DIY plastic bumper repair and painting

In detail: DIY repair and painting of a plastic bumper from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

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Do-it-yourself bumper painting requires adherence to certain rules in order for the result to be long-lasting. In this article, we will consider how to properly prepare a plastic bumper, what paints and varnishes to use so that the paint adheres well and does not crack when using the bumper. We will also analyze how the process of creating a structural surface on the bumper is correctly carried out.

So, let's start with the very important process of preparing the bumper for painting.

Consider the different options for the bumpers that you want to paint.

New bumper, not covered with soil

New bumper covered with soil

Here the situation is similar to painting new metal parts covered with primer. It is not known what kind of soil the part was covered with. It is also unknown if the bumper was coated with adhesion promoter prior to application of this primer. It is necessary to conduct a solvent test. If the soil does not dissolve, then it can be prepared for painting by grinding. If the soil dissolves, it is better to remove the soil and prepare the bumper for painting in the same way as a new bumper without soil.

New bumper covered with paint

Such a bumper requires preparation for painting by sanding and degreasing. No adhesion promoter (plastic primer) is required.

Used bumper covered with paint

It is necessary to carefully examine the used bumper. Is there any damage to it. Even if there is no obvious damage, the paint may have small, barely visible cracks that will be visible after new paint is applied. Any damage must be repaired before painting. If there are small cracks, then the paint in this place of the bumper must be sanded to plastic and primed first with a primer for plastic, and then with a filling acrylic primer. When repairing a plastic bumper, you need to use special elastic fillers (you can read more in the article “Technology of filler and painting of a bumper”).
If the old paintwork is not damaged, then it must be prepared for the application of the new paint by matting and degreasing. In this case, the adhesion promoter (primer for plastic) does not need to be applied.

Video (click to play).

Unpainted, used plastic bumper

As in the previous version, the bumper must be checked for damage and repaired, if necessary.
Painting such bumpers requires thorough washing, since it is not known what agents could be applied to it for protection.
As in the case of a new unprimed bumper, before painting you need to apply an adhesion promoter (plastic primer), wait a few minutes, then paint.

There is a special bumper paint, textured coating. It is sold both in cans, for use with a spray gun, and in aerosol cans.
To obtain a coarse texture, the paint is not thinned and is sprayed through a 1.8 mm nozzle. To achieve a medium texture, thin the paint as directed (usually 25% thinner). The nozzle should be 1.3 mm.To obtain the finest texture, the paint is thinned 50% with thinner. The nozzle size is also 1.3 mm.

Structural coating of various sizes.

The spray pressure is set at 2.75 bar (it is better to check the instructions). Lower air pressure results in a coarser texture. As the pressure increases, the texture becomes finer.
Before applying the structure coat, the adhesion promoter (plastic primer) must be applied to the “bare” plastic.
In total, you need to spray 3-4 thin coats to get the desired textured plastic effect.

Such an additive can be added to a primer or varnish to increase elasticity. Also, it increases the resistance to cracking during deformation and also improves the resistance to chipping. It is necessary to add no more than 30% of the total amount of the product with a hardener to primers, varnishes and two-component paints. It is better to check the percentage of addition on the container of the product. The primer or varnish must first be mixed with the additive, and only then with the hardener. A coating with such an additive will take longer to dry. Can be used when painting plastic bumper. In addition, the additive can be applied to other body parts (hood, fenders) to increase chip resistance. Many people successfully paint bumpers without such an additive, but if you want to paint a bumper, following all OEM recommendations, then such an additive is required.

The process of painting the bumper itself is no different from painting other body panels. You can read more about this in the article “car painting technology”. Also, it is quite possible to paint a plastic bumper with an aerosol can (see the article “painting a car with a spray can”).

The most common way to repair a bumper is painting it. You can do it at a service station, or you can do it yourself. We will tell you how to solve this problem on your own and what you need for this.

You can paint the bumper yourself, saving a lot of money.

Most often, it is required to paint the bumper in the following cases:

The most common reason for this procedure is that the car is no longer in the best condition, it is outdated. The age of the vehicle affects the overall paint finish, including the aforementioned unit.
The second common problem occurs when collisions and bumper damage - in general, this is the part of the car that suffers the most. But painting will be required if the bumper is not badly broken and it is suitable for this.
After buying a brand new car, drivers do not notice the quality of painting on the purchased car. After some time, the paint begins to flake off, which indicates a third reason to paint on your own - negligence in painting at the factory.

