Spray painting a bumper??

[ChrisD]

Last year I purchased a used warn rear bumper and need to clean it up before installing.

Which primer / paint should you use to touch up a bumper that will provide that stock black finish? Also what it the best way to remove the current original finish, not sure if it is powder coated or painted.

[schwalby]

I use a basic primer and paint when doing my sliders, bumpers and tube fenders. I figure I am going to beat them up on the trail and have to repaint anyways so I go cheap.

Not sure on the best way to remove the old stuff. I would guess if it is just paint i would sand with a course paper first to get down to something the primer can stick to and then a low grit to get rid of all the scratches.

[Carl McFly]

I use a basic primer and paint when doing my sliders, bumpers and tube fenders. I figure I am going to beat them up on the trail and have to repaint anyways so I go cheap.

Not sure on the best way to remove the old stuff. I would guess if it is just paint i would sand with a course paper first to get down to something the primer can stick to and then a low grit to get rid of all the scratches.

X2

[johnsxj]

A wire wheel or flapper disc on a grinder works good for removing existing finishes.

Rustoleum paints hold up pretty well, but take longer to dry.
Krylon dries fast (laquer based) but doesn't hold up as well.

Brushing on the primer coat tends to last a little longer than sprayed on.

[nostaw]

2x what John C said... Best thing to do is sand (or some type of media) blasting, but a wire wheel or flap wheel is usually "good enough".

w.r.t. paint -- I've had really good luck with Rustoleum Automotive Primer and then their Industrial Enamel for a top coat, typically in a spray can (usually just more convenient than a brush, but I've done that too)... It is key to do good prep work to get the paint to stick and prevent rust from coming through later. You may want to consider using a rust reformer type paint (Rustoleum makes one of these) for a primer, as they can be a little more forgiving than regular automotive primer if you miss some of the rust. After sanding and before I paint I usually wipe everything down with Bra-Kleen or some kind of grease dissolving solvent and then blast it dry with an air gun to take off grease / oil and or and dust / grit which may be left by the sanding process.

I've found I get best results on days which are nice and dry and where I can leave the part(s) out in the sun to "bake". Leave the parts alone as long as possible to let the paint dry before installation too --at least a full day or two once you finish to really dry before you install it.

JW

[84cj]

http://certifiablejeep.com/images/curti ... 0_0555.jpg

Painted my jeep with a rattle can of rust-oleum.

Curtis

[Captian Carnage]

I used Rattle can metal primer + paint easy way to touch it up also Just run emery cloth over it to take off any thing loose thats all I ever do to bumpers or rocker protection After it will get hit again Right ??

[Opie]

I used Rust-Guard Hammered Effect spray paint. You can skip the primer if you want (I didn't), it goes right over rust, the color is just on the grey side of black, so it matches the faded color of everything else, and the hammered metal effect is very forgiving in the finish department. A once a year touch up is all I do, unless I scrape something really good.