Work in a dry and warm place for better curing of the adhesive. 8 Inspect the bumper. Tips on Sanding Plastic Without Scratching It. Wet sanding with this waterproof sandpaper cleans the grit and washes away debris as you work, leaving a smoother finish in less time than dry sanding alone. Wet sand the parts with 400 grit wet on your rubber sanding block until smooth. This means that 40-grit sandpaper is very rough, but 4000-grit sandpaper is incredibly fine. 80 and 40-grit sandpaper for stripping. If you dont have a power sander, you can do it by hand. A filler product!!LINK!! The purpose of dry sanding is to take off the rough, caked on substances. You should paint over 400-grit. You can actually go even more coarser if youre doing a single stage enamel. 500 and 600-grit sandpaper for finishing. Close. It may take two or three rounds of pencil marks with the coarsest sandpaper to make the board flat. 424. Emery. Shake the jar of paint for about thirty seconds, then apply multiple coats of paint, about 10-12 inches away. Abrade the ABS to promote adhesion by lightly sanding it. INSTRUCTIONS: First, make sure the bumper is free of any imperfection. These sandpapers are used for the main body work process when cutting body filler (Bondo) shaping, feathering and final sanding when prepping for paint. Sanded, reshot the base and clear and finished if off just like metal. Sandblast everything with 80 grit aluminum oxide. ultra-fine) includes 800- and 1,000-grit paper. Clean the plastic with a detergent solution. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. Plastic Bumper Repair: For the original story, go to PopularMechanics.com We've all been there --hastily putting the car in reverse, failing to check the blind spot, and cringing at the crunch of bumper meeting barricade. Ideal for color sanding to a glass smooth finish. However, light streaking will still be present if you apply heavy force. Then use a "self etching" primer to prime over it. Cleaned the area, applied plastic filler slightly proud of the bumper. After the holes had been repaired I sanded the dings and gouges (and the parts I had just welded with plastic) down to a flush finish with 80 grit sandpaper and a sanding block. If you dont have any sandpaper, you could also use non-gel toothpaste to buff the area. Sanding my plastic bumper. Archived. Some people even paint over 280 grit-sanded surfaces. As such, 80-grit can be applied to the hood, roof or door panels of a car or van without leaving rough streaks. answer. Begin wet sanding with sandpaper of moderate coarseness, with a grit between 180-600. Sand the surface with 320-Grit and 500 grit sandpaper. Medium coarse sandpaper is graded between P80 and P180 on the grit level and offers a good level of paint removal, which is less likely to destroy the underlying surface. Remove the plastic piece from your car's bumper. Sandpaper is labeled on the back with the grit size. 5 Sand the surface if needed. Once your products arrive, its time to get to work. In the video above I show you the most common automotive sandpaper grits that are used for body and paint. Black Body filler (for deep scratches.) 2. Step 4. We Come To You Remove the plastic trim completely or tape off the sections of restoration How To Paint Plastic Car Parts (using aerosol bumper paint) Learnautobodyandpaint I used an Armour All product that worked nicely on the all areas but soon wore off after several hard rains and about 2 months Whether its your iPod, mobile phone or computer, scratches on Posted by 5 years ago. These areas are especially important to make sure the paint doesn't start lifting from these edges. Price: $4.95. Lauren - A new bumper would be $550, I would have to pay a shop to have it fit and prep for the Saleen pieces are horrible fitment right out of the factory. The stone chips were skimmed. Step 1: Lightly rub the scratched area with 3,000 grit sandpaper. I First, make sure the bumper is free of any imperfection. When youre done, use the abrasive pad and sand the bumper once again. The grit of sandpapers is a rating of the size of abrasive materials on the sandpaper. Advertisement Step 3 Wipe down the ABS with a tack cloth. The dry sanding is suitable for both plastic and metal bumpers but more effective for metals because the other increases the chances of corrosion. You have to use special primer on plastic prior to paint. 