2003.2tl

I am looking to paint my front bumper on my 2000 TL.


Can anyone suggest a process for this? grit for sandpaper? how much paint do I need? etc

thanks!

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

Honestly, if you have to ask, you're probably not ready. It's not an easy thing to paint AND have look good when you're done.

Acuracy02

I just had my bumper off my 2002 TL-S ABP refinished. Cost me $320 with labor and paint done at a local Honda dealer. I have a discount there, but I would have paid full price, the work (of course based on the painter) was flawless. Might be worth the investment to have it done for you. My $.02

myTaLizaS3.2

I use 600 grit to sand it down till there's no more clear. then get primer and hit it with primer, then sand it down with 400 grit, and then 600 grit until the primer is no longer rough, but smooth. then hit it with primer sealer. If you are painting your bumper, lets say blue, then use a light blue primer sealer. One quart of paint should be enough for that one bumper. then clear.

fsttyms1

. If you want it to look good you wont be doing it by a spray can

fsttyms1

There is no need to sand the clear off. What your looking to do is dull the finish with 400-600 grit. The existing paint will be the primer. There is also no need for primer (given the condition of the bumper primer may be needed to do some filling) As for color primer you really wont be finding a large variety of colors, typically with lighter colors its grey, darker colors its black, red is usually red or grey depending on the hue of red.

1 quart is enough to spray way more than the bumper. a pint unreduced (=1 quart sprayable) is more than enough. Also it wouldnt hurt to have a flex additive added to it as well

myTaLizaS3.2

ohh yeah, you're damn skippy. you better not paint with a spray can. you might as well throw the bumper away because it'll look like crap. I was giving you directions assuming you had a paint booth. Just take a city college painting class like I did.

fsttyms1

See above

myTaLizaS3.2

actually, you do have to sand off the clear. I took the auto body paint class. If you spray over the clear, the paint wont' hold. And yes there is a need to primer. The paint needs to hold onto something, which is the flexible primer since the bumper is urethane. And no, after sanding off the clear, assuming it's a stock bumper, there will be PAINT, not primer. And as for the color of primer, I meant primer sealer. You didn't read it correctly. I agree, there's not much colors to choose from for primer, but for primer sealer, yes there are.

fsttyms1

And i too have taken autobody/paint/frame class, 4 years of to be exact, and routinely paint cars and many other things. You dont need to sand the clear off. What your doing is sanding the clear to allow the paint to stick. dulling with 400-600 it is all you will need to do, the existing paint/clear will be your primer. There is no need for a primer sealer. Only need to prime the areas that need it to help fill and blend.

myTaLizaS3.2

Kris, got any pics of ur work? I wanna see them. Well, the way I was taught was to sand off all the clear. I guess your methods are different. Anyways, the primer sealer was used only when you have primer. you are correct. If you are painting a bumper, you'll need to put flexible primer or else it'll crack. Trust me on this one. My first paint job on a bumper was without flexible primer and I got into one little bump and it cracked like no other. My next paint job, I put the flexible primer on and if you even dent the bumper, the paint won't crack. I got pics of my integra painted. wanna c?

2003.2tl

I was actually going to the dealer to get a spray can that is a color match not just any duplicolor type can

I've painted my honda front lip and it looks fine...just never done a bumper and wanted instructions

so the concensus here is to NOT paint w/ a spray can or paint it properly with a spray can?

fsttyms1

If you use the method i described (given that teh bumper isnt in too bad of shape) the original material acts as the primer. I still add teh flex additive to the paint, it doesnt hurt to have the protection. Ive sanded many many cars this way and was taught this was as well.

myTaLizaS3.2

i understand what you are saying kris. The stock paint is a good primer, but the thing is that the paint wont stick onto it that well compared to being on flexible primer. if you were to take two bumpers, one that was sprayed with flexible primer, and one that didn't have flexible primer and hit it at the same spot, i can guarentee that the one without the flexible primer will chip. Not doggin you or anything, but with the method you were taught, i just feel that it's a half ass job IMO.

2003tl... the spray can can never compare to a spray gun job. I will not agree on that. Unless you show me a flawless job that a spray can can do compare to the correct way.

fsttyms1

some of my work (few examples)
front fenders hood and bumper


Bugs splatters on hood in this pic(not taken after painting)


Painted whole car, stripes were a after thought



Not polished yet






Equipment

myTaLizaS3.2

very nice here are mine, get ready...


BUMPER HAS FLEXIBLE PRIMER

TAPED UP





PRIMER SEALER



BASE COAT







THEN THE CLEAR


AND BAMM!!

Bob_F

Wow Kris,

Very impressive!

Bob

2003.2tl

any thread on how to remove the front bumper?

2000 TL

laidback93

You boys got skillz!