Jecht
05-01-2009, 12:15 PM
I already posted this on MX5atlanta, but I figured I'd share it here too. I repainted my faded bumpers with nothing but spray cans.
Everything I've done in this thread should be easy to find at local paint places - the sandpaper, spray primer, spray clear. Finding a place to match the paint to the color code was harder. Legend shared this place with me:
Slack Auto Parts
2023 Atlas Circle
Gainesville, GA 30501
770-535-6020
They paint matched it for me and put it into a spray can. Everything else I got from Touchstone Paint in Marietta.
SOURCES
http://www.autobody101.com/articles/article.php?title=Rattle%20Cans
http://clubroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27307
Legend
WARNING
I did this on my car, I like the way it has turned out so far. Know what you are doing before you just go out and do this though - not thinking it through and planning will botch the entire paint job.
SUPPLIES
To start with, you need to get your paint code off your car. For the NAs, you can find it on the sticker by the door latch on the car. You'll need it to match the paint.
Second, I got the paint matched to the stock Classic Red (paint code SU). Now every paint place doesn't do this - I had them mix it and put it into a regular spray can.
So here is a full list of supplies:
-Color-code matched spray paint
-Spray primer (I used two cans for two bumpers)
-Spray clear
-600 grit, 1000 grit, and 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper
-plenty of clean rags and a bottle of rubbing alcohol
-Rubbing compound to buff
-Regular automotive wax
-Painter's tape and newspaper or whatever else you will use to cover the car
PREP WORK
The first thing I did was wet sand the bumpers with 600 grit sandpaper. This might be better with a lower grit, but I didn't want to put any unnecessary scratches in the plastic. At this point I also removed the Mazda sticker on my front bumper and removed the turn signals and bumper lights.
I then sanded with the 600 grit one last time and blew the dust off with my air compressor then cleaned the bumpers off with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag.
I prepped the car by using painters tape and making sure I had the rest of the car well covered so I wouldn't spray the paint that is good on the rest of the car. I used 2-3 layers of newspaper taped to the car and a tarp we had laying around.
COVER EVERYTHING YOU DON'T WANT PAINTED. In these pictures I haven't put down the tarp I had over the middle of the car. We also accidentally deleted the first batch of pictures, this is after I laid 5 coats of the paint down.
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/213/dsc02238rkb.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5456/dsc02239y.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7479/dsc02241z.jpg
Cleaned it one last time before spraying the primer
PRIMER
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6251/dsc02215.jpg
To ensure it sprayed properly and adheres properly, I let the primer cans warm up in a bucket of warm water for a while. Then shake them for a couple of minutes - not just a few seconds!
Starting at the top of the area you want to cover, spray an even coat in one area. Move your arm instead of your wrist. You also want to make sure you have the spray nozzle exactly parallel to the area you are spraying. This will ensure that one area doesn't get a thicker layer than the rest. Do this for the entire area and let each line you spray overlap each other slightly.
Let it dry a while according to the instructions on the primer spray can and then lay down a second and possibly third coat. Let it dry completely according to the instructions. Mine said to let it dry an hour or two before spraying the paint.
BEFORE PAINTING
Wetsand the primer with 600 grit. Blow the area off with an air compressor or something, then clean it all with rubbing alcohol and another clean rag.
PAINTING
Again, spray the same way you did with the primer. It will look odd at first. It looked pink to me. Just make you spray it and leave a decent coat on there. When you spray more coats of the paint, it starts to look much better. I did a total of 6 or 7 coats on each bumper. This took three of the spray cans.
AFTER PAINT
Wetsand with either 600 or 1000 grit it some to remove any imperfections. I had some areas I made some obvious mistakes on and this is when I hid them. Again, blow the area off and clean with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag.
CLEAR COAT
Spray this the same way you sprayed the primer and the paint. Smooth and even. I'd do two layers simply because we will be doing sanding and some finishing touches in a bit.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Wetsand the clear coat with 1000 grit and make sure its even, then wetsand with 2000 grit. Blow it off and clean it with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag. Buff it with the rubbing compound. For the last bit, wax just the area you've just painted well. It should shine nicely.