12. To sand them smooth your better off starting with a higher grit sandpaper. Sand the entire lens with 80 grit sandpaper using a dual action sander. turns rust into some other inert substance. mix master mark. Automotive touch up paint!!LINK!! To paint a bumper, start by removing the plastic bumper cover and washing it thoroughly with degreaser and water. Utility blades. 3. I use 180 to 220 to start, then work up from there typically to 320. Follow these steps to make sure you get the best results. Didn't use anything 'special' for plastic, just the 'normal' products. The kit contains pre-measured packets of epoxy resin and hardener, along with 80, 180 and 320-grit sandpaper, spreaders and fiberglass screen mesh. Medium-grit sandpaper (around 60-80) will suffice for most projects. Rubbing alcohol, and abrasive cleaner or stripper. Lower grit numbers represent coarser abrasives that scrape off materials much quicker. (To continue) -> Clean after moving up to different grit sandpaper. 2 Steps to paint plastic bumper. Do not touch the surface directly with bare fingers because the skin becomes soft during the washing procedure. Medium Coarse Sandpaper. Fandeli Wet Dry Sandpaper - Waterproof 400,320,220 Grit Sandpaper (25 Sheet Pack) - Professional Sandpaper for Metal, Lacquers, Wood, Glass & Plastic - Sanding Paper for All Types of Surfaces. 1000 to 1200 Grit When you need to remove base coat imperfections, this grit range will do the job. This will remove any roughness from the surface of the cabinets without taking off too much material. Dont use Aircraft stripper on those Urethane/Plastic parts or you will be in a world of hurt. For a 'V' grooved area, grind slowly using a 24 or 36 grit disc. Medium coarse sandpaper is graded between P80 and P180 on the grit level and offers a good level of paint removal, which is less likely to destroy the underlying surface. Follow these steps to make sure you get the best results. It will probably take two coats to restore contour properly. After this I skimmed the entire bumper with filler. Take your 80-grit sandpaper and vigorously sand the surface. Start by sanding the black primer using the 500-grit sandpaper. Follow these methods to sand plastic the right way and avoid scratching it as you do it: Utilizing a detergent solution, thoroughly clean the plastic.If the plastic is very grimy, try cleaning it using a solution consisting of equal parts water and vinegar with a soft cloth.Start the wet sanding process with sandpaper that has a moderately coarse grain and a grit that ranges EXPERT. There are two ways to approach this. Also used to rough sanding of body filler. Wipe the area with prep solvent, when dry. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Sand with the help of 80 grit paper around the damaged area. Because plastic scratches easily, coarse sandpaper grits aren't recommended. Auto Body and Paint Sandpaper Grit Breakdown. Lets start with the heavy duty grits and what theyre used for. 32 and 40 grit sandpaper can be used for sanding and grinding paint down to metal. It will allow you to cut out old body filler or shape new filler if you have some extremely high areas in your bodywork. In contrast to sandpapers in the 32- to 40-grit range, 80-grit sandpaper is gentler on the surface of vehicle panels. However, any cracks or splits should be repaired from the front and back. Itll just take a little longer. Fine Sandpaper/Grit Number 220400. If Polishing rags (microfiber works best.) Start with 40 or 60 coarse-grit sandpaper to rub the cracked area until it smoothes. $1400. Once all the pencil marks disappear on a single pass, it's time to switch to a medium grit sandpaper. When sanding a softer surface, such as plastic, you may need to start with a higher grit size, such as 120, to avoid excessive scratching. Top. If the cabinets are particularly old or damaged, you may want to start with coarse-grit sandpaper (40-60) to remove any flaking paint or varnish. When choosing sandpaper, its important to select the right grade for the job. That is an excellent grit to paint your base coat and clear coat over, including enamels or anything else that youre doing. UPDATE: Wet sanding and buffing resprayed bumper.. Looks much better! Also a good wipe down with alcohol or acetone to clean before paint goes a long way towards a cleaner painjob. If there are still a few little imperfections, dry the parts off well and lay another coat of the Hydroflex onto the parts. Start with the lowest grade sandpaper first, in this case the P320 grit paper. AUSTOR 36 Pieces Wet and Dry Sandpaper 3000 5000 7000 10000 Grit Sanding Paper Assortment 9 x 3.6 Inch Abrasive Paper Sandpaper for Automotive Sanding Wood Furniture Finishing. The most common grits are 60-80 (extremely coarse), 100-150 Never go coarser than that for scuffing to paint. Wet or Dry Grits For wet or dry sanding. Medium Grit Sandpaper/Grit Number 120180. Thats where the 3M Bondo Bumper Repair Kit comes in. Then increase the grit to 120 to remove rust stains or shape body filler. 