to clothing protective gear such every bit a face mask and gloves while painting.
- If you're using a spray can brand sure to spray a chip of paint abroad from the bumper several times to clear out the nozzle.^[7]
2

Moisture sand any imperfections with 1500-dust sandpaper and wipe it down. Afterwards the first layer has dried, check for any drips or imperfections. Wet sand them smooth with a spray bottle and sandpaper. Wipe away any dust with a clean tack textile.^[eight]
3

Repeat the painting, drying, and sanding process 1-two more than times. Always wipe downwards the bumper cover with a clean tack material afterward sanding the new layer. Apply up to iii coats total, or until the paint has full, fifty-fifty coverage.^[9]
4
Apply 2 layers of clear coat to seal in the base glaze. Hold the can or clean spray gun of clear coat about 12 inches (xxx cm) away from the bumper and spray on the articulate glaze in low-cal, sweeping layers. Let the layer dry for 20 minutes, then apply a second coat and let information technology dry besides.^[ten]
- Each time you go over the bumper with the clear coat, overlap the previous pass by fifty% for the best coverage.^[xi]
5

Let the bumper encompass dry for at least half dozen hours before driving or reattaching information technology. This time volition let the paint cure and harden fully. The longer it dries, the longer the paint volition hold upwardly and remain durable, so you could even expect up to 24 hours.^[12] Later on the minimum vi hours, you can remove any tape and masking materials from the automobile or reattach the bumper to the body.

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1
Take the plastic bumper embrace off of the automobile. Different machine manufacturers employ different ways to attach the plastic encompass, such every bit screws, tabs, bolts, and other fasteners. Examine your bumper to find the connexion points, and then remove whatsoever fasteners and slide the bumper gratis.^[13]
- These connection points may be almost the body latch, tail lights, or cycle wells, too as subconscious beneath bumper fascia.
2

Scuff the damaged expanse and clean it with a plastic surface cleaner. Utilize some coarse sandpaper to lightly scuff up the plastic. Scuffing helps remove dirt buildup and creates a rougher texture to help the adhesive bond with the surface. After scuffing, wipe the area down with a plastic surface cleaner on a soft, clean cloth to remove whatsoever leftover dirt or grease.^[fourteen]
3

Rinse the surface and let it air-dry out. Pour some make clean water over the surface area, removing any residual from the surface cleaner. Set the bumper on an quondam towel and leave information technology until it feels completely dry.^[15]
iv

Wipe the surface area down with prep solvent in i direction, then sand the surface area. Apply a clean textile to spread prep solvent over the area. Prep solvent removes contaminants from the area, and so brand certain to only wipe information technology on in 1 direction instead of back and forth. Wiping in 2 directions will drag contaminants back into the repair area. Once the solvent is dry, sand the area by hand with 80-grit sandpaper.^[xvi]
5
Consult an auto repair store to find the correct adhesive. The kind of filler you lot use depends on the type of plastic your bumper is made of, which is indicated on the dorsum of the bumper comprehend with stamped initials. Call or go in to enquire someone at the counter of an auto repair store for some filler production recommendations before purchasing.
- The plastic types PP (polypropylene), PPO (polyphenylene oxide), and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) will smear hands when basis or auto-sanded. Plastic types PUR (polyurethane plastic rigid) and TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) will turn to powder when they're ground or sanded down.
- The brand doesn't necessarily thing, but you should stick with the aforementioned brand throughout the entire repair procedure for the best results.
six

Mix and make full in damaged spots with a low-cal layer of filler. Mix equal amounts of filler and hardener on a clean piece of cardboard. Apply a putty knife to smooth the filler into any cracks that are less than 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) deep and leave a little actress on acme. This way, when the filler dries and shrinks slightly, the cracks will still be filled.^[17]
seven

Let the filler harden for 20 minutes, and then sand it level by hand. Start with 80-grit sandpaper, then move to 120-grit paper to level out the surface. End past wet-sanding with 400-grit newspaper to polish everything down to the bumper'due south natural contour.^[18]
8

Apply 2 coats of flexible part sealer before priming and painting. Use a putty knife to spread the flexible part sealer over the filled-in area. Apply both layers immediately afterwards the other while they're wet. After letting the sealer dry out for thirty minutes, you're prepare to start priming and painting.
9

Finished.

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One time yous take painted the bumper, you lot should polish information technology regularly to maintain the shine and brightness.

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Things Y'all'll Need

Painter'southward tape
600-dust sandpaper
1500-dust sandpaper
Degreaser and water
Clean tack cloths
Basecoat
Clearcoat
Spray cans or spray gun
Protective gear

Paint in an open, well-ventilated expanse.
Use protective gear while working to proceed from inhaling harmful fumes.

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Article Summary Ten

To pigment a bumper, showtime by removing the plastic bumper cover and washing it thoroughly with degreaser and h2o. So, moisture sand whatever rough spots with 600 dust sandpaper. Wipe the bumper clean and dry it with a soft cloth, then spray on a base of operations coat layer. After the base coat dries for 30 minutes, wet sand any new imperfections with 1500 grit sandpaper. Wipe the bumper smooth. Echo the process of painting, drying, and then sanding 1-2 more times. Make sure to wipe the bumper with a make clean tack cloth after sanding each new layer. Once the paint has total, even coverage, apply 1 layer of clear coat to seal in the base coat. After drying for 20 minutes, utilise a 2nd layer of clear coat and allow dry for another 20 minutes. Earlier reattaching your bumper, wait at least 6 hours for the paint to harden fully. The more time the paint dries the more than durable it will be, so waiting 24 hours is best. For more information on how to refurbish your auto's bumper, scroll downwards.

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