i got a new bumper from a junk yard and i need to paint the plastic piece red to match my truck. does anyone know the process of doing this right?
any help would be appreiciated.

 

Post a pic of what it currently looks like so we can get a better idea of what might need to be done!

 

The top part, like the bumper pad? If that is what you are talking about, get your paint code and take it to a Sherwin Williams and get some spray paint from there or you could get it from your local auto store. What I did was sand with 400, clean with rubbing alcohol, spray adhesion promoter, spray plastic primer with a flex agent in it, wetsand with 400, spray in light, even coats slightly overlapping each other. Then clear with duplicolor clear for best results and less chipping

 

yeah it is the top pad and i dont know how to post a pic in the thread but i already have one. but is there any one who has done a how thread that is very detailed so i can do it right? i mean i dont want to pay a place to do it i got quoted $100 dollars just for that plactic piece and i thought that was outrageous.

ok so answer me this:
1. what is wet sanding?
2. how many coats of the duplicolor?
3. what do you mean clear with duplicolor?
4. how long does all of this take?

i'm sorry to sound picky or demanding but i just want details so i can make sure i do everything right. thanks

 

Wetsanding is just getting sandpaper wet and then sanding keeping the sandpaper wet with water or water/few drops of dishsoap. I used 4 coats of Krylon Fusion but thats cuz I wanted black and not matching. Duplicolor makes the best clear coat. Clear coat is used to make it shine and protect the paint from chipping. Took me prob >3 hours with all the prep and drying time included. I dont have a write up but I could try to do one after I finish class

 

ok that would be awesome i would really appreciate that. can you make a list of supplies that i would need so i can go by the stuff?

 

Materials:
Bulldog Adhesion Promoter
Plastic Primer
Duplicolor True Match
Duplicolor Clear Coat
400 grit sandpaper
Optional:
3M rubbing compound no. 7
Meguiars Plastx

1. Either mask off the chrome bumper or pop the white clips out and remove bumper pad using instructions here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/19...-end-swap.html
2. Clean bumper pad off with degreaser such as a water/dishsoap solution
3. Sand with 400 grit until it feels a little rough so the primer will stick to the plastic
4. Clean off any fine particles with rubbing alcohol (Do not touch any areas you will paint after this so it does not become contaminated with fingerprints or anything)
5. Spray Adhesion Promoter in light even coats covering the entire surface
6. Repeat step 5, 1 or 2 more times
7. Wait appropriate time for it to dry
8. Apply sandable plastic primer (Plastic primer is important because it has a flex agent in it so the paint does not crack when the plastic bends)
9. Repeat step 7, once more covering the entire piece
10. Wait for primer to dry.
11. Wetsand with 400 grit to scuff up the primered piece. DO NOT PRESS HARD. Guide the sand paper across the piece
12. Wait for piece to dry and wipe off any debris that may have gotten on the piece
13. Apply Duplicolor True Match (iirc) in light even coats
14. Repeat step 13 until you have achieved proper coverage and color
15. Wait for top coat to dry
16. Apply Duplicolor Clear Coat very lightly so not to accumulate and form drips or spots
17. Repeat step 16, 2 or 3 more times
18. Wait for piece to dry
19. Place back on chrome bumper
20 (Optional). Use rubbing compound on plastic after a day or so. Follow up with Plastx

 

ok thank you so much i think this will help. and i dont think this will make a difference but i have a 98 so my top pad is not the same as yours but it should be the same process. so thank you so much

 

i couldn't find the rubbing compound but i did find the megiuars plastx should i just skip the rubbing compound and use the plastx?

 

Ya that should be fine. Ace carries rubbing compound, not 3M but it works if that helps at all

 

Updates?

 

go to my picture album and there is a picture of the new painted bumper pad on my truck. i don't knowhow to put them in the thread

 

 

 

Looks really good. hows the color matching in person?