180 grit A finer grit used to final sanding and feather edging body filler. And for a slightly smoother surface use the macro grit grading near 80 grits. Step 1: Lightly rub the scratched area with 3,000 grit sandpaper. Medium Coarse Sandpaper. You really want to get scratches into the chrome. Sand the primer with 300 grit sand paper. Remove bumper paint first. This stuff does the work for you. If you encounter any bumps, cloudiness, or "cat" scratches, just wait five minutes, sand again until smooth, and try again. The 600 pretty much just takes out the scratches that was left by the 400 grit. CAMI is used mainly in North America and FEPA in Europe. After the base coat dries for 30 minutes, wet sand any new imperfections with 1500 grit sandpaper. If you desire to get a rougher surface as an end result you may be using near to 30 grits. If all of the defects are completely gone, switch to 600 grit, and sand it again. Scuff with either 320 or 400 grit prior to primer then rescuff with 400 after primer. Step 6. ScratchLeveler or 2000 grit sandpaper.!!LINK!! Sanding it down and having it painted is only $200. -500-grit sandpaper -Abrasive pad (Scotch-Brite) -Surface cleaner -Clean cloth. Was this. Its perfect for removing corrosion, polishing steel, or other metals but not so great on wood because of the sharp edges! Step 4 HMAC300. 6 Wash the bumper. If you sanded straight down the plastic, to your hand about 10 degrees and sand with the 400. Supplies needed. Right down to the bare urethane, but no bumper damage whatsover. After sanding, the prior paint to dull and isopropyl alcohol to clean the bumper, use a tack cloth to pick up any small residue. When the cars bumper gets scratched or cracked, you either need to repair the bumper or replace it. Sandpaper grits are categorized by how coarse the abrasive material is. Leave it to cure, then took 120 grit and rubbed it flat. While a lower grit such as 60 / 80 etc will work you risk gouging the surface. Sandpaper is great at scratching the clear coat off your car bumper. That said, she got a couple of road booboos some time back on these plastic areas. Create V-shaped grooves. Step 2: Wipe down the surface with a microfiber cloth to get rid of any particles or debris. If it Sandpaper Selection Chart. If it isnt the case, fix them using body filler. Utility blades. 7. If I did it this way, it would be over $800. Didn't use anything 'special' for plastic, just the 'normal' products. Also, when do I use body filler? Rubbing alcohol, and abrasive cleaner or stripper. Step 5. 4 Warm the bumper. Features : Package include: 36 pieces high grit sandpaper assortment in grit 3000, 5000, 7000 and 10000, 9 pieces for each grit. This should give you a nice smooth matte black finish on the exposed plastic bumper. Re: Wet Sanding a Plastic Bumper. Go over the surface again with 80 grit sandpaper to bring the rest of the surface down to the low spot. 5. The coarsest grade, designated as extra-coarse, includes 24-, 30- and 36-grit paper. 1 Tools you need to paint plastic bumper. Plastic Welder, INSOUR Plastic Welding Machine Car Bumper Repair Kit, Hot Stapler with Pliers, Flat/Outside Corner/Inside Corner/Wave Staples, Carry Case, Sandpaper. The natural grain of this sandpaper will leave your metal shiny and smooth. Sand the surface with 320-Grit and 500 grit sandpaper. Wipe with damp cloth (water), wipe dry, paint with bed liner or whatever .If you ever build anything out of bare metal, welded or not you just cannot get every place sanded, and sand blasting is too much $$$ and time. Mikerocosms said: . You can use 400 if you wet-sand carefully. Sandpaper Grit Ranges . Take your water bottle (a bucket of soap and water works great too) and rinse off the initial white powder. Sanded, reshot the base and clear and finished if off just like metal. Fine grit, wet, and that will get into the crevices and holes better than sandpaper will. Load a palm sander with 300-grit sandpaper. Central Coast, CA. 4. That said, she got a couple of road booboos some time back on these plastic areas. Be sure to use the wet sanding technique for best results. 1500 to 2000 Grit When you need to smooth out surface imperfections and scratches before and after applying the clear coat, this is the grit range to use. This will also require the wet sanding technique to prevent clogging the sandpaper. For example, you could use 20 to 50 grit sandpaper for the first pass and finish with 60 to 80 grit sandpaper for the final pass on an orbital or belt sander. The wifes Subaru has plastic cladding on the lower panels. The wifes Subaru has plastic cladding on the lower panels. Flint. Wet sanding slowly levels out the surface of the plastic with a bit more force than toothpaste or baking soda, making it ideal for deeper scratches. 7 Dry the bumper. The grit you need depends on what you plan to do, as removing rust requires a different grit than stripping all the paint from the body of your car. Bill. Sandpaper grit ranges can be divided into two types: micro and macro grit sandpapers. Polishing rags (microfiber works best.) In rare cases, you may also need to use extra coarse sandpaper (16 to 24 grit) where you may want to quicken the task. 4. mix master mark's Profile; E-mail mix master mark; Settled In. Tip: When fiberglass bumpers crack, they will leave fiberglass hairs visible along the edges of the cracked area. Get it as soon as Tue, Jul 26. Or, use a cordless drill and a rotary file if your plastic bumper is the type that smears. Plastic or fiberglass bumper repair kit (depending on the type of material used in your cars bumper) Putty knife or Bondo spreader; Sand paper (180,80, 60 grit) Tape with moderate adhesion properties. If there is a P in front of the grit number, for example, P300, then you know it follows the FEPA grading system. It can be used for pre-primer sanding, rough primer sanding, fine sanding spot putty, and final body filler sanding. It is recommended to use a sanding block too. 600 to 800 Grit This sandpaper grit range is perfect for sanding surface imperfections in the primer, prior to paint application. Get everything corrected then re-prime with epoxy after applying adhesion promoter again over any bare plastic areas exposed during the sanding process. These coarser grades will still have an effect on the surface of your material, though it will be smoother than that of coarser paper. Flint is a natural, heat-resistant rock thats perfect for removing old varnish or paint. This type is ideal for polishing surfaces and applying coats Available in waterproof and non-waterproof sheets. Then, wet sand any rough spots with 600 grit sandpaper. Wait a day and finish the parts off with the 600 grit wet. WARNING: Be very careful when polishing plastic bumper caps, plastic mirrors and anywhere with a raised edge But I'm afraid of scuffing up the bumper with sandpaper and doing a crappy job But I'm afraid of scuffing up the bumper with sandpaper and doing a crappy job. Finer grits like 1200, 1500, 2000, and 3000 is used for finishing. Using the fine-grit sandpaper, sand the primer with light pressure until it feels smooth. 3 Remove the bumper if you want to. For auto repair and other metals, start with 60-grit paper if you need to sand down below the rust to repair deep scars. Alternatively, you may stick to 60 or 80 grit sandpaper on the orbital sander or belt sander and achieve the same results. If the lens is not scratched but only cloudy, start with 180 grit sandpaper. Step 2 - Sand. Black Body filler (for deep scratches.) 500 and 600-grit sandpaper for finishing. If you dont have any sandpaper, you could also use non-gel toothpaste to buff the area. UPDATE: Wet sanding and buffing resprayed bumper.. Looks much better! Repairman sanding plastic car bumper. Step 3 Wet sanding with 800-2500 grit sandpaper. Sandpaper sheets in medium 80 grit, Task Tools SH17080 80 Grit Signature Heavy Duty Sandpaper. A - complete bumper repaint, B - refinishing bumper and complete bumper (this is for dents in bumpers, plastic cracks or holes) C - spot paint repair (this is for minor scratches in corner, bottom lip or side of a bumper, near an edge of a panel or below a body line). This is where it gets fun. Medium: 80-Grit. The higher grit number is equivalent to a finer abrasive, which creates smoother surface finishes. The best way to paint over chrome is sand it with about 120 grit sandpaper. If you stop there, however, you'd have visible sanding marks. Spray a heavy wet coat; wait about 20 seconds for the solvents to disolve or emulsify any contaminants, then wipe with a clean paper towel. Sand just a little off the grain now. While cars equipped with plastic bumpers are liable and tend to get cracks even in small accidents. A filler specifically designed for polyurethane bumpers. Wet sanding means keeping a constant layer of water underneath the sandpaper as you work - a spray bottle is all you need for effective results here. If your surface is an intricate design, you are better advised to use medium course grade to protect the carved design beneath the paint. If your plastic bumper has scuffs and scratch damage, the repair can be carried out just on the front side of the bumper. It is coarse and will be able to cut through the thickest layers of clear coat. If the plastic is especially dirty, use a solution of water and vinegar (1:1) with a gentle cloth. Clean the plastic with a Polyvance plastic cleaner. 