Re: Spraying bump strips
Here's a few more pics I took when I painted them. Quite pleased with the finish!
From what I remember doing, I would say the following:
NB (*) = See below!!
• FIRST mask everything off. I recommend leaving the strips on the car, as when they've been taken off you really can't get them back on again as they used to be(*)! On the side strips I used the tape stick-side out and got it down the join of the bumpstrip, to make sure it stuck to the strip not the car and no runs could ever get onto the car's paintwork(*). Then mask off a big area with newspaper (overspray really can get anywhere, so do as much as you can(*)!) Obviously with the bumpers, just mask normally. Ideally of course you'd want to get the whole bumper resprayed professionally to get the best finish, but try your best to mask it to the deepest part of the crevice, as you WILL always see the edge of the new painted area when you look really closely(*) (not that when it's been on for more than a day you'll ever look that closely ever again!)
• next give all the bumpstrips a good rub down with some fine wet n dry. Even though they are already nice and smooth, it's important to do this to get them clean, as any 'back to black' stuff that has been used it the past, or anything else, will stop the paint from adhering properly, and it'll start to flake one day soon(*).
• Use PLASTIC PRIMER. Very important. Normal primer will just react and go all funny(*). A few coats, with a light rubdown in between.
• Use paint that HAS BEEN MIXED FOR YOU, even if your colour is on the shelf. The spray pattern is much better. The off the shelf can's have a tiny round spray pattern, the mixed-up ones have a nice wide fan spray. Usual spray technique applies. Even speed and distance, and if you get a run DO NOT TRY AND HELP IT, WIPE IT UP(*), etc !!! You'll have to leave it a day or two and rub it back. Try and avoid runs altogether by not getting impatient! It's always that 'one more will do it' touch of the spraycan that results in the runs! Give it a nice steady pass with the spray and leave it at that for half an hour or so before the next coat!!
• Laquer is a funny one- it usually ruins any finish I've managed to get(*)!! I found a motorspares brand can gave me a better finish that a Halfords one. They're all pretty poor, mainly again because of the spray pattern. Just try your best to give it an even finish without runs.
Try and remove the masking without it pulling your paint off with it!
Hope this helps! Let me know if I need to clarify anything.
(*)= Try and avoid all the problems I had! (Not to scare you!)
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