You will find detailed information on repairing plastic bumpers in this article.

Here you will learn how to proceed if a creak is heard when turning the steering wheel.

There are several types of bumper paint:

Cheap procedure using paint brush... This option is suitable for motorists who do not have a compressor, spray gun at home, money and the desire to take the car to the workshop. This method is better suited for painting small areas rather than completely. The quality of the result of this method is the worst, more suitable for cheap cars.
Spray painting... Also a simple method, but of a better quality than using a brush. Cash costs for spray paint are also not very high. Ideal for painting small areas of damaged bumper and full-scale painting.
Painting with high-quality paints using a spray gun... This method is the best, it is used mainly in high-quality auto repair shops.The costs for it will be rather big, but the quality will be at the highest level. It is the most common and well-known method. More suitable for full bumper painting.

In terms of painting the bumper, the preparation of tools and materials plays an important role.

Here's what you need for the work ahead:

Various degreasers;
Primer (primer);
Putty (the presence of fiberglass in it is better);
"Sandpaper" is used before and after the primer. Markings - 120,220,500,800;
Grinder, any bar;
Spray gun (spray gun) or paint can;

We will tell you in stages what you need to do to paint the bumper on your own.

Bumper preparation.

Dried tar is carefully removed from the bumper - this process is necessary to minimize the likelihood of contamination of the grinding wheel with resin.

If you do not want the result of painting to please you, try to forget about the rush.

It is better to repeat this procedure until the perfect result, it implies the removal of visible and felt defects.

This is followed by matting, to prepare the bumper before using an acrylic primer, sanding the surface after coarse sandpaper. Used sandpaper with a grain of 240. Absolutely the entire surface of the bumper we grind, using either hands or a grinder. Do not work with the rough sole of the machine, as a result, you may get an uneven edge on the bumper. To avoid such problems, foam rubber is used, which sticks to the sole, holding the circle (a sandwich in the common people).

Further, with the help of a compressor, the entire bumper is blown, while omissions must not be allowed. Using chemical solutions, we degrease the treated area of the bumper and treat it with anti-silicone. The preparation of the bumper is now complete.

Acrylic primer. First put on a breathing mask and goggles. Then we process the bumper with several layers of soil on the plastic. During its short drying, we rinse the gun and prepare the consistency from acrylic primer.

We start priming. The application of the primer takes place in stages. Initially, we apply one layer of primer to the surface of the bumper, then several more times to level the wrong places, using drying between processes. Each coat should be applied after matting the previous application.

Fill the bumper already primed with several layers with the final layer. The primer for the last pouring should not be thick, with the help of a solvent you can fix this. When the last layer dries, the coating will not be rough and easier to work with.

Grinding the primer. It costs a day to wait for complete drying. If you have a device with infrared heating, it will be done in 3 hours. Waiting all day is a waste of time, which means it is better to purchase the necessary equipment. A huge positive effect of infrared drying is the complete warming up of all layers of the coating.

Next comes the grinding of the soil. A machine, sticks and paper with a fine coating 320-400 will come in handy. When using a developing powder, the result will be better.

When sanding, we remove the bulges, compare the gaps in the putty, make the surface smoother after abrading by 400.

After that, there is a re-priming, followed by processing with 500 abrasive paper, blowing and degreasing.

Painting directly. First, the bumper is treated with several layers of pigment, while drying is not forgotten.Perhaps small debris and dust will get to the surface. Then the dry surface should be wiped with interlayer paper. After the varnish is used, a couple of layers are applied and dried. Painting finished.

Remember to take care of your protective equipment before painting.

The process also takes place after the aforementioned procedures. Shake the can thoroughly for at least 3 minutes! Determine the best spray distance and apply layers. Wait about half an hour before applying another coat.

Peculiarities:

Don't overdo it with a sander!
Avoid smudges when painting, a thinner layer is better.
Use a variety of preparations to add to the soil.
You can't overdo it with the soil, it's not plasticine!
Perform painting in a ventilated area and wearing a mask.

