Blackening Bumpers?

[Giles]

Hey mate,theres a product called texture coat
it pretty much is the best possible thing to use
to get that texture black plastic finish.
You can get it from protec,alas you need to spray it in a gun.!

[rayray086]

Whereabouts is Protec?

[Gigitt]

You could also paint them again with VHT Vinyl Paint... comes in a rattle can from SuperCheap/Repco/AutoOne etc.
http://www.speco.com.au/vht_vinyl.html

This WILL penetrate into the plastic.
I have have used it on PVC Pipe - and was thinking about doing my lower bumpers and rear wing on the Mk3 with it also. Test it first as I don't know about ABS Plastic.

[The_Hawk]

You could also paint them again with VHT Vinyl Paint... comes in a rattle can from SuperCheap/Repco/AutoOne etc.
http://www.speco.com.au/vht_vinyl.html

This WILL penetrate into the plastic.
I have have used it on PVC Pipe - and was thinking about doing my lower bumpers and rear wing on the Mk3 with it also. Test it first as I don't know about ABS Plastic.

Interesting looking prodcut... so who wants to give it a bash and let us all know how it goes?

[rayray086]

Interesting looking prodcut... so who wants to give it a bash and let us all know how it goes?

I on the other hand used satin black spray paint once before. To keep the flat look, you can't use clearcoat, so after a few washes it started fading. I've tried the Vinyl/Interior dye in a can before by VHT, and it comes out good, but if not prepped properly and applied in the right conditions, it can scratch off.

[Golf Houso]

I just used Midnight black on the trim, I think it looks ok I have yet to do the rest. I'll probably do them when the car is outa action with new chip install

[The_Hawk]

I just used Midnight black on the trim, I think it looks ok I have yet to do the rest. I'll probably do them when the car is outa action with new chip install

What is that?! It looks VERY sweet. Paint?

More pics and more details on the product!

[Golf Houso]

Well, as usual its paint. At first I primed and clearcoated the bumpers, but they just looked like slightly darker plastic, no more armorall or trim detailer but I wanted to take it a step further.

So I started with the front lip, sanded it back with 60, 120, 180, 240, 360 and then 400 cutting out all the scratches and dents which the previous owners did. Lol I probably could have skipped a few levels of grit but heck it was my first attempt at sanding trim.

Then I cleaned it with turps PROPERLY. I cleaned everything to the N'th degree then primer'd it up. I used the same brand as the one in the picture just in a smaller 150g can. After applying 3 coats, not overdoing it and spacing the time between coats to about 15 minutes. Then let that dry entirely. The applyed the spray evenly and quickly working from the inside out, doing the bottom trim and less visible parts firsts then the predominate surface. After the first coat, I applied another, maybe 4 coats of that gloss paint. I ended up spending 1/2 the car on the front trim.

BUT! Disaster struck, as I was letting it to dry i accidentally touched the lawnmover rail with it. Woe is I! Then when I was about to give up decided to sand it back when it was dry with the 180 paper, sprayed it again and it came up fantastic as you can see there. Although there are some bits of dust on it that are not visible unless you put your nose to it. I had to prime it outside as there was nowhere else that I could do it.

So yeah, total cost you say?

$8.20 for the Clear Plastic primer 150g
$15.50 for the Midnight black 400g: NP 070 I think was the paint code. But gloss black or Black (Gloss) would do just as well, they're the next step down the paint ladder.

Time: 5 hours of sandings YES I KNOW THATS ALOT. But it was my first attempt and didn't realise the paint and primer would stick fine if not better to 180-240 grit level of sanding.

I'll do the entire car when I have my new chip fitted, and I'll update y'all!

Lol first wingless golfs now black trims BUHAHAHA I am a trend setter ...

[The_Hawk]

I need to get my whole front bar done since I have a painted rear and textured front. Getting the side skirts and lower front and back lippy bits looks the biz too. Mind you my problem is that my painting skills leave a lot to be desired and if I do this I want to do it right... which means I also want to do the front quarters... then the passenger side doors...

At the end of the day it's pretty much a complete re-spray

Oh, and Golf Houso... nice GTI Racing you have there! Nothing like driving a car dressed up to look like yours

[Golf Houso]

Yeah exactly, the older golf's have alot more plastic panels than mine. I only have the side skirts, front and rear lips now that the wing is gone. It'd be alot of work, but less if you take it one piece at a time.

Yeah I was pretty crappy at spraypainting as well a few months ago. But now after several peices of interior trim and about 15 cans of paint and primer and what not later, I'm pretty good at it now.

So yeah, well you could always just sand the bumpers black and leave it like that. It won't be textured and the colour will be very intense with armorall or another product. But it won't have the gloss of the paint nor the lack of maintanence. See how you go, and you can always sand it back and use paint stripper on those exterior trims if you mess up the paint, they don't melt I tried...

This type of work isn't neccesarily difficult more labour intensive, if you can put up with mismatched bumpers and your car being MIA for a few days then this is the option for you, otherwise well...
I personally prefer the textured black bumpers on the older golfs, but they look out of place on my car so I'm getting rid of them.

Hahaha, I couldn't resist it was only $5! But no GL or VR6 or GTi 16v! Its a pretty well... disapointing game, good for a laugh but not much else realy.

$5 though...