I finally did it

[nyernga]

Well I've been waiting patiently for the warmer weather to start the painting on my front bumper. It just has too many chips in it for my taste. Anyway, everything is masked off, the bumper has been sanded smooth, the flex agent has been sprayed on followed by the grey primer. I can't seem to find my notes so does anybody know what grit wetsandpaper to use for the primer?
I'm comfortable with the actual paint/clearcoat steps, but don't remember what grit to use for the primer.

Len

 

[Moonunit 451]

Might wanna wait for someone else to chime in Len, but I think 400 should do it to lightly scuff it up. Not sure 600 will give enough bite for the paint to hold onto.

 

[nyernga]

Might wanna wait for someone else to chime in Len, but I think 400 should do it to lightly scuff it up. Not sure 600 will give enough bite for the paint to hold onto.

Thats what I seem to recall from when I did the damaged area on my hood. I guess I'll start with 400 and go from there.

Thanks,
Len

 

[JonM]

400 to 600 works just fine...or hit it with a green scotchbrite pad. You can ask for a Sheet when you buy your paint...gives you all the information about surface prep, mixing, drying time, and all other pertinent info...

You can look at the PPG site here...

http://www.ppg.com/cr-refinish/ >>Product Information>>Paint Lines>>DELTRON>>View By Category>>Topcoat>>Submit...There you will see the types of documents I speak about.

 

[nyernga]

after 4 coats of base

progress

 

[Moonunit 451]

Looks nice --- from afar Len, but two questions. Can't you provide some LARGER pic's, and second, pull that masking off, tell us and show us how it matches up! AND, don't forget the Clear :L

 

[WhalePirot]

progress

Wow. I am not a painter, but that seems like a lot of paint going on. Doesn't the flex agent get mixed into the color/clear? I have a friend in the biz and he has spoken of how the flex agent alters the coloe, making it hard to match the body and that the stuff only has(d) a 6 month life. Meybe they are longer lived now. i hope your job is fantastic, but had to ask, Len.

 

[grapeknutz]

Looks good Len! What do you charge for a repaint?

 

[nyernga]

Looks nice --- from afar Len, but two questions. Can't you provide some LARGER pic's, and second, pull that masking off, tell us and show us how it matches up! AND, don't forget the Clear :L

I'm photographically challenged but I'll try another set of pics. Just finished the 5th coat of clear. May do one more. I'm not painting the license plate filler so I've been using that to check the color match. Almost a dead on match. Once it's all polished up it should look great.

Len

 

[nyernga]

Wow. I am not a painter, but that seems like a lot of paint going on. Doesn't the flex agent get mixed into the color/clear? I have a friend in the biz and he has spoken of how the flex agent alters the coloe, making it hard to match the body and that the stuff only has(d) a 6 month life. Meybe they are longer lived now. i hope your job is fantastic, but had to ask, Len.

Mixing the flex agent is old school from what I was told. I used a flexing/bonding spray BEFORE the primer. It goes on seperately.

Len

 

[nyernga]

after 5 clear coats

The license plate filler hasn't been painted so you can see how close the color match is.

 

[Eric]

Very nicely done Len!

- Eric

 

[nyernga]

Very nicely done Len!

- Eric

Thanks Eric. Heres a few shots unmasked but unpolished

 

[Moonunit 451]

WOW, Len that really looks great! I still wish you could get a little larger pic than 79 whatever it is though. Perhaps you could elaborate a little more on the process and equipment you used :cool

 

[nyernga]

WOW, Len that really looks great! I still wish you could get a little larger pic than 79 whatever it is though. Perhaps you could elaborate a little more on the process and equipment you used :cool

My buddy Eric has offered his help in posting larger pics. I'll be sending him some this afternoon. The only adjustment I have for resizing is by pixels. Anything larger than 190 won't post. Like I said....I'm challenged..:W

Len

 

[Jeroenvgfn]

Just out of curiousity, why didn't you take off the front bumper to paint it ?

my point of view that will be easier and also saves you taping the lights/hood


can you take a picture out of the garage ? sunlight will be better for comparing the bumper and hood for color difference.

on the job it looks stunning :cool

my black paint is fading and I will try to polish up this summer, if it doesn't work then a complete paintjob will be in the planning for next year.

 

[nyernga]

Just out of curiousity, why didn't you take off the front bumper to paint it ?

my point of view that will be easier and also saves you taping the lights/hood


can you take a picture out of the garage ? sunlight will be better for comparing the bumper and hood for color difference.

on the job it looks stunning :cool

my black paint is fading and I will try to polish up this summer, if it doesn't work then a complete paintjob will be in the planning for next year.

It's easier to just mask it off then remove the whole assembly. Besides, had I needed to use the car for something, I'd be offering a "full monty" going down the road.
I'll move it out of the garage after the buffing "ceremony" tomorrow night. There will be some caybarring to remove some overspray on the parts that weren't covered but all in all not too bad.
And now I must go e-mail the pics to Eric for publication...

ps: Thanks for the compliment..

 

[nyernga]

Well, being the impatient person that I am, I started the wetsand/buffing/polishing process tonight on just the drivers side upper and lower front. I sent Eric the pics to post. It's starting to look very nice except for the compound "splatter" all over the car. I used 1000 grit paper followed by 1500 grit. I followed that up with a 2000 grit compound and so far one pass with the polishing compound. It's going to be a long weekend...Len

 

[SoLow]

How many coats of clear did you shoot?:W

 

[Eric]

I just uploaded all of Len's shots.

--->Click here to view the photos<---

I sized them kinda medium so they'd still be accessible to dial-ups.

- Eric