This video tutorial may also help you:

The price of painting the bumper will depend on:

Type of painting
Paint quality
Bumper condition (full or partial)

Every day in the world there are accidents, various emergencies, after which you need to repaint the bumper, which took the whole blow. With the help of these instructions, the quality of the new bumper is guaranteed.

One of the most frequently broken parts of a car is the front or rear bumper. In modern cars, bumpers are very fragile, so these are the most protruding parts, it is enough to hit lightly into hard snow, chips and cracks already appear. Someone installs kangaroos (kangaroos), which creates protection for the car body, but harms either the driver himself, since such pipes withstand a strong blow and do not crumple, as a result of which the driver receives a blow, or the kangaroo causes severe damage to another car in the event collisions. Therefore, the installation of kangaroos is prohibited.

The bumper has to be painted in the following cases:

The car has been for many years, although plastic bumpers do not bloom and do not rust like the metal of the body, but over time, paint begins to fly off them in pieces.
Bumpers suffer the most in collisions. In such a case, they either buy a new one and paint, or restore the old ones, if possible.
Even having bought a new car, some drivers have noticed that the paint from the bumpers begins to peel off. This is most likely due to non-compliance with the technology when carrying out paintwork or the quality of the paint itself.

Independently, in artisanal conditions, bumpers can be painted in several ways:

brushes (can be used for invisible areas, because stains are visible);
a spray can (one of the popular and easy ways to apply paint material);
spray gun (compressor, hose and paint spray gun required).

In some large enterprises in the automotive industry, there is a method when parts are dipped in a bath of paint. This method is used by manufacturers of expensive cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc.). And, even AvtoVAZ, they say, those cars that were exported to India were painted in this way (dipped in a bath). For the domestic market, vases are painted using the application method.

Work such as painting, tinting the rear window with your own hands does not in any way affect the operation of the engine and other parts, so an inexperienced beginner can do it. It is clear that a beginner should not get involved in the repair of an engine and other complex technical products alone. In order for the result to be of high quality, the technology should be followed and the following materials and tools should be used:

Personal protective equipment (PPE). These are gloves, respirator or gas mask, overalls (robe).
Degreasing liquids.
Primer.
Putty. It is desirable that the filler contains fiberglass.
Sandpaper. It is necessary to sand with sandpaper before and after the primer work. Sandpaper markings: P120, P180, P220, P500 and P800.
Electric sander.
Depending on what method you paint, you will need a can or a spray gun.

Image - DIY repair and painting of a plastic bumper

Painting is not a job that can be done at random, although many people think so. In order for the paint not to fly off afterwards, a certain sequence will be required:

Preparatory work.
Grinding work.
Putty (putty).
Primer application.
Sanding after priming.
And finally, paint application.

After dismantling, if we paint the old bumper, proceed to a thorough washing with the addition of a cleaning agent (Fairy, Drop, etc.). If there is tar on the surface of the old bumper, which cannot be washed, it must be carefully torn off with either a knife or a chisel.
After washing and mechanical cleaning of dirt, we use a solvent, preferably WHITE SPIRIT or 646 solvent. Tear off old paint with a spatula. If it does not come off well, then by buying a special remover, for example, VIKA 0.5 l, the process of stripping off old paint, even with an anti-gravel coating, will easily be peeled off. It is necessary to apply this solution with a brush several times, then wait about 10 minutes and it will also be easy to come off with a spatula.
Such special substances for removing old paint, for example, VIKA or BODI, must be handled with care. Namely, to work in rubber gloves, because it burns the skin and smells terrible.
After all the old paint has been removed, it is necessary to clean it from the wash with dry rags and, only then, rinse everything with a solvent.

Some people just use a mechanical method to remove old paint and old primer. But using a drill or screwdriver with an emery nozzle spoils the plastic itself. Therefore, it is better to use chemical agents to remove old paint.
Whoever wants to use the mechanical method will need a sander. First of all, we grind with coarse-grained sandpaper 120. If there are scratches, smooth them out with a bar, remove all burrs.
If medium and microcracks are found, you can weld them with an ordinary soldering iron. Large cracks are welded on both sides with elongated electrodes.

