How to Refinish a Flexible Bumper
- 1). Remove the clear coat, paint, chips and other rough unwanted sections of the flexible bumper with 200-grit sandpaper. Ensure the entire area is scrubbed with medium force. Use a terry cloth to wipe the surface; look for any shiny spots on the bumper. If any are found, use the sandpaper to rub those areas. Continue until the entire bumper has a flat and scuffed appearance.
- 2). Soak the 800-grit, wet sandpaper in a bucket of water. After five minutes of soaking, remove the paper and wash the bumper thoroughly. Wipe every area intended to be resprayed. Wash off the bumper and wipe dry with a terry cloth. Visually inspect the bumper to ensure it has a flat, smooth finish with no rough spots.
- 3). Prep the plastic bond primer in a "high velocity, low pressure" paint gun. Spray the surface using an even, back and forth motion. Put three total coats on the bumper, spacing each coat over a 30-minute interval. Allow the final primer coat to dry between one to three hours.
- 4). Spray on the base coat/clear coat epoxy with an HVLP paint gun. Spray in a similar motion as the primer; every stroke should cover approximately half of the previously sprayed stroke. Put three total coats on the bumper, sprayed over a 24 to 48 hour span. Allow the final coat to cure for approximately seven days.
- 5). Soak the 1200-grit wet-sand paper in a bucket for five minutes. Very lightly wash the surface of the bumper. Do not stay on one section of the bumper for a prolonged period of time. Stay away from the edge of sharp corners entirely. Dry with a terry cloth.
- 6). Apply rubbing compound to the entire bumper's surface with an applicator pad. Allow the rubbing compound to dry on the surface of the bumper. Use a terry cloth to remove the film with a swirling motion. Rinse the surface with water. Allow it to dry.
- 7). Apply a thin coat of polishing compound to the bumper using a new applicator pad. The polishing compound should be rubbed in swirling motion with very little force. Allow the polishing compound to produce a film after drying for approximately five minutes. Remove using a clean terry cloth. Wash the bumper with a mild detergent and water, and then pat dry.
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