9 Remove the dirt. Five grits from fine 180 to ultrafine 1500 should handle most any repair. I've searched and read most of the plastic bumper prep threads, but I have an odd twist: 600 grit wet sandpaper instead? It is recommended to start at the low grit end and work your way up to 800 grit. So after the initial P180/P240 sand, I'd do another pass with P320 grit, and then another pass with P400 grit, and then another pass with an even higher grit, say P600 or P800. Wipe the bumper clean and dry it with a soft cloth, then spray on a base coat layer. The best strategy is to begin wet sanding with 220-grit sandpaper and make additional passes with progressively finer paper until you're happy with the appearance. 80 grit Used to strip paint from metal. It is recommended to use a sanding block too.600 to 800 Grit This sandpaper grit range is perfect for sanding surface imperfections in the primer, prior to paint application. Once the paper starts feeling like it is sliding off the plastic easily, move on to 600 grit. The finest grade (i.e. High-quality black bumper polish. STEP 4: Wet sand for deeper scratches. Bumper scratches can be an eyesore on your car but with the right method and a bit of patience you can fix the problem yourself. High-quality black bumper polish. Sanding helps open the wood grain to absorb stain or paint better. AM. Understanding your options will ensure you always know which one to choose for a perfect finish. To correct minor surface choppiness and create a uniformly smooth surface for painting, wet sand the whole bumper using 600-grit sandpaper. Do not touch the surface directly with bare fingers because the skin becomes soft during the washing procedure. I've seen people use 80 grit - 200 grit sandpaper to remove the paint, what grit is right to use? Step 2: Wipe down the surface with a microfiber cloth to get rid of any particles or debris. 2. Clean with scuff pad, rinse with water and then dry. 500-grit sandpaper; Abrasive pad (Scotch-Brite) Surface cleaner; Clean cloth. This 5-pack of Task Signature Heavy Duty Sandpaper has a significantly longer lifetime during rough usage than any competing sandpaper for both hand and machine sanding. In the video above I show you the most common automotive sandpaper grits that are used for body and paint. These sandpapers are used for the main body work process when cutting body filler (Bondo) shaping, feathering and final sanding when prepping for paint. If youre using medium grits for smooth wood surfaces, remember to use gentle strokes! Sand and contour plastic body filler with 80- and 120-grit, then finish with 400-grit waterproof sandpaper on a rubber block. Once your products arrive, its time to get to work. Use a Scotchbrite pad. The dry sanding is suitable for both plastic and metal bumpers but more effective for metals because the other increases the chances of corrosion. If your bumper is the type that powders when sanded, cut the grooves using a 24-grit disc attachment on a sander. Sand the plastic until it feels slightly rough to your fingertips. Posts: 67 Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:20 pm Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Country: Canada Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:30 pm After epoxy has set up for the required time 24 hours (min) -48 hours (better) then apply your choice of either conventional glaze or a bumper specific product like UPOL Stronghold. I then took 800 grit with water and went over it. Bill. You will ideally start with a coarser abrasive and use progressively finer ones to achieve a smooth result. Re: Wet Sanding a Plastic Bumper. 80 and 40-grit sandpaper for stripping. metal, has been providing quality power tool accessories. If your surface is an intricate design, you are better advised to use medium course grade to protect the carved design beneath the paint.