Best way to restore black plastic trims/bumpers?

[Aust162]

Hi everyone, wondering what most people do to restore their faded,scratched plastic grills and bumper bar end caps?

When i wash them and put an armoral style product on them it looks good (for about 2days!)

i was thinking of repainting them. K&H do a product called bumper and trim paint and they make a satin black (closest colour to original i'd think?)

what are your thought?

thanks in advance.

here are the parts in question:

[Omegaman]

for deep grooves, there's a soft flexible putty you can use.
As far as painting, you can get a black paint with a texture look. similar to the roughness of some of the old plastic bumpers. I don't have any product details for you, but they do exist.
Other wise, take them to a bumper repair mob.

[Aust162]

thanks omegaman,

re: the bumper endcaps i was thinking of sanding the grooved area in stages (coarse to fine) and rubbing the whole thing back and trying the k&h bumper trim paint. i read its a "flexible" paint too which is a good thing.

I know this topic isn't exciting (no motors and turbines!) but its something i want to do once and do properly. the bumper endcaps for panelvans are no longer available so i don't want to stuff this up!

any more tips will be much appreciated.

[mattysshop]

make sure you use heaps of wax and grease remover before painting!!

the K&H 'bumper black' seems to be pretty good as it is relativley flexible.. and isn't like most matt black paint that goes almost grey...

[Omegaman]

i also think you may need a flexible primer. Well years ago you did. otherwise the paint will peel.
The new paints may have this included.

ggod luck.

[Aust162]

Mattysshop: got 4lt of wax n grease. i love that stuff

The colour is the big thing. i dont want it matt or gloss. They state the colour as "Satin black" which should be a close match to the original plastic.

Omegaman: I will definitely look into the primer and see what k&h recommends to use. the last thing i want is to be washing my car with a high pressure washer and watch the paint flake off!

[mattysshop]

this is that K & H stuff... all the bumper, and side plastic trims are painted in it...

it's nicley satin

the Septone stuff on the other hand is super matt.....

[Aust162]

^ that's exactly the finish i want cheers for posting that pic.

going to pick some cans up on the weekend and make a start.

[troysota]

PM me I have a Bumper Texture Fix spray as well as Satin Black spray these are used in most Panel Shops.

[1JZ-Rolla]

I've used the K&H bumper/trim paint too (on windscreen surrounds) and its quite textured, doesn't matter if you put down a thin or heavy coat either, seems more to do with the nozzle design on the can.

For some reason, it stains quite easily too, like where you clean off bugs etc.

Let me know what sort of result you get from it for comparison.

Cheers
Phil

[Aust162]

Hey Phil, what sort of primer did you use?

Love your van btw. great build

[1JZ-Rolla]

Hmmm...... that's a good question, there was already faded black paint on them, so from memory I think I may have just gone straight to the topcoat after rubbing back with scotchbrite pads?

Thanks mate, you got any more pics of your pano, other than your avatar?

Cheers
Phil

[dangdang]

If you don't want to paint this is the gear I use, its auto glym and can be found at autobody supply shops, its petroleum distillate based and restores the plastic to its new look, last did my bumpers and mirrors 6mnths ago and they still don't look faded and dry. To do the smooth shiny (not textured) plastic like the mirror below, rub it with 2000 grade wet and dry and buff with cutting compound..comes out like its painted deep gloss black Some pics I took today, just a quick rub...

[1JZ-Rolla]

nice dangman, thanks, will give that a go.

[Aust162]

If you don't want to paint this is the gear I use, its auto glym and can be found at autobody supply shops, its petroleum distillate based and restores the plastic to its new look, last did my bumpers and mirrors 6mnths ago and they still don't look faded and dry. To do the smooth shiny (not textured) plastic like the mirror below, rub it with 2000 grade wet and dry and buff with cutting compound..comes out like its painted deep gloss black Some pics I took today, just a quick rub...

You need some +rep sir! thanks for posting that, but now i have to make a decision between painting and using the Autoglym!