So.....(pics added of update)

1. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #1 30th January 2008, 08:35

   picked up my bumper last night, got it home hoping to get a few coats of primer done. Got it in my workshop, unwrapped and was bemused to find it covered in bubbles! What has previously happened to this bumper? how do i sort it?
2. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

   #2 30th January 2008, 09:17

   how do you mean bubbles mate? any pics?
   
   Sounds as if the paint has reacted with something, or not been prepared properly before painting previously.
3. teebag Established Member Joined: May 2007 Nuneaton Posts: 1245 1997 R Reg MK1 VT1.0 saxo

   #3 30th January 2008, 09:25

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by SaxoAL how do you mean bubbles mate? any pics? Sounds as if the paint has reacted with something, or not been prepared properly before painting previously.

   i'd second that. paint/ primer reacted tends to bubble up. sand it back with 500grit paper and primer it again before you do anymore work to it
4. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #4 30th January 2008, 09:26

   cant get pic as am currently at work. its a fibre glass bumper, but on the front there is a layer of white (would say paint or primer) and there are bubbles in it (like wallpaper bubbles) if ya press down on the bubbles some are squashy (if its a word) and you can feel the air underneath. I pressed down on one that was hard and it snapped and could then see the fibre glass. Think it may be a case of 'popping' all the bubbles the using filler to smooth it all out again before spraying.
5. betty02 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2007 Blackpool Posts: 7123 MK5 Golf GTi FSi

   #5 30th January 2008, 09:27

   sand it back mate, then use some high build primer if you can, then let it fullu dry, this is what creates bubbles!
6. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #6 30th January 2008, 09:29

   high build primer? what does this do?
7. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

   #7 30th January 2008, 09:41

   Sounds as if there was water or something silicone based on it, when it was painted. Obviously wasn't cleaned/sanded properly before the primer was applied.
   
   As said, sand it back, use some prep wipes on it, then filler primer it. Then normal primer.
   Job done
8. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

   #8 30th January 2008, 09:50

   does filler primer just act as a filler? stupid question i know, lol.
9. teebag Established Member Joined: May 2007 Nuneaton Posts: 1245 1997 R Reg MK1 VT1.0 saxo

   #9 30th January 2008, 09:53

   high build primer is filler primer mate
10. teebag Established Member Joined: May 2007 Nuneaton Posts: 1245 1997 R Reg MK1 VT1.0 saxo

    #10 30th January 2008, 09:54

    its a think primer that will cover up most tiny blemishes (1-1.5mm deep) apply it, let it dry then sand it back before a coat of normal primer.
11. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #11 30th January 2008, 10:01

    oh right, well when i popped the one bubble back to the fibre glass the thickness of the paint/primer was bit more than that, think filler is probably best.
12. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #12 30th January 2008, 10:04

    filler is missions sanding back, then re-painting. Honestly, a good sand and decent amount of primer will be perfect and will reduce chances of anything cracking throughout normal day to day use.
13. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #13 30th January 2008, 10:14

    ok will give it a blast tonight. what grit do ya reckon? coarse as possible? might use a metal file first to get things going abit quicker.
14. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #14 30th January 2008, 10:27

    metal file is for metal! lol.
    you'll get a crap finish if you do do that.
    
    Use something like 400 grit and work up to 800, then smooth over with a 1200 after filler primer and normal primer. Will have a mint finish to it then!
15. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #15 30th January 2008, 10:42

    ok cheers, do i just apply the filler primer to the parts that need raising up to the rest of the bumper of do it to the hole bumpeR?
16. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #16 30th January 2008, 11:05

    I'd do the whole bumper in it mate, as this will then make an even base all over.
    This is how I've always done it anyway.
17. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #17 30th January 2008, 11:09

    ok cheers mate. is filler primer thicker than normal primer then?
18. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #18 30th January 2008, 12:34

    would you suggest using an electric sander to get it level, then smooth it off with wet dry?
19. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #19 30th January 2008, 13:54

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Williams_VTR ok cheers mate. is filler primer thicker than normal primer then?

    yes. More dense
    
    

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Williams_VTR would you suggest using an electric sander to get it level, then smooth it off with wet dry?

    personally I wouldn't as I prefer to be more accurate and do it by hand.
    But to make things easier, you can, but be careful not to sand too far and for too long, as you can melt/damage the fibreglass.
20. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #20 30th January 2008, 14:01

    well wont sand it all the way back, just so its all level and will then get it smooth using wet dry!
21. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #21 30th January 2008, 14:05

    Let us know how you get on matey.
22. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #22 30th January 2008, 14:11

    will do, will take some pics as i progressing tonight!
23. S70KES Established Member Joined: May 2007 south west Posts: 1016 Saxo GTI (106gti conversion)

    #23 30th January 2008, 15:45

    just done my bumper and had simular issues. had to rub it down and as advised i use high build filler and its worked a treat now painted...
24. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #24 31st January 2008, 08:40

    well sanded it down last night and applied a coat of that filler primer stuff, checked it this mornin and some marks a still visible. is it a case of doing a few layers of filler primer to build it all up then a few layers of normal primer before painting? also gonna sand with 1200wet dry every 2 coats of primer.
25. user_3656 Saxperience Addict Joined: Aug 2004 Herts. N/W London Posts: 13578 Project MK4 MoreDoor

    #25 31st January 2008, 10:03

    I'd wet sand (800) the bits you say are still visible, then give the whole lot another coat of filler primer. Leave again, then 1200 it 2moro. Then normal primer, the 1200 again. Should be spot on then.
26. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #26 31st January 2008, 10:19

    cheers will do that.
27. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #27 1st February 2008, 08:58

    well after giving it a 3rd coat of filler primer yesterday there was still many visible defects so out came the sander and sand paper. After using 120 grit before and wanted something coarser that was really gonna 'rip' into the lumps and bumps and opted for Halfords Aluminium Oxide Paper (60 Grit). My god did this do the job, was late so didnt get chance to finish the bumper but am now happy that i can get it baby but smooth by the end of the weekend! at the same time I am gonna be spraying my alloys (black with silver lip).
28. Williams_VTR Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2005 Birmingham United Kingdom (England) Posts: 200 2001 Citroen Saxo Vtr

    #28 4th February 2008, 08:37

    Just though I'd put up some pics of how I'm getting along with my bumper. Have now got it to a flat surface ready to smooth down with some wet dry before primering and painting!
    
    Before Shots (Showing the Bubbling!)
    
    
    
    
    
    Couple of Pics so far!
    
    
    
    
    
    though I'd throw in a pic of one of my wheels that I'm currently painting: