easiest/best way to remove paint from bumper???

[astral]

i got the bumper.... and i need to strip it and repaint it... anyone got a good easy way to remove the paint...? i believe i could get it sandblasted and i think that might be the best way.... but is there a semi easy way to diy? i dont' have sandblasting stuff... so... i'm trying to figure out if i should try to spend the $$$ to get it blasted or if i can save the $$ and diy... ideas... suggestions please!!!!

 

[BigC]

I assume you mean bumper cover. If you do, then FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DO NOT SANDBLAST IT! It's ABS plastic- chances are you'll create serious waviness, high spots/low spots, deep pits, and even holes. Best case scenario, you'll still end up sanding for days to smooth it out. Bulldog makes an aerosol stripper that is safe for plastic. I used it on my bumpers before I glassed them.

However, why are you stripping the paint off in the first place? If it is only going to be repainted, my suggestion would be to use a DA with 320+ grit paper, then wetsand up... However, based on your post, my assumption is that you've never painted anything before and that the suggestions I've just made will not be well understood.

Although it's more expensive, drop the bumper off as it is at a reputable body shop and let them do the work for you. You'll be happy you did. Otherwise, you have a lot of reading ahead of you and some serious practice in store before you're ready to paint something important.

 

[astral]

yeah.. i'm talking about the bumper cover... i've done a fair bit of painting before... just not on cars... and honestly.. i paid 400 for the car without a bumper and have been driving it like that for almost 7 mo cuz i couldn't find one... now i've got it... and after looking at it closer have decided not to strip it and just clean up where it's needed and sand it down and paint over it... i'm not too worried about having a absolutley pro looking job on it... anything would be better than no bumper IMO... my dad had suggested sandblasting it and he was "sure it'd be fine" so that was kind of why i was asking for other ideas...

i do understand what you're saying too... i'm not sure if i have a dual action sander in the garage or not... and i know how to wet sand... and understand different grits in sandpaper.... i've got a good selection of tools when it comes to painting.. i've got and airbrush for detail work, i've got compressed air spray guns (multiple diff 1's)... so the painting isn't really a problem... admittedly i'm not a pro... but i can do a reasonable job in the way of painting... it's just that when my dad said to get it sandblasted i didn't think that was the best way and it kind of threw off my confidence for a sec... and after looking at it again and realizing it didn't need to be totally stripped i'm pretty sure i can handle this.... thanks tho!!