Do-it-yourself local bumper painting

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Any car owner tries in every possible way to maintain his car in a decent form. Today, there are a lot of polishes, liquid glass and other means to protect the paintwork. However, if you are “grounded” in the parking lot, none of the above remedies will save you from scratches. Especially if it's deep damage. The way out of the situation is local painting of the bumper. It is quite possible to make it with your own hands. Let's see how.

Can I avoid repainting?

It is not always possible to restore the surface without this operation. But if the damage is not too deep, then abrasive polishing can save the situation. Now the bumpers have a very thick layer of paint. And if the scratch has not reached the “base”, you can try to restore everything without re-enamelling. But it is worth remembering that abrasive polishing removes a certain percentage of varnish. The main thing here is not to wipe the paint up togrounds.

All you need is an angle grinder with a felt attachment and abrasive paste. When rubbing it, the upper part of the paintwork is removed. Thus, you can restore the old, factory look without painting. In the case of deep deformations, only repainting will help. But what's the point of pouring over the entire element if the scratch is only a couple of centimeters long? The most compromise solution is local painting of the bumper.

What do you need for the operation?

So, to complete the work we need:

• Waterproof sandpaper.
• Primer (special, for plastic).
• Putty (when repairing deep damage).
• Paint tape and film.

As for the paint itself, it must be numbered. Knowing the enamel code, you will definitely hit the color. Now there are paints not only in cans (for a spray bottle), but also already pumped into a spray can. The main thing is to clarify the factory enamel code. It is located on a plate in the front of the engine compartment (or on a sticker at the pillar).

Preparation

It is worth noting that this operation can be performed without removing the bumper. Local painting in this case means spraying enamel directly onto the surface. But first, this area needs to be prepared. First, it is washed away from dirt (preferably with water and shampoo). Next, you need to process the area with sandpaper.

An important point - do not rub the paper "dry". The skin must be wetted in water. Even better if she stands there for 5-10 minutes. You also need to choose the right grain size. Less is better. So you will not need puttying and additional leveling of the surface before local painting of the bumper.

After the water has dried, treat the area with a degreaser. It is important to pay attention to the entire area of the bumper, including the places where it comes into contact with the edge of the wing and headlights. It is here that dirt accumulates most often, and it is very difficult to wash it off. If local bumper painting is carried out in such areas, the enamel simply will not stick to the dirt and will peel off during the first high pressure wash.

Should I use putty?

In the course of such restoration work, the question arises of the appropriateness of using this material. Do I need to apply putty on the bumper? The answer to this question is very ambiguous. So, it is recommended to level the surface in case of deep damage (for example, if black plastic under the paintwork is clearly visible). If you managed to sand smoothly, putty is not necessary. For maximum leveling of the surface, it is worth using medium grit sandpaper, put on a flat wooden block.

In the case of major damage, putty is indispensable. The composition must be used according to the instructions. First, mix the material with the hardener, then apply it to the surface with a spatula. After drying, we process the area with sandpaper. If necessary, apply another layer.

Please note that putty whenmixed with a hardener, it hardens in 3-5 minutes. After that, it turns into a real stone (at the same time, the barrel with the composition itself is very hot). Therefore, we mix the paste with the hardener in small portions, otherwise we will have a lot of waste and unused material.

How is local bumper painting done next?

After leveling the surface, you can start applying enamel. For better absorption, a primer is first applied to the area. After it dries, you can apply the first coat of paint. Try to spray as far as possible.

The next layer will be made from a close distance (approximately 35 centimeters). Do not bring the can or spray bottle close to the surface - streaks may occur.

When the enamel has become a uniform color, it's time to make a "transition". It needs to be smoothed out so that the appearance of the car remains as factory as possible. How to do it? How to locally paint the bumper?

The main enamel is applied under a narrow flame. Further, it must be increased, gradually moving away from the repaired area. If painting is done with an airbrush, a solvent should be mixed into the composition. It will create a wash effect and link the new polish to the old one. Simultaneously with the increase in the torch, we also change the distance from which we apply the enamel. The farther we are from the site, the wider the torch and the greater the distance (up to 60 centimeters).

Don't forget about film

Please note that pollen is scattered throughout the area of the room. Especiallyif you gradually increase the width of the torch and the distance. Therefore, it is necessary to cover not only the headlights and fenders, but also the rest of the body. Otherwise, it will be in colored pollen.

Polishing

At the final stage, the element is polished. Moreover, not only the site itself is processed, but the entire bumper. The polishing itself is carried out on the second or third day after painting, when the composition has already taken a solid form.

The procedure can be done manually, but for the best result, you should use a special circle. Do not use a drill or grinder for this - the speed of these tools is too high. So you run the risk of overheating the paint, partially removing its layer. This will entail a complete repaint.

Conclusion

So we figured out how partial bumper painting is done. Local repair is a painstaking procedure, but you can do it yourself.