How To Clean A Bumper Cover For Painting

Download Article

Painting your car's plastic bumper cover is an like shooting fish in a barrel manner to requite your motorcar a facelift. Starting time past removing the bumper encompass and washing information technology thoroughly. If you have any shallow scratches or cracks, make full and sand the damaged expanse. Wipe the bumper cover downwards, so apply several coats of base coat, drying and sanding the pigment betwixt each layer. Add 2 layers of clear coat for extra shine and immovability, then let the clear glaze dry for 6 hours before driving or reattaching the bumper.

1

Remove the plastic bumper cover or mask it off with painter's tape. In guild to keep from painting other parts of the car, you tin can either remove and pigment the bumper separately or get out the bumper fastened and carefully mask off the car body. Removing the bumper works best when you're repairing whatsoever scratches or cracks before repainting.
two
Wash the bumper cover thoroughly with degreaser and water. Scrub the surface well with a tack fabric forth with soapy h2o. Using a degreaser similar kitchen lather will help remove dirt and oil, leaving your bumper cover make clean and ready for paint.^[i]
- The paint won't adhere properly if there'south any dirt or waxy buildup on the surface of your car.^[2]
Advertisement
3
Wet sand the bumper comprehend with 600 dust sandpaper in alternate directions. Run your hand over the bumper to find any rough spots. Moisture sand down these areas by hand with a spray bottle and some 600-grit sandpaper. Keep a constant layer of water betwixt the sandpaper and bumper by spraying the expanse you're working on.^[iii]
- Brand certain to alternating directions as you sand, moving back and forth too as up and down, in order to achieve a smooth, flawless stop.
iv

Wipe the bumper cover down with a clean tack material. Remove any clay and dust from sanding with the soft fabric. The surface should be clean and dry in gild for the paint to adhere properly.^[4]

Advertisement

one
Use a spray tin or gun to paint on a layer of base coat and let it dry out. Concord the gun or can virtually 12 inches (30 cm) away from the surface and use steady, sweeping motions to apply the base of operations coat paint, which should be the aforementioned color equally the rest of the car.^[five] Overlap each pass by 50% for polish, even coverage. Permit the layer dry for 30 minutes.^[six]
- To protect yourself from harmful fumes, make sure to article of clothing protective gear such equally a face mask and gloves while painting.
- If yous're using a spray can make sure to spray a flake of paint away from the bumper several times to clear out the nozzle.^[seven]
2

Wet sand whatever imperfections with 1500-grit sandpaper and wipe it down. Subsequently the outset layer has dried, check for any drips or imperfections. Wet sand them smooth with a spray bottle and sandpaper. Wipe abroad any dust with a clean tack cloth.^[8]
3

Repeat the painting, drying, and sanding process ane-2 more than times. Always wipe downward the bumper cover with a make clean tack cloth after sanding the new layer. Use upward to three coats total, or until the paint has full, even coverage.^[9]
4
Utilise 2 layers of articulate coat to seal in the base of operations coat. Hold the can or clean spray gun of clear coat about 12 inches (30 cm) away from the bumper and spray on the clear coat in light, sweeping layers. Let the layer dry for xx minutes, so apply a second coat and allow it dry as well.^[10]
- Each fourth dimension you go over the bumper with the clear coat, overlap the previous pass by 50% for the best coverage.^[11]
5

Let the bumper comprehend dry out for at least 6 hours earlier driving or reattaching it. This time will let the paint cure and harden fully. The longer it dries, the longer the paint will hold upwardly and remain durable, so you could even await upwards to 24 hours.^[12] After the minimum 6 hours, you can remove any tape and masking materials from the car or reattach the bumper to the body.

