Hi all just thinking of giving my new bumper a spray on my own, happy with the spraying just want some advice on the prep work i need to do its a fibreglass bumper any help please.

funkysi is pretty handy with a rattle can (a function of a mis-spent youth no doubt :x: ) in fact hasn`t he has just posted a faq about this sort of thing

will have a look.cheers more advice wanted though.

i is there any damage or patching needs doing, the best thing to remember that prep is 99 % of the job i would wet flat it down with 800 and prob 1200 before primer, use some fairy liqiud in the water and it will make the job much easier! then once you have put it in primer do the same and flat it off before your top coat.

 

anyone else?

stop watching the footy and help this man!

Have you offered the bumper up to the car though for a trial fit? On the whole, most fibreglass bumpers have an absolutely dreadful fit and it may require trimming before giving a nice fit. In some cases, you may need to pad out the base of the wings so that the contour follows that of the bumper...remember fibreglass does not bend!

 

Check the gel coat is in good condition. If it is, a light rub down is all that's necessary. Gel coats are usually a shiney surface and you need to burr it up a bit. Get some 40 grit on there. Sand it until all the shine has gone so that you get an even matt finish. Don't sand too hard as you'll go through the gel coat.

 

Be warned if you leave any glossy sections then the paint will not stick and is very likely to peel later. Equally you can not prepare the surface using a scotch pad or the paint is also likely to peel.

 

If these products are to be painted using cellulose paints then you will require a self etch primer prior to your normal primer to help adhesion. If it is to be painted using modern 2 pack paints then plasticiser and adhesion promoters are not required, provided you use a 2 pack primer suitable for use on fibreglass, and provided that it is sanded very thoroughly. Paint only peels from fibreglass if it has not been correctly sanded or cleaned!!!

Cellulose is still very widely used, and available everywhere, however It requires more work afterwards than 2 pack to get a nice finish, but its easier to fix mistakes.

 

2 Pack gives a fantastic finish from the start, but it is harder to repair mistakes, and it is extremely poisonous and most places do not recomend it to anyone without expensive air mask equipment (not standard spray masks) and a Ventilated spray booth. 2 Pack Lacquer in particular is far superior to the Cellulose Lacquer than most cars are sprayed with.

Thanks for the advice the bumper is a good fit just need to get a bracket to hold it better..cheers again.