Painting my bumpers, alternate color?

[bobstad]

I'm a fan of Gogol Bordello, the Gypsy punk band led by Eugene Hutz; whose anthem "Start Wearing Purple" has me fantasizing about painting the Festiva bumpers front and rear, purple.[http://www.gogolbordello.com/ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogol_Bordello

I have several cans of enamel paint, four ounce ones bought at a place getting rid of them cheaply; which seem to be good quality, rust-resistant, similar to Rustoleum. I don't have any purple, though imagine mixing red & blue would get that?

Also, of my solvents to clean the bumpers with prior to painting, are either Namptha or Methyl Ethyl Ketone alcohol I just got a new can of in Ballard at a big hardware store there on the waterfront in Seattle. Either is residue free though the MEK is more aggressive while also more toxic to use, I have some gloves now to deal with to reduce the problem. I doubt either Namptha or MEK would be corrosive to the plastic of the bumpers, though am far from sure about the latter?

I'm wondering if I should sand the bumpers, prior to painting? As is usual, I imagine several thin coats superior to globbing paint on thick. With sufficient drying time between coats, of course. Probably a couple days at least, with the high humidity of a port town on Puget Sound with the summer's heat quickly waning.

I'm also thinking of painting the roof with some primer similar stuff I have; which is a rust-preventative, that goes on clear then turns black when dry. Since I've started to have rust show up there, only noticed recently.

I'm also getting mold or moss on the rear bumper, since always facing north when parked; which is something I first noticed on the neighbor's car who parks next to me and has been here longer.

[TheresGabe]

If you are talking about the GRAY factory bumpers, no paint in the land is going to ever stick to them... Your best bet is to get GL bumpers if you are going to paint them.

[bobstad]

Too bad!

If you are talking about the GRAY factory bumpers, no paint in the land is going to ever stick to them... Your best bet is to get GL bumpers if you are going to paint them.

Well, with my budget considerations grey seems to be the only choice here. Darn: I thought with plastics anything was possible?

[bobstad]

AND, does red & blue make purple; for any other projects?

[FestYboy]

If you are talking about the GRAY factory bumpers, no paint in the land is going to ever stick to them... Your best bet is to get GL bumpers if you are going to paint them.

^ dude, shut your hole and learn something.

Bob, first, an enamel paint won't flex and expand/contract with the bumper, so you're looking at cracking soon after it cures unless you add a flex agent to the paint.

blue and red will make purple but you'll need to add some white to make it pop, utherwise it will be VERY dark (this is assuming that you have pure cyan and megenta for mixing) start with a blue base and add red and SMALL amounts of white (and I mean really small) untill you get the shade that you like.

DO NOT use MEK to clean the bumpers, it's really agressive and can melt the many plastics quickly. instead, use a powerful degreaser like purple power and follow up with denatured alcohol to remove the remaining residue.

[Movin]

Dang it , its going on two years now pushing through sage brush, manzanita, and down
trees, all on trails..now I am dreading its going to fall off some day!!

LoL if I ever hang that rubber paint stuff up on something and it catches real good
it would be one awesome horizontal bungee jump!!

Edit, here is a pic..

[TheresGabe]

^ dude, shut your hole and learn something.

Bob, first, an enamel paint won't flex and expand/contract with the bumper, so you're looking at cracking soon after it cures unless you add a flex agent to the paint.

blue and red will make purple but you'll need to add some white to make it pop, utherwise it will be VERY dark (this is assuming that you have pure cyan and megenta for mixing) start with a blue base and add red and SMALL amounts of white (and I mean really small) untill you get the shade that you like.

DO NOT use MEK to clean the bumpers, it's really agressive and can melt the many plastics quickly. instead, use a powerful degreaser like purple power and follow up with denatured alcohol to remove the remaining residue.

I'm REALLY confused on what I need to "shut my hole" on my friend.... I fail to see where in your post, that you explain that painting on the bumpers that ANY body shop will tell you won't hold paint well, that I have from experience seen not paint well, hold paint well.

Am I missing something DUDE?

[scitzz]

Bob, first, an enamel paint won't flex and expand/contract with the bumper, so you're looking at cracking soon after it cures unless you add a flex agent to the paint.

What would you use for a flex agent, and if not enamel, what WOULD be best? I am sick of these faded bumpers and back to black products never last long. I would gladly paint them black!

[blkfordsedan]

What would you use for a flex agent, and if not enamel, what WOULD be best? I am sick of these faded bumpers and back to black products never last long. I would gladly paint them black!

You can buy pAint made just for bumpers. If you go to an auto body supply store, they should hAve multiple shdes of grey, chrcoal, etc..

[Aaronbrook37]

You can buy pAint made just for bumpers. If you go to an auto body supply store, they should hAve multiple shdes of grey, chrcoal, etc..

[wrongfulleaf]

Did you sand your bumpers way down before painting or did you just get the dirt and grime off? I used some stuff that was alot like boot polish but for trim that looks good but only lasted a little over a year. I would much rather paint so that it will last longer. I like the black wayyy better than the grey.

Thanks in advance!

[Aaronbrook37]

Did you sand your bumpers way down before painting or did you just get the dirt and grime off? I used some stuff that was alot like boot polish but for trim that looks good but only lasted a little over a year. I would much rather paint so that it will last longer. I like the black wayyy better than the grey.

Thanks in advance!

I did just a little with some high-grit to get off a few scratches and sticky spots (Goo Gone to help) and it worked really nicely. Quick wash and dry does the trick... don't even need primer or anything. The best part is that I carry a can around with me in the car sometimes, so if anything ever hits me while parked or I bump into a little scuff-producing object, I can do a touch-up right there. Black is a million times better for sure, especially with matching side moldings.

I hope this isn't too much of a thread jack... I know it isn't blue or red bumpers, but it's certainly of relevance to bumper painting!

[TheresGabe]

I gotta admit that I'm blown away. When did this stuff become available? I've been out of the festiva bumper game for 7 years. Last time I took a festiva into a body shop and tried to get a quote to paint the entire body, they laughed at me, and said that nobody would paint the gray bumpers.

[Aaronbrook37]

I gotta admit that I'm blown away. When did this stuff become available? I've been out of the festiva bumper game for 7 years. Last time I took a festiva into a body shop and tried to get a quote to paint the entire body, they laughed at me, and said that nobody would paint the gray bumpers.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/bumperCoating/

Stuff is phenomenal... four colours, no priming, and no problem at all. Definitely look into it when you get the chance to! You can definitely tart em up, that's for sure. The other option of course would just be to use Krylon and rattle-can them... that paint will stick to anything, including Festiva bumpers.

[TheresGabe]

I've tried the Krylon fusion, and it gets dusty and rubs off when I have tried it on Festiva bumpers...