To paint or not paint the fiberglass bumpers?

[Intercooler]

My car is white and the new fiberglass bumpers are gel-coated black. I was thinking about sanding them, using flexible parts primer and painting them white with flexible parts white until I get the whole car painted next Summer. Only problem with this is I can't find white with the flex additive in a spray can to do it. I was told without it it will chip and when I get ready to have it sprayed next year this may all have to come off again to do the job right. It kind of bothers me to run the car with black bumpers but would this be the better option until next year rather than screw with it now and possibly make more work for the shop next year?

 

[Red Regal T]

No........you don't have to use flex paint and whoever told you that you do, doesn't have a clue. White enamel will do.

 

[Intercooler]

They said eventually it would start cracking. So do you think I should paint them for now or just wait? My only thinking here is if I do paint them and later the shop says they need to strip it to do their work it may cost more than what it is worth to have them done now. Not a body and paint man so if anyone with this skill-set knows fill me in.

 

[Red Regal T]

First of all, fiberglass is not a flexible panel so therefore doesn't require a flexative. If you're going to paint them with spray can paint, I wouldn't bother. All that is necessary is to scotchbrite the panel and have the right color of paint shot on at a shop. Very simple and inexpensive for any amateur painter.

 

[Intercooler]

I would agree with you but just materials to paint two bumpers (hardener, etc..) was over $125. I didn't know fiberglass wasn't a flexible part. Thanks for the info.

 

[Red Regal T]

It never ceases to amaze me what thieves these auto paint store people are. Anyhow, all you need is a quart of enamel and some hardener to paint both your bumpers. Have them make up some synthetic enamel in your color code. Should be around $20. Harderner is about $15 a pint (which is enough for a gallon of paint). If you have to buy a gallon of reducer, you can always use whats left over for a degreaser, or wax remover. You should also have some fisheye eliminator.......you'll have to use a couple drops.

In case your wondering, I have prepped and painted hundreds of cars.

 

[frankg]

Get the stuff so i can paint it for you. So that way i will have some practice for painting my car. Frank

 

[turbosam6]

I paid $100 each to have my glass bumpers sanded, painted, buffed, etc. NO flex agent, they look great still, and no cracking. I do suggest you have the back of the bumpers shot, too, because I didn't and you can see the fiberglass on the back one. Of course, my cars black, so its worse.

 

[Doug Jacobson]

I used plain old code 11 white for mine from PPG. Base Clear.

When I painted my car I asked about using flex additive on the bumper fillers. I was told the flex additive eventually evaperated off and was only used to aid in the assemble after painting, so they wouldn't crack when I put them on, then after a couiple weeks the flex additive would have exaporated out of the paint.

Here is some pics of how it turned out. http://www.gmmodernmuscle.com/~blackws6ls1/doug/

 

[tc86gn]

The flex agent does not evaporate. It becomes part of the paint and allows it to flex a little bit without cracking. Only a little bit though.

 

[Intercooler]

Originally posted by turbosam6
I paid $100 each to have my glass bumpers sanded, painted, buffed, etc. NO flex agent, they look great still, and no cracking. I do suggest you have the back of the bumpers shot, too, because I didn't and you can see the fiberglass on the back one. Of course, my cars black, so its worse.

Had already planned on doing the inside so looks like a good idea!

 

[Intercooler]

Originally posted by Doug Jacobson
I used plain old code 11 white for mine from PPG. Base Clear.

When I painted my car I asked about using flex additive on the bumper fillers. I was told the flex additive eventually evaperated off and was only used to aid in the assemble after painting, so they wouldn't crack when I put them on, then after a couiple weeks the flex additive would have exaporated out of the paint.

Here is some pics of how it turned out. http://www.gmmodernmuscle.com/~blackws6ls1/doug/

Your car looks extremely nice! I hope I can find the PPG paint around here because the match looks good. What stuff did you use and how much of each thing will I need to buy to paint two bumpers? What is the outlay? Thanks!

 

[Doug Jacobson]

Actually the match isn't as good as I'd like it to be. When I painted the car a few years ago I used DuPont Chroma Base clear. I couldn't get Chroma from the place anymore so I bought the PPG It actually is getting to match better with time, it was too white at first, it will depend on the mixer too. They should be able to take a sample from your car and get a direcrt match.

It came in around $150 for materials to paint them. I used some glazing compound to get them straight (if you notice there will be divits where the bumperets and the licence plate hardware was. Fill these and sand them down to 320. Then I put a thick layer of primer surfacer on (featherfill which I had laying around) block sanded to 320 again, then I layed down a white 'Omni' (PPG's cheap line) 2 part primer sealer. Then base coat topcoated. After the clearcoat was dry I masked off the trim piece (which was molded to the bumper yours may be different) scuffed it with a fine Scotch Brite pad, and painted with SEM trim black paint, I think you can get that in spray cans but I had a pint left over form when I did the car. I then bought some 1/8" white pinstripe and layed it in the little grove in the impact strip.

Hope that helps a little

 

[Doug Jacobson]

Oh, I scuffed the parking lights with 220, primed and painted them too with the SEM trim black. I think I just used rattle can primer, as I didn't want to clean the good stuff out of the gun. Don't forget to use wax and greade remover before you lay down each layer of paint, don't what fisheyes.