DIY paint matching

mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
About 2 months ago I went full retard at a stop light and idled forward into the car in front of me. Of course it hit perfectly that it dented my bumper in and put a nice crease in the lower plastic valance. The valance was already pretty beat up from rock chips and had some paint flaking so I'm not to upset about the whole ordeal..

I can fix it myself for less than my $500 deductible. So here is what I plan to do...
New bumper
New lower valance
Paint match the front end

My hood is straight but has seen it's fair share of rock chips so i would like to repaint that as well. I'm pretty handy with a spray gun as I used to do the finishing work on high end cabinets and furniture. But I have never painter a vehicle before.

I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about this as well as what materials, sand paper, paint, primer and clear coat to use...this will all be done in my standard garage, no heat booth or anything.

My truck is olympic white...what hardeners, reducers and paint brands would you guys use? I'm 100% confident I can do it succesfully, I just need some suggestions with products you guys have used to do some vehicle painting.
 
dirtydmax

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
1,091
4
38
46
muskoka,Ont Canada
Your code is prob wa8624,go with a single stage poly urethane,easy to spray,looks really good and fairly cheap,im a painter by trade so any questions just ask away.
 
hondarider552

hondarider552

Getting faster
May 28, 2008
10,627
2
36
34
Arizona
make sure to use a plastic adhesion promoter.

On my LBZ when it was colormatched they actually did adhesion promoter, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, then 3 coats of greystone metallic. It's easiest for the paint to stick if the surface is flat and by building up/sanding the primer on the textured bumper cap it will "fill in" the small holes int he plastic.
 
dirtydmax

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
1,091
4
38
46
muskoka,Ont Canada
Yes,single stage is all together vs base clear,base(color) then clear as far as primer any 2k meaning a primer with a hardener will do,many of the cheaper primers now a days are not bad to work with/east sanding,If you have lots of chips on the hood I usually strip the first 12"or so of the hood than put a good feather edge of the paint followed by sanding the rest of the hood than prime.If you have a couple chips up further use some putty to fill. wa8624 has been around for a long time so the color match on your fenders should be ok
 
dirtydmax

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
1,091
4
38
46
muskoka,Ont Canada
hondarider552 said:
make sure to use a plastic adhesion promoter.

On my LBZ when it was colormatched they actually did adhesion promoter, primer, sand, primer, sand, primer, then 3 coats of greystone metallic. It's easiest for the paint to stick if the surface is flat and by building up/sanding the primer on the textured bumper cap it will "fill in" the small holes int he plastic.
Click to expand...

If your referring to painting textured plastic the easiest way to do it is sand flat with a palm sander with 320,watersand with 600-800 to getrid of the fuzz followed by a wash with liquid laundry detergent to clean the mold relese agents.A quality adhesion promoter than primer with a flex ajent,sand,paint
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
This is all good info! Fortunately for me I have a gmc so I don't have the "textured" bumper caps like the Silverados do. What grit would you recommend sanding the hood back with? I for sure will need to do the 12" strip like you are talking about.
 
dirtydmax

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
1,091
4
38
46
muskoka,Ont Canada
Since your priming I would 320 the paint on hood before prime,make sure you use an etch primer under the highbuild primer unless you get one that doesn't need it,I always do it anyways with a rattle can etch for some insurance. Etch primer is for bare metal to bite in.
 
NC-smokinlmm

NC-smokinlmm

<<<Future tuna killer
May 29, 2011
5,198
362
83
At Da Beach
When I paint matched my LMM I had the epoxy primer that flexes sprayed on the bumper to keep from getting rock chips. Might want to look into it...
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Alright well I decided to just order an already painted lower front valance and new chrome bumper. I figured I would leave the big piece to the professional and have my hand at paint matching the grill and little stuff.
 
H

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
4,433
0
0
Your grille will be EASY!
Just use something like;
Krylon paint for plastic.
It's made to bond to plastics! Clean your grille really well and use duplicolor paint prep spray before you paint.

I think you could tackle the hood yourself, sounds like you've got the skills, so don't sell yourself short. If you're really worried about leaving a line, once you've done the 12" strip and feathered the edge you can always sand out the clear on the whole hood stepping with some 1000, 2000 and 3000 grit and re-clear the whole thing. Wet sand with 3000 and 5000 and buff with a DA or a rotary polisher if you're brave
;)

Luckily you're working with a solid white, no metallic or dual stage color, should be an easy paint job.

But then again, I think you should be able to get the whole hood prepped and shot for around $350...and let someone else worry about it
:thumb:
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Hmm I'm not sure i want krylon spray paint on my truck:D

it's not so much that I'm worried about screwing it up, buying the already painted valance just let's me assemble my front end and worry about paint matching later. I wouldn't want to drive around with a primed front valance:)
 
mike diesel

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
New bumper and valance showed up this afternoon. Got them installed and it looks way better now. The pre painted valance actually looks pretty good. There is a small run along one of the edges towards where the valance and driver side fender meet but it's not hardly noticable. Overall I am very happy and I think im going to leave the bumper and grill shell chrome and swap out the grill itself with a mesh style one and call the front end finished.



 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom