Painting an OEM bumper

I am a noob when it come to painting.

I bought this white 01 bumper and want to color match it to my lunar mist. I just got done sanding it and noticed when I was sanding it paint was chipping off in certain areas (also there were parts chipped off when I bought it). My concerns are:

1) If I prime, paint, and clear coat, will it flake off because the bottom layer is not adhered?
2) Should I get all the paint off then sand, paint, and clear?



Thanks!

 

bump

 

Sand Any chips until smooth with the rest. If you're going to primer it 180 grit is fine. Block primer afterwards then paint and clear it.

 

Yeah I was using 220 grit to get the clear and paint off. So I shouldn't be worried about the original paint not adhering to the bumper, it just got chipped?

 

No it should be fine unless the original paint is defective and coming up. But more than likely just chipped off from being hit by rocks or something. Just make sure to feather edge and it should be good to go.

 

Alright great thank you! I seems sturdy else where. I'll probably sand it one more time and make sure all chips are smooth.

With that. Do I have to fill in the chips with something to make it smooth with the paint? I don't feel like 3 coats of primer will make everything smooth

 

If you're using a good filler primer that should be enough. You could wipe some putty glaze and block it to make sure everything is smooth if you wanted.

 

Paint keeps flicking off when I sand it. Should I just strip it all off?

 

Yeah just hit it with some 80 grit then 180 for primer

 

Should I apply actual paint stripper? Or just sand it all the way down?

 

Just sand it.

Bodywork isn't quick. Stripper is a bad shortcut.

 

Just sand it.

 

Also you're getting advice in Live, so try not to spread out too much. You'll miss info or at best spend twice as long trying to get it.

 

I see why people charge lots of money for automotive painting.

Alright will sand with 80. Prime it, sand after primer, paint, clear, then do I have to worry about wet sanding? Not sure if I can do that

 

Yeah I saw. I'll stop posting in live

 

If you lay it down slick enough and not much trash you can get away without wet sanding and buffing

 

Awesome, thank you. I hope I don't need to. Dont mean to bug you but since you are very knowledgeable about this how do my steps look?
1 - Sand 80 down to plastic
2 - First coat of primer
3 - Sand 180
4 - 2nd coat of primer
5 - Sand 180
6 - First coat of paint
7 - 2nd coat of paint
8 - first coat of clear
9 - second coat of clear

 

You should wet sand between paint layers and clear coat layers of you want a highest quality finished product.

I would at least wet sand before clear coat and probably between clear coats, and after the final clear coat. Then buff.

 

Sweet, so
1 - Sand 80 down to plastic
2 - First coat of primer
3 - Sand 180
4 - 2nd coat of primer
5 - Sand 180
6 - First coat of paint
6.5 - Wet sand (maybe)
7 - 2nd coat of paint
7.5 - Wet sand for sure
8 - first coat of clear
8.5 - wet sand
9 - second coat of clear
9.5 - wet sand
10 - Done / buff

 

Well sense it is a bumper and will probably get hit by rocks. Is there something I can put over the clear coat or instead of clear coat? (like the rocker panels on the side of my truck have a more textured coat)