Ok, so i got me a front bumper for the EF... i'm supposed t paint it polynesian green, it is red atm, because it's such a nice color i thought i better ask so i can get it right.

Here's a pic of my new bumper and my old bumper...



Basically, my plan of attack is this.

1) Sand all the little cracks and scratches with something like a 60 or an 80 grit paper. Than go on tho 120, than 300 than 600 or 800 and than finally 1200. But sand the whole bumper with 1200, not just the scratches. The reason i was thinking of doing it like that, is so i don't have to sand all the paint off, just spray plastick primer over the whole thing than. Dunno how good this idea is, so i'm asnking. Maybe i should sand all the paint off? Or use some paint stripper on it, and than sand it alll with 1200 before applying the plastick primer? Should i maybe go to 2000 as well?

2)Assuming i sanded it all properly, this is where i apply the primer. do i do this very carefully? As in, spray a thin coat, wait 10 mins, go over it again, and so forth untill i'm happy with the result?

3)Assuming i did this part right, and my primer is now dry, (or semi dry, more like light touch dry, i'm not quite clear on what it needs to be) i have no primer beads or running stains, and i'm about to apply the paint, do i sand it again with something like 1200 or 2000... or do i just get to slowly layering the coats of paint over the primer... spray a thin coat, wait 10 minuttes, spray another thin coat and so forth untill i get a nice even finish?

4)Finally, assuming i put on 6 or 7 coats of paint, and my finish is all nice, and the paint is dry, do i need to spray on clear coat?... and yup, you guessed it.... do i need to sand the paint with something like 1200 or 2000 before applying the coats of clear, or is it just keep on spraying kinda deal?

5)and finally, i will be spraying the paint and the primer and the clear coat from a can... I have a spray gun and the compressor but they are not very reliable and i'm avoiding them, so i'm getting the paint guys to put the paint in cans and pressurise them.... is there something i need to add to my polynesian green paint in the cans so the paint doesn't crack should the bumper bend afterwards for his reason or that, this i need to know so i can tell them to put it in the cans right away with the paint....

So.. thoughts comments, criticisms, i'll take all the help i can get...
NB, i numbered each step i plan to do, so if i'm doing something wrong in just that one step, it wil be easier to point out and explain.

P.S. i also have to paint a bit on the hood, about 5 square cm, i assume i pretty much follow the same procedure as the bumper, with the exception of using normall metal primer of course.. the trick with this is that i have to match the paint to the rest of the hood... any hints or tips for that?


thanks for all your help, in advance... i only have a basic idea of what i am doing, if it was my other car, i wouldn't care about making mistakes, but for this i wanna make sure i get it perfect.

Just sprayed mine, the results are fine considering a $30 supercheap gun. TW.

Do you mean, hang you need a compressor dont you.

Cheers

4)Finally, assuming i put on 6 or 7 coats of paint, and my finish is all nice, and the paint is dry, do i need to spray on clear coat?... and yup, you guessed it.... do i need to sand the paint with something like 1200 or 2000 before applying the coats of clear, or is it just keep on spraying kinda deal?

Thanks.... so ok new plan of attack than, how about this.

First sand all with a 320... to bugger off the scratches i have, than 800, than 1200.... than rub with the grease remover than bog up the deep scratches... than again sand the bog to get it all nice and even and flush with the bumper, rub down, than spray with a plastick primer, than sand with 1200, rub down again, than spray with a slighlty thicker normall filler primer, again sand with 1200, and rub down, than spray a thin coat of paint, sand, rub down... and so forth for a few coats untill i get the depth of color i want... than sand rub down, clear coat... and polish and buff...

That it in a nut shell?

Ahh, but i have some deepish scratches where there is no paint, so if i don't prime that paint won't stick in those parts.

i'm a bit confused now.
so what you're saying is, when i apply my final coat of primer, i sand it before applying paint...
and than i DON'T sand after applying each coat of paint
And than i DON'T sand before applying clearcoat, but i DO sand the clearcoat lightly(still meaning 1200 or 2000) when dry, beofre polishing?

Ahh, but i have some deepish scratches where there is no paint, so if i don't prime that paint won't stick in those parts.

i'm a bit confused now.
so what you're saying is, when i apply my final coat of primer, i sand it before applying paint...
and than i DON'T sand after applying each coat of paint
And than i DON'T sand before applying clearcoat, but i DO sand the clearcoat lightly(still meaning 1200 or 2000) when dry, beofre polishing?