how do i go about painting this? - Focaljet

**3xzsucof** · 05-03-2006, 01:53 PM

Ok i got a bumper from england recently, i knew it had a plastic lower part that wasnt painted it comes stock like this. it has little bumps all over it, kinda like a milk carton. Im goin to paint over this part, but i want to do the prepwork on the bumper to save some money. what should i use to fill in all the little bumps? i cant really sand it down. should i use bondo, primer, or what? idk what to do about this one. thanks!!

**FadedSole** · 05-03-2006, 03:48 PM

320 > Bondo (optional) > 600 > Primer (3 coats) > 600 > base coat (3 coats) > clear coat (1-2 coats) > 1500 > cut and buff

Its harder than it looks. Lots of tedious work really. I work at a body shop and do this all day long. Haha

hope it helps.

**LornesBored** · 05-03-2006, 03:52 PM

couldnt have said it better myself!

**3xzsucof** · 05-03-2006, 03:54 PM

well im not painting it, im just going to primer it, also the upper portion of the bumper is painted. can i just leave this painted for when i go get it painted? or should i sand it?

**FadedSole** · 05-03-2006, 04:04 PM

painted like gloss primer paint? which is usually black or grey. if it is then sand it with 600, i know it sounds stupid but the primer that the factory puts on isnt that good. or if its actually painted get some scotch brite (grey pad) and some soap + water and start scuffing. your essentially knocking down the clear coat.

**3xzsucof** · 05-03-2006, 04:13 PM

ok thanks once the primer dries completely, im going to sand down the painted portion. thanks again

**3xzsucof** · 05-03-2006, 06:07 PM

would it be wise to get some duplicolor in a can and paint it myself. i just watched a commercia w/ a focus in it and they painted some parts on it. i would do it right, but im just wondering if the paint from duplicolor is the same pitch black as my car is. also if the paint is of good quality enough to do it.

**2focusd** · 05-03-2006, 06:42 PM

I don't know about where you live but we have a paint shop here in town that can match up your color using the paint code on your door tag, I'd go for that route if you're going to paint it yourself

-Brian

**Azwethinkweiz** · 05-03-2006, 08:37 PM

The ONLY time you can count on the door tags is with black paint...anything else most likely wont match. Even factory matched paint is usually as inaccurate as say dupont or PPG because the paint is so inconsistant coming off the assembly line. Every car is slightly different, making matching paint damn near impossible using only the paint code, factory paint or PPG. Trust me I do it every day...The Flop will never match (changing color tones because of the metal flake) and the tints will almost always be off.

**FadedSole** · 05-03-2006, 08:53 PM

If you plan on doing it urself then the best way to get a match is remove the fuel door and go to your local auto paint store and have them match it. Your only going to really need about 2 pints of paint base coat, with reducer and hardener its a sufficient amount for a bumper. However, I dont recommend doing anything spray can from primer or basecoat. This is becuase spray can paint is THIN so its more layers, and the more layers you do the likely hood something will go wrong and chip.

While it is a cheaper route to spray can a bumper or soemthing I do highly recommend using actual CAR PAINT and a spray gun to paint the bumper.

**3xzsucof** · 05-03-2006, 10:41 PM

ahh, ill do it right and get it professionaly painted. I judt dont want to mess it up. even tho i honestly think i could do a good job. its just not work the hassels of fixing a possible screw up.

05-03-2006, 01:53 PM	#1
3xzsucof Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south Jersey Posts: 1,757	how do i go about painting this? Ok i got a bumper from england recently, i knew it had a plastic lower part that wasnt painted it comes stock like this. it has little bumps all over it, kinda like a milk carton. Im goin to paint over this part, but i want to do the prepwork on the bumper to save some money. what should i use to fill in all the little bumps? i cant really sand it down. should i use bondo, primer, or what? idk what to do about this one. thanks!!

