Tips Solicited 

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 07/15/2016 at 00:03 • Filed to: None

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To repaint a steel bumper

Went to see if something was wrong with my fridge and my land cruiser guy had a LX450 bumper to sell me for $40 to replace my mangled front bumper. its okay as is, but I would like to paint it. low sheen, dark black. Do I need to strip it? get a spray gun? I am liking to be cheap so I would accept rattlecan assuming I can be patient enough to take my time.

Xyl0c41n3 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:19

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If you’re going to rattle can it, I’d suggest using an oil based paint. It’ll stick better to the metal.

Clean, clean, clean it before you paint, too.

Though, you could always plastidip it in hot pink. :D

HammerheadFistpunch > Xyl0c41n3 07/15/2016 at 00:21

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hmmm...plastidip isn’t a terrible idea. But cmon, pink doesn’t go silver/brown.

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:21

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I don’t think there’s a paint/coating manufacturer in the world that would tell you not to roughen the surface. If the paint is in good shape I wouldn’t take it to bare metal though, since the primer probably has a good bond and fully encapsulated the steel.

HammerheadFistpunch > notsomethingstructural 07/15/2016 at 00:23

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good call, I don’t mind roughing it up a little first. I wouldn’t say the paint is in good shape (lots of dings/nicks/scrapes) but its mostly okay.

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:28

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I meant more of a peeling/rusting/adhesion issue, but yeah. I’m not a big autobody guy but I would think you’d give it a quick dry sand at around 200 then give it a pass at 240 and 320, with the last one definitely wet. I’d still prime it.

notsomethingstructural > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:30

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I’ve heard plastidip gets torn to shreds on bumpers which makes it brutal to remove if you ever want to.

Xyl0c41n3 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:30

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Hot pink and silver go very well together. I think the brown could work, too, since pink and brown are both warm shades. They’re tertiary complements.

Pink goes with everything, though of course, I may be biased.

See? Pink and silver = awesome sauce. :)

But anyway.... What about doing it in a drab kind of silver to match what you've already got?

HammerheadFistpunch > Xyl0c41n3 07/15/2016 at 00:34

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To be honest, I kinda just want the bumper to disappear from sight. It needs to be there to hold my light bar/antenna and to prevent things from becoming one with my radiator. Eventually it will be a full bullbar, but that day is not today...especially since I just spent bullbar money on my new arb fridge.

HammerheadFistpunch > notsomethingstructural 07/15/2016 at 00:35

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thats the downside I keep hearing. I think I will try it on my wheels since they are starting to look poorly. Ol’ bruce needs a lot of love these days (fixed leather seats, new window trim, new tires, etc, etc.)

Xyl0c41n3 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 00:37

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Well, it’s not flawless, but there’s not that much wrong with it now. If you’re going to replace it anyway, just go simple and repaint without stripping it first. That way at least you save yourself a little elbow grease.

Birddog > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 01:20

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The quality of finish all depends on prep. Get a little electric DA sander with the velcro disc sandpaper pads. Hit it with some 120 grit, get some rattle can “sealer” primer (has a greenish tint) and SEM (or equivalent) bumper Black and go.

2-3 coats of primer and 3 coats of Black and it should look pretty sanitary.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > HammerheadFistpunch 07/15/2016 at 12:34

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I’d second not taking it down to bare metal. Scuff, clean with lacquer cleaner, paint. One option is truck undercoating. It gives a textured surface that is more resistant to showing chips/scratches if you have a lot of stuff kicking up.

I put it on the running trim of my 914 as the original flat low gloss paint contrasted with the vynil sides. Also comes in a spray can

HammerheadFistpunch > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/15/2016 at 12:41

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thats an idea. I would give it cred on the forums with people who have forgotten that there are other things besides monstaliner as coatings.