After complete cleaning, degreasing and sanding, they begin to putty. Scratches appear during the sanding process. The putty will fill them in and the surface will become smooth. The putty with added fiberglass has the advantage. Such a putty does not settle and, when it dries, creates a reinforcing layer.
After the filler is completely dry, sand this layer with 120 sandpaper.
After passing with sandpaper, again apply a finishing layer of putty. We grind the finishing putty again, but with fine-grained sandpaper, P220. We grind the entire surface either with a grinder or by hand.
At this stage it is necessary to blow through the entire surface with a compressor and degrease the entire surface. After degreasing, we treat it with anti-silicone. The preparatory work for the application of the primer has been completed.

We put on a respirator or mask and goggles before priming. We take a primer over the plastic and apply it to the entire surface of the bumper. Typically this primer dries quickly. Therefore, we immediately prepare the spray gun, rinse it from the first primer. We prepare acrylic primer.
Apply the primer layer by layer, in stages. After applying the first layer, you need to wait until it dries, then apply again, level the wrong surfaces. And so several times. Each subsequent layer is applied as the previous one will become a matte color.
Apply a finishing coat of primer. If the primer is thick, thin it slightly with solvent.

After applying the last layer of primer, wait 1 day. If there is a device in the garage that emits infrared rays and heats them up, it can dry out in 3 hours. With the help of such a device, all layers of the primer are dried.
For sanding, you need a sander and sandpaper P320-P400. After sanding with fine-grained P400, all the unevenness of the primer will be removed.
It is advisable not to grind from the ends of the bumper with a machine, but to do it by hand. The machine can damage the layers of the primer.
After sanding, apply the primer again and, after drying, sand with P500 sandpaper. After that, it is necessary to blow off with a compressor and degrease.

Painting is carried out in several layers.
If debris gets in, rub the surface with a dry cloth or interlayer paper.
Next, we apply the varnish, also, in several layers and wait for it to dry either by natural drying or with the help of heaters.

The new bumper also needs to be prepared for painting, especially since new products are covered with various protective oils that must be removed. They may also be partially damaged during the delivery of the goods.

Step # 1. We take sandpaper number P800 and start sanding. New products have burrs that need to be cleaned.
Step # 2. We degrease the new grinded bumper from the factory transport oil.
Step # 3. We start priming with a 2-component acrylic primer. After applying the first layer, wait until it dries. Proceed with the second coat after the first coat is matte. It is recommended for beginners to purchase ready-made diluted soil, since strict proportions must be observed for breeding.
Step # 4. We take sandpaper (skin) from P500 to P800 and rub the primed layer. Thanks to this grout, the primer is thoroughly glued to the plastic.
Step # 5. Blow off crumbs with a compressor.
Step 6. Degrease with solvent.
Step 7. Apply booze and paint in layers. Wait 15 minutes between layers.
Step 8. Glossy coating.

Quite a popular way of applying paints and varnishes using a spray can. All procedures for preparing a part, etc. are also performed before using the spray can.

Shake a can of paint for at least 3 minutes before use. The paint is also applied in layers. The distance from the spray can to the surface to be painted is selected empirically, usually 20-25 cm. Before applying the second layer, you need to wait about half an hour.

In order to stay satisfied with the work done with your own hands, here are some tips:

It is necessary to paint in a moderately warm room, where there are no drafts. If there is a draft, there will undoubtedly be sand and dust on the parts to be painted, which will greatly complicate the work.
Regardless of whether the new bumper needs to be painted or the old one, it must be washed and degreased. If you do not degrease, the fatty film will not adhere firmly to the plastic and very quickly the new paint will crack and burst.
Degreasing requires wet and dry wipes.
Do not use a hair dryer to accelerate the drying of the applied layers of primer, paint and varnish. Drying naturally is best.
Read instructions and recommendations for working with varnish and paint. So, as a rule, contains useful information, especially for beginners.
If a smudge suddenly appears, then it must be removed. Clean with a moisture-resistant sandpaper and polish this area.

Depending on the geographic location, make and model of the car, the cost differs by region. On average, for 2018 for medium-budget cars, the price of painting is 4-10 thousand.

Restoration of the old bumper. Happy viewing.

This video shows the process of painting a bumper.

