Painting gray bumper, results.

[cleverklutz]

Hi,

I'm wanting to paint the gray bumpers on my car body color, and I was wondering what the best route would be. I was wanting it to be done in base coat clear coat, my mechanic suggested SEM. I was wondering what would be the best. I really like the metallic flake in the paint on my car, and I don't think SEM would have that.

What have you guys used? Was the paint metallic?

Thanks,
Ben

[CREWZIN]

Ben,

You didn't say that you wanted to "have" the bumper painted so I guess you want to do it yourself. My suggestion is to have it done professionally. The bumper needs to be sanded. A good adhesion promoter has to be used and most importantly, the right amount of flex agent has to be added to whatever paint is used so the paint can move and not crack/spiderweb. Any "good" paint shop should be able to do the job. Get an estimate, both my front and rear bumpers were done for $300.

[PTcutie]

hey i did mine black, i think they look really sharp, did it on my own and didnt cost me more than 12$ and 2 hours

check it out.... msg me for details

[cleverklutz]

Hey thanks for the quick replies. I'm wanting the painting to be done by my mechanic, he does autobody as well. I suck at painting, even with a spray bomb. I get runs no matter what and I can't get it on even, it just looks like crap and then I wish I hadn't touched whatever I started! Crewzin, do you know if they would have used base coat clear? Or is it a specialized plastic paint?

PTcutie, that black looks good! I want body color, but now I really have to think about it, what you did looks awesome! I love the satin finish!

Thanks all,
Ben

[StoneWhitePT2]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

Ben,

You didn't say that you wanted to "have" the bumper painted so I guess you want to do it yourself. My suggestion is to have it done professionally. The bumper needs to be sanded. A good adhesion promoter has to be used and most importantly, the right amount of flex agent has to be added to whatever paint is used so the paint can move and not crack/spiderweb. Any "good" paint shop should be able to do the job. Get an estimate, both my front and rear bumpers were done for $300.

Thatz the joy of living in the south... paint work is cheaper.... I had my bumpers estimated at $600 for both. around that same price everywhere i went. So Ill keep em original.

[soonercruiser]

Nice job Cutie!
Agree - looks great on your Cruiser!
I am prone to overdoing it and "runs" too. So that's why, when I repaired the license plate holes on my black vert (black is said to be the most difficult), I went lighter, multiple coats, and then buffed out the paint - before I applied the clearcoat. And I'm a rank amateur!

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by cleverklutz

Crewzin, do you know if they would have used base coat clear? Or is it a specialized plastic paint?
Ben

Ben,

Any kind of paint can be used including base coat clear coat as long as the proper prepping procedures are done and the flex agent is used with the base coat and clear coat.

[lakersfan1]

Last I checked, SEM doesn't have any esoteric paints. Not even clear/base. Most of thier paints are just for colormatching vinyl/rubber/plastic and they also have several adhesion promotors and things like that.

[PT GEEZR]

Several years ago, I purchased a set of chrome clip on bumpers for my 2002 PT but in the good ol Ohio winter months I take them off and store them. This fall, I decided to try and paint the stock bumpers with a $5 can of Krylon "Plastic" paint. Unfortunately, it only comes in four colors, bright blue, white, black and yellow. The black has a bit of a gloss to it and actually looks 100% better than they gray. Get a roll of masking tape and some old news papers and give it a try. Make sweeping motions and keep the can about ten inches away when you spray. Before you know it they'll be calling you Michael Angelo.
Home Depot or Lowes has it in stock.

[PTcutie]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

Nice job Cutie!
Agree - looks great on your Cruiser!
I am prone to overdoing it and "runs" too. So that's why, when I repaired the license plate holes on my black vert (black is said to be the most difficult), I went lighter, multiple coats, and then buffed out the paint - before I applied the clearcoat. And I'm a rank amateur!

i found that it ran when i moved to slow.. the trick is fast even strokes, even if it takes 20 times to cover the gray, just move fast