Metal Finish on Front Bumper

[LoneStarNation]

Hey folks,

After much research and phone calls/conversations, I am taking my MORE front bumper to be SAND-BLASTED by a metal finish company. Someone recently suggested BEAD-BLASTING. The metal finish guy said this is a bad idea. Sand-blasting is more aggressive than bead-blasting, dulls the steel and preps it for painting. Bead Blasting simply applies a polished look.

Anyway, I'm off to the sand-blaster!!

- Ben

[LoneStarNation]

Well, got my MORE bumper sand-blasted. Looks great! Now, I just have to figure out what to put on it (paint, POR-15, plastikote, etc.).

For those of you considering powder-coating...DON'T DO IT. I set my Olympic rear rock bumper on the ground before installing it. While picking it up, I BARELY scraped it on the cement and it left a couple of scrapes down to the metal!! It is what it is...POWDER. Sucks...but that's just my opinion.

- Ben

[Josh83]

Can you order the MORE bumper bare? Thats what I was wanting to do when I get one one of these days.

[LoneStarNation]

-=- originally posted by Josh83 -=-
Can you order the MORE bumper bare? Thats what I was wanting to do when I get one one of these days.

It ONLY comes bare. They no longer paint them.

- Ben

[ibjpn]

Try Line-X on it, and tell them not to put it on as heavy as a bed liner. Give it a good coat of primer first.

[Bermudacat]

-=- originally posted by bfstewart3 -=-
Someone recently suggested BEAD-BLASTING. The metal finish guy said this is a bad idea. Sand-blasting is more aggressive than bead-blasting, dulls the steel and preps it for painting. Bead Blasting simply applies a polished look.

Anyway, I'm off to the sand-blaster!!

- Ben

False, bead blasting doesn't polish and it works great for prepping a substrate for finishing.

Make sure to do a phosphate conversion on the steel before you prime it for the top coat.

[LoneStarNation]

Where can I pick up that phosphate conversion stuff? Do I need a primer after the phosphate conversion?

- Ben

[Bermudacat]

-=- originally posted by bfstewart3 -=-
Where can I pick up that phosphate conversion stuff? Do I need a primer after the phosphate conversion?

- Ben

Hardware store and yes. Proper finishing has a lot to do with having no oyxides (rust, corrosion, whatever you want to call it) and the surface tension of the finish VS the surface tension of the substrate.

Water = high surface tension
Wax paper = low surface tension

Not what your after. A good top coat must have a high surface tension to have a nice glossy surface, so you must use a primer (goes on with a low surface tension, but dries to a high surface tension) so that the top coat will adhere properly.

You'll be amazed how chip and rust resistant a propery applied rattle can finish can be.....................

The primer is a crutial agent in achieving what your after.