Oxidized paint and bumper pads

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Tobra
Posts: 291
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2000 12:01 am

Oxidized paint and bumper pads

Post by Tobra »

Is there a way to renew badly oxidized rubber parts? I don't care about the tits on it, but if I could clean up the rubber and paint I would be happier driving it. On the paint, would I be better served by wet sanding(like with 1000 grit) or rubbing compound. Have access to DA buffer, so this would not be too tough. Eventually will paint it, and plan to get the new rubber parts ASAP, before they are NLA. I am going to drive it either way, but did not want her to look like a total hoopty with pretty wheels and brand new tires.
crew
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 12:36 pm

Post by crew »

Mothers makes a product called Back to Black that works really well at renewing almost any black trim.
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raygreenwood
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Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am

Post by raygreenwood »

The mothers stuff is great...but it really depends on how oxidized they are. Once they are really oxidized...the mothers product will only hide it for periods of time. This is a slightly better way.

Most people do not realize that "most" vinyl dash pads, arm rests, bumpers etc....especially these days...are pretty much all one color when molded....varying from beige to dark gray. They are colored by vinyl paints before they leave the factory. They products are the same base vinyl chemical material...and stick like they were there out of the mold. This is how car companies these days are able to offer a staggering array of vinyl accessories in their color schemes. They paint them.

Dupli-color brand paints...are absolutely superb!!!. I cannot say enough about them. They are available at most Auto zone and O'reillys and some pep-boys.

They make very specific paints. Thye have gloss vinyl black, semi gloss and flat...just for bumpers.....and others just for arm-rests etc.

Their directions are excellent also.
You will need to sand your bumper vinyl with like 400-600 grit to get the oxidized vinyl off the surface. Then clean with a fast flash off solvent...or 90% isoproply. Wipe several times to remove all dust.

Usually they have a clear primer that is really just a solvent to make the surface more open. It is invisible when it dries. Within a specified amount of time.....spray the color coat on. Buy one of those $6 spray handle triggers for cans at the hardware store. It helps keep the pattern consistant. Within a specified time, put on a second coat. this stuff flows out great. Looks just like factory new vinyl.

They also make a very tight matt hard plastic paint that looks just like teh textured molded p[lastic on many dash parts. After thieves cracked the bezel on my rabbits dash...I was able to epoxy it back together...needle file and sand it perfectly...but could not hide teh epoxy filler. This stuff...made it look...no kidding...factory new in 15 minutes. Ray
Tobra
Posts: 291
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2000 12:01 am

Post by Tobra »

On the bumper tops, I ended up using a scotch brite pad and simple green to scrub off the oxidation, applied back to black after and they look great, thanks for the info
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