How it looks finished:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2341/dsc02245u.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6296/dsc02246s.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7926/dsc02242gyv.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2231/dsc02244z.jpg
I hope nobody screws up their car with this. :o
Everything I've done in this thread should be easy to find at local paint places - the sandpaper, spray primer, spray clear. Finding a place to match the paint to the color code was harder. Legend shared this place with me:
Slack Auto Parts
2023 Atlas Circle
Gainesville, GA 30501
770-535-6020
They paint matched it for me and put it into a spray can. Everything else I got from Touchstone Paint in Marietta.
SOURCES
http://www.autobody101.com/articles/article.php?title=Rattle%20Cans
http://clubroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27307
Legend
WARNING
I did this on my car, I like the way it has turned out so far. Know what you are doing before you just go out and do this though - not thinking it through and planning will botch the entire paint job.
SUPPLIES
To start with, you need to get your paint code off your car. For the NAs, you can find it on the sticker by the door latch on the car. You'll need it to match the paint.
Second, I got the paint matched to the stock Classic Red (paint code SU). Now every paint place doesn't do this - I had them mix it and put it into a regular spray can.
So here is a full list of supplies:
-Color-code matched spray paint
-Spray primer (I used two cans for two bumpers)
-Spray clear
-600 grit, 1000 grit, and 2000 grit wet/dry sand paper
-plenty of clean rags and a bottle of rubbing alcohol
-Rubbing compound to buff
-Regular automotive wax
-Painter's tape and newspaper or whatever else you will use to cover the car
PREP WORK
The first thing I did was wet sand the bumpers with 600 grit sandpaper. This might be better with a lower grit, but I didn't want to put any unnecessary scratches in the plastic. At this point I also removed the Mazda sticker on my front bumper and removed the turn signals and bumper lights.
I then sanded with the 600 grit one last time and blew the dust off with my air compressor then cleaned the bumpers off with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag.
I prepped the car by using painters tape and making sure I had the rest of the car well covered so I wouldn't spray the paint that is good on the rest of the car. I used 2-3 layers of newspaper taped to the car and a tarp we had laying around.
COVER EVERYTHING YOU DON'T WANT PAINTED. In these pictures I haven't put down the tarp I had over the middle of the car. We also accidentally deleted the first batch of pictures, this is after I laid 5 coats of the paint down.
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/213/dsc02238rkb.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5456/dsc02239y.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7479/dsc02241z.jpg
Cleaned it one last time before spraying the primer
PRIMER
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6251/dsc02215.jpg
To ensure it sprayed properly and adheres properly, I let the primer cans warm up in a bucket of warm water for a while. Then shake them for a couple of minutes - not just a few seconds!
Starting at the top of the area you want to cover, spray an even coat in one area. Move your arm instead of your wrist. You also want to make sure you have the spray nozzle exactly parallel to the area you are spraying. This will ensure that one area doesn't get a thicker layer than the rest. Do this for the entire area and let each line you spray overlap each other slightly.
Let it dry a while according to the instructions on the primer spray can and then lay down a second and possibly third coat. Let it dry completely according to the instructions. Mine said to let it dry an hour or two before spraying the paint.
BEFORE PAINTING
Wetsand the primer with 600 grit. Blow the area off with an air compressor or something, then clean it all with rubbing alcohol and another clean rag.
PAINTING
Again, spray the same way you did with the primer. It will look odd at first. It looked pink to me. Just make you spray it and leave a decent coat on there. When you spray more coats of the paint, it starts to look much better. I did a total of 6 or 7 coats on each bumper. This took three of the spray cans.
AFTER PAINT
Wetsand with either 600 or 1000 grit it some to remove any imperfections. I had some areas I made some obvious mistakes on and this is when I hid them. Again, blow the area off and clean with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag.
CLEAR COAT
Spray this the same way you sprayed the primer and the paint. Smooth and even. I'd do two layers simply because we will be doing sanding and some finishing touches in a bit.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Wetsand the clear coat with 1000 grit and make sure its even, then wetsand with 2000 grit. Blow it off and clean it with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag. Buff it with the rubbing compound. For the last bit, wax just the area you've just painted well. It should shine nicely.
How it looks finished:
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2341/dsc02245u.jpg
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6296/dsc02246s.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7926/dsc02242gyv.jpg
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2231/dsc02244z.jpg
I hope nobody screws up their car with this. :o