05-03-2006, 03:48 PM	#2
FadedSole Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nor. California Posts: 1,303	Re: how do i go about painting this? 320 > Bondo (optional) > 600 > Primer (3 coats) > 600 > base coat (3 coats) > clear coat (1-2 coats) > 1500 > cut and buff Its harder than it looks. Lots of tedious work really. I work at a body shop and do this all day long. Haha hope it helps. __________________ 03 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII R.I.P 03 Ford Focus SE

05-03-2006, 03:52 PM	#3
LornesBored [FJ] Special Ed. Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 9,002	Re: how do i go about painting this? couldnt have said it better myself! __________________ Post whore turned super lurker...

05-03-2006, 03:54 PM	#4
3xzsucof Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south Jersey Posts: 1,757	Re: how do i go about painting this? well im not painting it, im just going to primer it, also the upper portion of the bumper is painted. can i just leave this painted for when i go get it painted? or should i sand it?

05-03-2006, 04:04 PM	#5
FadedSole Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nor. California Posts: 1,303	Re: how do i go about painting this? painted like gloss primer paint? which is usually black or grey. if it is then sand it with 600, i know it sounds stupid but the primer that the factory puts on isnt that good. or if its actually painted get some scotch brite (grey pad) and some soap + water and start scuffing. your essentially knocking down the clear coat. __________________ 03 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII R.I.P 03 Ford Focus SE

05-03-2006, 04:13 PM	#6
3xzsucof Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south Jersey Posts: 1,757	Re: how do i go about painting this? ok thanks once the primer dries completely, im going to sand down the painted portion. thanks again

05-03-2006, 06:07 PM	#7
3xzsucof Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south Jersey Posts: 1,757	Re: how do i go about painting this? would it be wise to get some duplicolor in a can and paint it myself. i just watched a commercia w/ a focus in it and they painted some parts on it. i would do it right, but im just wondering if the paint from duplicolor is the same pitch black as my car is. also if the paint is of good quality enough to do it.

05-03-2006, 06:42 PM	#8
2focusd [FJ] Addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Uniontown, PA Posts: 13,434	Re: how do i go about painting this? I don't know about where you live but we have a paint shop here in town that can match up your color using the paint code on your door tag, I'd go for that route if you're going to paint it yourself -Brian __________________ Godspeed, Colin McRae, may you live on forever as the reason countless people fell in love with the Ford Focus (myself included). 1968-2007 http://www.f2focus.com

05-03-2006, 08:37 PM	#9
Azwethinkweiz Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 3,523	Re: how do i go about painting this? The ONLY time you can count on the door tags is with black paint...anything else most likely wont match. Even factory matched paint is usually as inaccurate as say dupont or PPG because the paint is so inconsistant coming off the assembly line. Every car is slightly different, making matching paint damn near impossible using only the paint code, factory paint or PPG. Trust me I do it every day...The Flop will never match (changing color tones because of the metal flake) and the tints will almost always be off. __________________ [FJ] [ Sponsors ] [ Search ] [ Exterior How-To's ] [ Interior How-To's ] [ ax0n's FocusHacks ] [ Guidelines ] [FJ] .

05-03-2006, 08:53 PM	#10
FadedSole Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nor. California Posts: 1,303	Re: how do i go about painting this? If you plan on doing it urself then the best way to get a match is remove the fuel door and go to your local auto paint store and have them match it. Your only going to really need about 2 pints of paint base coat, with reducer and hardener its a sufficient amount for a bumper. However, I dont recommend doing anything spray can from primer or basecoat. This is becuase spray can paint is THIN so its more layers, and the more layers you do the likely hood something will go wrong and chip. While it is a cheaper route to spray can a bumper or soemthing I do highly recommend using actual CAR PAINT and a spray gun to paint the bumper. __________________ 03 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII R.I.P 03 Ford Focus SE

05-03-2006, 10:41 PM	#11
3xzsucof Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: south Jersey Posts: 1,757	Re: how do i go about painting this? ahh, ill do it right and get it professionaly painted. I judt dont want to mess it up. even tho i honestly think i could do a good job. its just not work the hassels of fixing a possible screw up.

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