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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Painting Fibreglass ?
Any tips on painting fibreglass? I have a new MB rear bumper for my G that is unpainted raw fibreglass. I plan to rattle can spray it to the deep dark grey matte color. Any recommendations on the proper prep of that raw fibreglass for good paint adhesion? TIA. |
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BlueG
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2009
Location: DC
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500
Posts: 714
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
The boat supply shops will have what you need. Get a primer and get a top coat that mates to it. You may be shocked at how heavy a can of boat paint is compared to what you are used to. |
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AGuess
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Holly Springs NC
Vehicle(s): 93 500GE, 93 500GE, 2002 G500
Posts: 717
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
Hi Dutch,
My thoughts.
1. Contact a few local discount auto body paint shops and find out what they would charge you to paint it matching your color, if you just bring them the bumper.
2. Contact a automotive paint supplier and ask them if they can put the correct color in spray can's for you. Some offer this service. There are many in your area, just use google.
Take your G with you as they might need to color match using paint cards. On my 93 G's, event though I had the paint color, when I got to the paint supply store, I found there were several shades of the same color, so they matched my G.
I have a HVLP paint sprayer, that I have used to paint my entire boat and various car parts. If you need to paint many things and don't have a compressor with a dryer system, look into HVLP.
Regarding painting fiberglass. I have painted my entire 1966 Classic 18 Donzi boat using Imron paint and clear coat, using the HVLP system. This is automotive paint and is not thick. I have also used very small aerosol sprayers that have screw on paint canisters for touch up work, that I purchased at auto paint supply stores.
I do not suggest you use Imron. It is a very dangerous paint to spray. You don't want to risk breathing it. Go with what the automotive paint store recommends.
Good luck,
AGuess |
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koly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: Scottsdale, AZ USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 823
| RE: Painting Fibreglass ?
You can order your paint color code in a rattle can from these guys, along with the 'trigger' style spray nozzle.
http://www.automotivetouchup.com |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Painting Fibreglass ?
The original bumpers are not body color, but is MB Tiefdunkelgrau Matte. I ordered some very expensive rattle cans from my dealer and sprayed a test panel. It took two coats to get a coating that covered well, but seems to be too soft to hold up well on a bumper.
At the recommendation of someone on the forums, I picked up some rattle cans of Seymour MRO Flat Black # 620-1433. A single coat on a test panel covered better than the two coats of the MB paint; and feels much harder than the MB paint. Obviously, lots more solids in the Seymour MRO than the MB paint. It is an almost (close enough) perfect paint match for the MB paint, so that is what I will use.
I just need to be sure to use the proper surface preparation on the fibreglass to ensure that it adheres well. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: Painting Fibreglass ?
Duplicolor Bumper Black is remarkably close, cheap, easy to use, and seems pretty tough.
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bluegg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2016
Location: Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada
Vehicle(s): 1985 300GDT, 2003 Beetle 1.8t S, 1982 F350 SC Dual
Posts: 141
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
Wipe down thoroughly with laquer thinner then apply primer after dry. Keep coats thin and many to build depth.
Sand out drools and bubbles after each coat with wet paper or emery and wipe down each time to soften layer below. |
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bluegg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2016
Location: Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada
Vehicle(s): 1985 300GDT, 2003 Beetle 1.8t S, 1982 F350 SC Dual
Posts: 141
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
Marine paint is good but gel coat is very expensive and easy to mess up.
Best, in my opinion to go down to your local ag dealer and buy matte black industrial equipment paint.
If it lasts on a dozer it will last on your bumper. |
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 473
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
You may get the best results if you remove the bumper and paint it laying down. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Painting Fibreglass ?
GwagenLover - 6/27/2017 8:03 AM
You may get the best results if you remove the bumper and paint it laying down.
 It's a brand new bumper that is still in the box. It will be painted before it gets installed.  |
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