The Ford Barn

harleycontracter · 02-04-2024, 02:16 PM

Anyone have a pic of bumpers they've painted ?

Marshall V. Daut · 02-04-2024, 03:13 PM

If you are trying to avoid the expense of chrome plating your bumpers, silver or chrome spray may be better than nothing or surface rust, but still not convincing or particularly attractive. It looks like what it is: a cheap way out. I have had pretty good success (with "parsimonious" customers) using chrome tape on the front sides only. The backsides can be sprayed with silver or aluminum paint to simulate the unfinished look the bumpers originally had. They were dull and not buffed out like the front sides. In order to use the chrome tape, the front of the bumper faces must be as smooth as possible = no mud, rust craters, etc. It wouldn't hurt to go over the bumper faces with sandpaper to smooth out the surfaces and improve adhesion. Take a little extra time and fill in any rust pitting with Bondo, followed by sanding it smooth. It's also a good idea to have a helper because when the tape is cut to length in one long strip (for each front bumper bar), it can get snakey and twist, sticking to itself and ruining it. You do not want that! Keep the tape as smooth and straight as possible while laying it over the bumper bar. You get only one chance to apply it correctly. Use a glass squeegee afterwards to smooth out any air bubbles trapped between the bumper bar and the tape. Fold the edges of the tape over the top and bottom edges of the bumper bar to make the "chrome" plating more seamless. You can get chrome tape in 2" widths close to the width of the bumper bars.
Try this place: https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Silver...CABEgLZWfD_BwE
Marshall

Synchro909 · 02-04-2024, 03:52 PM

Marshall, How resistant to scratching is that tape?

Marshall V. Daut · 02-04-2024, 04:03 PM

Probably not super great, but for $12.50 plus postage, it's worth the risk. Unless you drive your Model A in the "Outback" through shrubs, sandstorms, poisonous snakes and kangaroos, the chrome tape should look good for quite a while driving in city traffic. I took pictures of one car I did a few years for a local car company, but I apparently deleted the files after the car was sold. The tape turned out quite nicely. From a few feet away - and unless you knew the story behind the story - you wouldn't guess that chrome tape was taking the place of chrome plating. A few blemishes underneath marred a perfectly smooth surface, but the bumpers still looked more than presentable versus silver spray paint.
The best thing I can recommend to someone putting this tape on Model A bumper bars is to make the bar's surface as smooth and defect-free as you can so that the tape will have an unblemished appearance. If you leave deep rust pitting in the metal, tape being tape, it will indent into those pits and ruin the smooth look.
Synchro909 - If you go this route, order three or four rolls so that as one application begins to show its age, simply peel it off and open the second roll for application. 'Gotta be cheaper postagewise ordering a few rolls at a time than one at a time as needed. Also, maybe have a couple rolls on hand for others in your club.
Marshall

Bob C · 02-04-2024, 04:12 PM

How about chrome powder coating?

Big hammer · 02-04-2024, 05:37 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Chrome wrap ?

Synchro909 · 02-04-2024, 06:46 PM

Thanks, Marshall. I had thought pretty much just as you describe.

nkaminar · 02-04-2024, 07:29 PM

Syncnro drives his car in the outback.

Bruce of MN · 02-04-2024, 07:49 PM

No kangaroo is safe!

Synchro909 · 02-04-2024, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce of MN

No kangaroo is safe!

Certainly not if it is on the footpath!!!

Keith True · 02-04-2024, 10:19 PM

The guy I used to use for powdercoating did some fake chrome coatings.It looked nice,the best way to describe it is kind of looks like old faded chrome.I like the look,it is softer,I guess I would call it more nickle-y.He was pretty clear on what you were getting,the powdercoating was XX amount of dollars,the prep was XX per hour,and he would prep to the amount you wanted to spend.I sandblasted the grille,bumper,and trim for a 41 Chevy years ago for somebody.He had the guy powdercoat the parts.While it looked great,he did have a bunch of powdercoated pitted parts when he was done.The powdercoater could have smoothed them up,but it would have cost hundreds extra The owner opted out of that,he got what he paid for and is still happy to this day.

02-04-2024, 02:16 PM	#1
harleycontracter Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 153	Painted bumper pics Anyone have a pic of bumpers they've painted ?

02-04-2024, 03:13 PM	#2
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Painted bumper pics If you are trying to avoid the expense of chrome plating your bumpers, silver or chrome spray may be better than nothing or surface rust, but still not convincing or particularly attractive. It looks like what it is: a cheap way out. I have had pretty good success (with "parsimonious" customers) using chrome tape on the front sides only. The backsides can be sprayed with silver or aluminum paint to simulate the unfinished look the bumpers originally had. They were dull and not buffed out like the front sides. In order to use the chrome tape, the front of the bumper faces must be as smooth as possible = no mud, rust craters, etc. It wouldn't hurt to go over the bumper faces with sandpaper to smooth out the surfaces and improve adhesion. Take a little extra time and fill in any rust pitting with Bondo, followed by sanding it smooth. It's also a good idea to have a helper because when the tape is cut to length in one long strip (for each front bumper bar), it can get snakey and twist, sticking to itself and ruining it. You do not want that! Keep the tape as smooth and straight as possible while laying it over the bumper bar. You get only one chance to apply it correctly. Use a glass squeegee afterwards to smooth out any air bubbles trapped between the bumper bar and the tape. Fold the edges of the tape over the top and bottom edges of the bumper bar to make the "chrome" plating more seamless. You can get chrome tape in 2" widths close to the width of the bumper bars. Try this place: https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Silver...CABEgLZWfD_BwE Marshall Last edited by Marshall V. Daut; 02-04-2024 at 07:52 PM.

02-04-2024, 03:52 PM	#3
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Painted bumper pics Marshall, How resistant to scratching is that tape? __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

02-04-2024, 04:03 PM	#4
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,112	Re: Painted bumper pics Probably not super great, but for $12.50 plus postage, it's worth the risk. Unless you drive your Model A in the "Outback" through shrubs, sandstorms, poisonous snakes and kangaroos, the chrome tape should look good for quite a while driving in city traffic. I took pictures of one car I did a few years for a local car company, but I apparently deleted the files after the car was sold. The tape turned out quite nicely. From a few feet away - and unless you knew the story behind the story - you wouldn't guess that chrome tape was taking the place of chrome plating. A few blemishes underneath marred a perfectly smooth surface, but the bumpers still looked more than presentable versus silver spray paint. The best thing I can recommend to someone putting this tape on Model A bumper bars is to make the bar's surface as smooth and defect-free as you can so that the tape will have an unblemished appearance. If you leave deep rust pitting in the metal, tape being tape, it will indent into those pits and ruin the smooth look. Synchro909 - If you go this route, order three or four rolls so that as one application begins to show its age, simply peel it off and open the second roll for application. 'Gotta be cheaper postagewise ordering a few rolls at a time than one at a time as needed. Also, maybe have a couple rolls on hand for others in your club. Marshall Last edited by Marshall V. Daut; 02-04-2024 at 07:29 PM.

02-04-2024, 04:12 PM	#5
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,754	Re: Painted bumper pics How about chrome powder coating?

02-04-2024, 05:37 PM	#6
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,131	Re: Painted bumper pics Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Chrome wrap ? __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

02-04-2024, 06:46 PM	#7
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Painted bumper pics Thanks, Marshall. I had thought pretty much just as you describe. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood. Last edited by Synchro909; 02-04-2024 at 08:16 PM.

02-04-2024, 07:29 PM	#8
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,900	Re: Painted bumper pics Syncnro drives his car in the outback. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-04-2024, 07:49 PM	#9
Bruce of MN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: VA Posts: 1,410	Re: Painted bumper pics No kangaroo is safe!

02-04-2024, 10:19 PM	#11
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 2,989	Re: Painted bumper pics The guy I used to use for powdercoating did some fake chrome coatings.It looked nice,the best way to describe it is kind of looks like old faded chrome.I like the look,it is softer,I guess I would call it more nickle-y.He was pretty clear on what you were getting,the powdercoating was XX amount of dollars,the prep was XX per hour,and he would prep to the amount you wanted to spend.I sandblasted the grille,bumper,and trim for a 41 Chevy years ago for somebody.He had the guy powdercoat the parts.While it looked great,he did have a bunch of powdercoated pitted parts when he was done.The powdercoater could have smoothed them up,but it would have cost hundreds extra The owner opted out of that,he got what he paid for and is still happy to this day.