The bumper refers to the parts that most often suffer from collisions, stones flying out from under the wheels of other vehicles. And on the new bumper, you can often observe peeling paint. In order not to seek the services of specialists, learn how to paint yourself.

Do-it-yourself bumper painting is a simple process if you know everything about it. First we dismantle and clean thoroughly. The bumper is one of the dirtiest parts, there is a lot of dust on it, tar from the asphalt sticks. After cleaning from pieces of dirt, wash in warm water, using any detergent. To wash off the resin, use a solvent or white spirit. We wash it thoroughly so that not even a trace of resin remains, otherwise it will subsequently clog the sandpaper.Then we remove pieces of the old coating that are peeling off.

The first step is to dismantle the bumper and clean it from dirt and old coating We start sanding using the tool that is available. The easiest way to get the job done is with a sander, but if you don't have one, use a hand sander. We use coarse sandpaper P120, with which we smooth out all the irregularities so that the layer of putty is minimal. After sanding, blow the surface with compressed air. We subject the detail to a thorough inspection. If there are small cracks, we boil them with a powerful soldering iron. We weld significant damage, breaks with flat electrodes.

We seal the seams with a filler with fiberglass - it almost does not sag after drying, it forms a reinforcing base. When completely hardened, sand with P120 sandpaper. After sanding, we seal minor defects with a finishing putty, rub after hardening with P180–220 sandpaper. If necessary, we apply the putty again, grind it until the hand stops feeling the smallest defects.

At the next stage, we matte the bumper under the primer, rub the risks from coarse sandpaper. We use sandpaper P220-240. We use an orbital machine, but not everywhere. In some inaccessible places you will have to work with your hands. You should not attach the sandpaper directly to the rigid Velcro. The bumper of the car is rounded, and in the places of the rounding, you can remove the plastic, break the shape. We use an adapter made of foam rubber, which is attached to the circle, and already to it - sandpaper.

We blow the part with air until the grains of sand from the sandpaper cease to fall. We carry out degreasing, wipe with a napkin with anti-silicone. Apply several coats of plastic primer, taking breaks for each to dry completely. Apply the first layer of acrylic primer, let it dry and fill the spots with noticeable defects with primer. We make several passes with breaks for drying, so that the layer becomes matte. You should not try to fill in as much primer as possible at a time, it may leak.After filling problem areas, apply a thin layer of primer over the entire surface. Add a little solvent to the soil to make it more liquid. When the last layer is dry, there will be less roughness, the bumper is easier to sand. Dry the primer for 24 hours. Forced drying can be applied, but only an infrared emitter. The process will be reduced to 2-3 hours, the quality is better: the coating is simultaneously dried throughout its entire thickness, and not gradually, as with natural drying.Even a thin layer of primer, evenly distributed over the entire surface, will allow the paint to lie better on the bumper When dry, start sanding. Grinding at home - by machine and by hand using P320–400 sandpaper. Sanding removes putty sag and scratches from coarse abrasive paper. It is better to sand the ribs on the bumper by hand to avoid rubbing the primer. In some places, it is possible to remove soil when sanding to putty and even plastic. We must re-primer such places, otherwise they will appear and be noticeable after painting. Apply several layers, let it dry, again grind it with P400-500 abrasive for painting.All operations related to painting a new plastic bumper should be carried out after a very thorough and repeated degreasing to remove traces of silicone used in the molding of parts.After grinding, blow off grains of sand from the bumper, degrease it. We are preparing the room for painting: remove dust, fill up cracks, moisten. Literally a minute before applying the pigment, we wipe the bumper with a sticky napkin, which allows you to achieve the greatest cleanliness. At intervals of 5-10 minutes. apply 2-3 layers of pigment. It is possible that adhered dust particles, wool and other small debris will be found on the surface.We wait until the pigment is completely dry, take a special interlayer cloth for rubbish and carefully process it.Driving, especially in the city, especially if you are a novice driver, implies the possibility of damage to the car's bumper. Actually, he is also a bumper in order to soften some of the nuances of the movement of a novice driver. There is another reason for the external aging of the bumper cover - it is its age. And in fact, and in another case, there is nothing wrong, and all that is required is painting the bumper.Do-it-yourself bumper painting at home is quite a doable and technologically simple task that any driver can do. Let's consider this technological process on one of the options for painting a plastic bumper. Immediately, we will make a reservation that painting a bumper according to the procedures practically does not differ from preparing for painting and painting a car body.Bumper painting can be either complete or local bumper painting, which also does not change the essence of the process (only the area of painting and the amount of materials). The same applies to the location of the bumper, painting the rear or front bumper - the only difference is in dismantling - installation. Although, when local bumper painting is performed, dismantling is an optional procedure (you need to navigate on the spot).For painting the bumper, as well as for painting or polishing the body, or polishing glass, or repairing the windshield, you need an orbital sander, a faithful friend and assistant of the master. Its role can be easily performed by an electric drill with attachments.You will also need the so-called. "Sandwich" - a foam rubber adapter between the sole of the machine and the abrasive wheel. Sandpaper. A soldering iron (preferably a very powerful one) is needed if there are cracks on the bumper - for welding. Thinner or white spirit. Putty, primer, paint, varnish are the default.