Advertisement

1
Take the plastic bumper embrace off of the car. Different automobile manufacturers use different ways to attach the plastic cover, such as screws, tabs, bolts, and other fasteners. Examine your bumper to find the connectedness points, and then remove any fasteners and slide the bumper gratis.^[13]
- These connection points may be nearly the trunk latch, tail lights, or cycle wells, also as subconscious beneath bumper fascia.
2

Scuff the damaged area and clean information technology with a plastic surface cleaner. Use some coarse sandpaper to lightly scuff upward the plastic. Scuffing helps remove dirt buildup and creates a rougher texture to assist the adhesive bail with the surface. Later scuffing, wipe the area down with a plastic surface cleaner on a soft, make clean material to remove whatever leftover dirt or grease.^[xiv]
3

Rinse the surface and let it air-dry. Pour some clean water over the area, removing any residual from the surface cleaner. Set the bumper on an old towel and leave it until it feels completely dry out.^[15]
4

Wipe the area down with prep solvent in 1 direction, then sand the expanse. Use a make clean cloth to spread prep solvent over the area. Prep solvent removes contaminants from the expanse, so make certain to only wipe it on in 1 direction instead of back and forth. Wiping in 2 directions will drag contaminants dorsum into the repair area. In one case the solvent is dry, sand the area past hand with 80-grit sandpaper.^[16]
5
Consult an auto repair store to find the right adhesive. The kind of filler yous apply depends on the blazon of plastic your bumper is made of, which is indicated on the dorsum of the bumper encompass with stamped initials. Call or go in to enquire someone at the counter of an car repair store for some filler product recommendations earlier purchasing.
- The plastic types PP (polypropylene), PPO (polyphenylene oxide), and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) volition smear easily when ground or motorcar-sanded. Plastic types PUR (polyurethane plastic rigid) and TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) will plough to powder when they're ground or sanded down.
- The make doesn't necessarily thing, just yous should stick with the same brand throughout the entire repair process for the best results.
half dozen

Mix and fill in damaged spots with a lite layer of filler. Mix equal amounts of filler and hardener on a make clean piece of cardboard. Employ a putty pocketknife to shine the filler into whatever cracks that are less than 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) deep and leave a little extra on top. This way, when the filler dries and shrinks slightly, the cracks will still be filled.^[17]
seven

Permit the filler harden for xx minutes, then sand it level by manus. Start with lxxx-grit sandpaper, so move to 120-grit paper to level out the surface. End past wet-sanding with 400-grit paper to smooth everything down to the bumper's natural contour.^[18]
eight

Use ii coats of flexible part sealer before priming and painting. Utilize a putty knife to spread the flexible part sealer over the filled-in area. Apply both layers immediately afterwards the other while they're moisture. Later on letting the sealer dry for xxx minutes, you're ready to start priming and painting.
9

Finished.

Advertising

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Once you accept painted the bumper, yous should smoothen it regularly to maintain the shine and brightness.

Advert

Things You'll Need

Painter's record
600-grit sandpaper
1500-grit sandpaper
Degreaser and water
Make clean tack cloths
Basecoat
Clearcoat
Spray cans or spray gun
Protective gear

Paint in an open up, well-ventilated area.
Use protective gear while working to keep from inhaling harmful fumes.

Nigh This Article

Article Summary X

To paint a bumper, start by removing the plastic bumper cover and washing it thoroughly with degreaser and h2o. And so, wet sand whatever rough spots with 600 grit sandpaper. Wipe the bumper clean and dry information technology with a soft cloth, then spray on a base glaze layer. After the base glaze dries for 30 minutes, moisture sand any new imperfections with 1500 grit sandpaper. Wipe the bumper smooth. Repeat the process of painting, drying, so sanding i-2 more times. Make certain to wipe the bumper with a clean tack cloth afterwards sanding each new layer. Once the pigment has full, fifty-fifty coverage, utilize 1 layer of clear coat to seal in the base coat. Subsequently drying for twenty minutes, utilize a 2nd layer of clear coat and permit dry for another 20 minutes. Before reattaching your bumper, wait at least 6 hours for the pigment to harden fully. The more time the paint dries the more durable it will be, so waiting 24 hours is best. For more than data on how to refurbish your car's bumper, scroll down.

Did this summary assistance you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 95,791 times.