Bumper restore

[leapin]

Ive tried the back to black and such and I am to lazy to paint. But the VW ers taught me something!

[2xclutchin]

Pic doesn't seem to work for me?

[fastivaca]

It's actually a video that's not showing up. Follow this link to see it.

[leapin]

Thanks Ian! Doing it from the phone doesn't always work right. Mod could fix please?

[Grey Vw]

I tried that with a torch and imploded my bumper...

[scitzz]

Huh. Gonna have to try that, good show!

[sketchman]

Works on many kinds of plastic too. I've even used progressively finer sandpaper and finished with the heat gun on plastic headlights instead of buying the $30 refinishing kit.

[Safety Guy]

At last Madness, Festyboy (IIRC) simply used a spray can of something (tire cleaner?) on bumpers and moulding and it worked without any rubbing at all. Not sure how long it would last though.

I used "Restore Black" and it worked fine. It's been a year and I'm still happy, but supposedly you may have to repeat every few years.

Karl

[Larry Hampton]

DON'T DO IT!!! I did it to the back bumper on my Sport Trac and now it looks worse than before. Oh it looked like new at first, but over time it got WAY worse.



I had had the bumper replaced, but the black caps were original and chalky (BUT NOT THAT CHALKY), now the bumper is messed up too.

[hodginsa]

I believe bumpers are the easiest thing on a car you can paint. And will look good.

[Safety Guy]

After what Larry posted I have to say I don't think applying that much heat to an old bumper is that great of an idea! Figures it would age it more later on. Kind of like suntanning too much when you're young, then getting old and wrinkle-y!

Karl

[scitzz]

At last Madness, Festyboy (IIRC) simply used a spray can of something (tire cleaner?) on bumpers and moulding and it worked without any rubbing at all. Not sure how long it would last though.
.

Karl

I think that was me, and it didn't last but a month...


I am on my droid right now, leave my grammar alone, and don't expect a book for a reply!

[Grey Vw]

I believe bumpers are the easiest thing on a car you can paint. And will look good.

I don't like painted black bumpers. It takes away from the OEMness of the bumper.

Restore black looks good but it doesn't last as long as it says. It looks really good for a couple of months but then starts fading fast.

[Safety Guy]

"Restore black looks good but it doesn't last as long as it says. It looks really good for a couple of months but then starts fading fast."

How fast? I did mine last summer and it still looks great. If it's faded I can't tell.

I looked it up. I did Restore Black last July, almost exactly one year ago.

Before:



After:



Latest picture, taken within the past two weeks:



Pictures aren't perfect, but it appears there may have been a bit of fading. IMO, not much, and I doubt I'll have to redo it for another year. I don't need "perfectly black" bumpers. Dark grey is fine with me.

(That fender trim is off a Mk I Jetta. I got the two fronts to see how they'd look. I may one day use them.)

Karl