At home, this is implied in the garage. The first thing we do is wash the bumper and remove the resin from it. Water and chemicals for washing the bumper. Then, using a solvent or white spirit, remove the dried resin particles.

The next step is to "pick out" all the peeling pieces of the old bumper cover with a sharp object.

Grinding... Using a grinder, we prepare our plastic bumper for painting - carefully and carefully cleaning, smoothing corners, chips, etc. Where the grinder does not pass - by hand. What to do, the bumper is your own, dear. We must try. Coarse skin - p120. We blow on the surface of the bumper and carefully examine and feel. If cracks are found, we seal them on both sides.

Putty... We tighten all irregularities on the surface of the bumper with fiberglass putty. After the putty has hardened, we grind it with p120 emery. the remaining "little things" are tightened with a finishing putty. We process the finishing putty with a softer sandpaper p180-p220.

Painting technology requires repeating this procedure until a perfectly smooth surface is obtained.

Treatment (matting) after the putty is done for the future primer. Abrasive p220 - they go through the entire area of the bumper, removing the risks from the coarse abrasive and making the surface matte. Next, blow over the bumper with air under pressure, degrease and treat with anti-silicone.

Bumper priming... The primer is made with a two-component acrylic primer. Apply a layer of soil over the entire surface of the bumper. Remember that soil can also flow if applied in large quantities.

Apply the primer in several layers, paying attention to problem areas. The next layer of primer is applied only after the "matte" of the previous one. It is recommended to dry the soil for a day, but if you use an infrared heater, this time will be reduced to 3 hours. And the quality will be better, experts say.

After drying, sand the primer. The procedure is similar. Before grinding, we use a developing powder to see the defects of our previous work. Sandpaper for grinding the soil р320-р400. then one more - two layers of soil and the final accord of p400-p500 sandpaper.

Bumper painting... Blow with air, degrease. We start applying the pigment in two to three layers with drying for 10-15 minutes. After that, two layers of varnish, also with intermediate drying.

Everything. You can take off your mask, leave (required) the garage and smoke. The bumper is ready for use, almost new and shining happily.

Good luck to you lovers of your car.Good afternoon. The topic of today's article is how to paint a new plastic bumper with your own hands? Traditionally for our site, the article will contain a lot of photos and videos.For most motorists, it is no secret that all modern cars have bumpers made of plastic or fiberglass, respectively, at the slightest accident, the bumper becomes a consumable, but what about an accident, even crushing a snowdrift can send the bumper to a landfill. Therefore, painting the bumper is quite a topical issue.Since the services of workshops are quite expensive, we have prepared an article for you on how to do it yourself.Let's agree on the shore - the article gives an example of a "extra-budgetary" painting of a Chinese bumper for outbidding. Those. everything was painted on the spot and as quickly as possible! On the mind, the bumper should be painted on the rack! Like this:Despite the fact that the painting is "extra-budgetary", the painting technology is fully complied with.Step 1 - applying the mat to the plastic of the bumper.The new plastic bumper has a smooth, glossy finish. In order to paint as efficiently as possible (that is, so that the coating does not fall off during the first wash), it is necessary to fill with sandpaper on the entire painted surface, at risk 240-360 (under the ground).Matting is performed as follows: