Plastic Refinishing Guide

This guide can be used as a reference when refinishing your plastic bumper. Click here for a PDF version of this guide.

How to Refinish Plastic Parts After Nitrogen Plastic Welding

To complete the plastic repair after performing a nitrogen plastic weld, the part must be refinished. This table below provides an overview of the products and processes required to restore your PP/EPDM or TPO plastic bumper fascia back to its original appearance.

Step	Description	Products
Step 1: Sand Weld	After allowing the plastic weld to cool completely, sand the welding rod slightly flush with 80 grit sandpaper. Feather the paint back with 180 grit. Blow dust free with clean, dry compressed air.
Step 2: Apply Adhesion Promoter	Before applying filler, apply adhesion promoter on PP/TPO substrates. (1050 Plastic Magic is National Rule-compliant; 1051 is California-compliant.)	1050 Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter	1051 Low-VOC Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter
Step 3: Apply Filler	Apply a skim coat of flexible or rigid filler over the repair area. Allow to cure completely, then sand with 80 and 180 grit paper.	2000-T Flex Filler Epoxy Filler 2020-T SMC Hardset Filler	1047 Putty Flex Polyester Glaze
Step 4: Apply Adhesion Promoter (Again)	Before spraying primer, apply adhesion promoter again over any exposed raw plastic areas. (Same products used in Step 2.)	1050 Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter	1051 Low-VOC Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter
Step 5: Apply a Waterborne Primer Surfacer	Spray a high-build waterborne primer surfacer over the repair area. Allow to dry completely. (All of our waterborne primer surfacers are 50-state V0C-compliant)	3041 All Seasons E-Z Sand Light Gray Waterborne Primer Surfacer	3043 All Seasons Black Jack Waterborne Primer Surfacer
Step 6: Apply Spot putty, Sand, and Prime Again	Apply spot putty over any visible imperfections. Allow to dry, then sand the repair area with 220 and 320 grit paper. Prime again and repeat process until desired appearance is obtained.
Step 7a: Apply Texture	If the bumper is textured, apply a flexible texture coating to simulate original texture. (Use 3804N-4 Standard Reducer in National Rule areas and 3804R-4 Zero VOC Reducer in Low-VOC areas.)	3804 Flextex VT	3804N-4 Standard Reducer 3804R-4 Zero VOC Reducer

Refinishing Raw PP/TPO Replacement Bumpers (e.g. Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Subaru)

The table below provides an overview of the products and processes to refinish your raw PP/TPO replacement bumper.

Step	Description	Products
Step 1: Clean Plastic	Spray a heavy wet coat of 1001-4 EcoPrep or 1000 Super Prep plastic cleaner. Wipe off with a clean cloth to remove mold release agents. No scuffing or sanding is required.	1000 Super Prep Plastic Cleaner	1001-4 EcoPrep Zero-VOC Plastic Cleaner
Step 2: Apply Bumper & Cladding Adhesion Primer	Spray one medium coat of Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer to hide. Allow to dry completely. Available in white, light gray, and dark gray. (3601 Bumper & Cladding Adhesion Primer is National Rule-compliant. 3611 Bumper & Cladding Adhesion Primer is 50-state VOC-compliant.)	3601 Original Formula Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer	3601 Original Formula Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer
Step 3: Topcoat	Topcoat with an approved base-clear system. Adhesion to raw PP/TPO substrates is guaranteed by Polyvance.