| Author | Message | ||
| Mike Heron (Mike_in_ga)
Registered Member Username: Mike_in_ga Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 68.215.173.210 Rating: N/A |
My MCI 96A3 has those large black rubber bumpers, but mine were painted white some time ago to match the rest of the coach. I don't think they were adequately prepared, because some of the old bumper paint is peeling or cracking. I doubt a primer was used. I am repainting the front of the bus (acrylic enamel), and some people tell me to add a flex agent to the same paint, then shoot the bumper. Others tell me that unless the bumper is going to flex a lot, the agent is not really needed. Advice? Also, should I just sand the existing paint on the bumper, or should I use a compatible stripper? I know that the trusty Aircraft Stripper is murder on plastic and rubber... Thanks in advance. Mike | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member Username: Kristinsgrandpa Post Number: 376 Registered: 2-2003 Posted From: 64.24.211.92 Rating: N/A |
The local paint shop guru told me the best way to strip a plastic bumper is by sand blasting, he says he has never had any luck with the water based strippers. With that info I stripped and painted a neighbor girls front bumper and it worked great. The painting is a little tricky as you need to use an adhesion promoter, which replaces the primer, and a flexible additive in the paint. The adhesion promoter I used came premixed and went on a little different (thinner) than I was used to. To insure a smooth surface I applied 2 thin coats at about 15 mins. between coats. I got all my info and materials from NAPA (Martin Senour paint). Look around on their website for more info and good instructions. http://www.martinsenour-autopaint.com/refmaterials/refmaterials.html Look at the PDS product data sheets for info on what to use. The adhesion promoter I used was 6247 which is a dark grey, but the car is a dark red. The 6246 is clear and would probably work better with white. Click on the blue numbers on the product data sheets for complete instructions on using any of their products. Even if you don't use Martin Senour paint the info will give you an idea of what to use. I'm sure every paint manufacturer makes their own line of adhesion promoters and flexible additives. My brother uses PPG only and has painted a couple of buses a couple of airplanes and a dozen or more cars and truck. The last car he painted was a Toy-tojo and the PPG looked better than any factory job I've ever seen. If you try any water based strippers and have good luck with it I would like to know because I still have two more bumpers to paint. The sand blasting was slow, but did a perfect job. Ed. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 276 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.240.213.149 Rating: N/A |
Mike....are you talking front and rear bumpers. or, perhaps, the wheel rubber fenders..... If the wheel rubbers, they are called Rub a Fenda, as I recall, and are available from Austinhardware.com. FWIW  | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 263 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 76.220.195.63 Rating: N/A |
Mike, Check out the links below on rubber paint products, application and prep. I also plan to paint my rubber bumpers and wheel well fenders, but haven't decided on what to use. I have seen several 102 bumpers and wheel wells painted and they look great. But they will spider if hit with enough force. How much, I don't know. I'm planning to paint the bus with Kirker Acrylic Urethane, but plan to experiment with some old tires before I use it on the rubber sections. Last year at the Rickreal Oregon rally I saw a thick, durable, shiny black rubber coating on a 102's bumper. Looked great, but I couldn't get any useful info about what it was. If I find out, I'll let you know. http://vespazine.blogspot.com/2006/01/whitewall-tire-paint-application-how.html http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/other/tirepaint.htm http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/tire-paint-76731.html |