Body/Trim: 850: Does bumper burning work? Find out.

[lanciak69]

Originally Posted by ShadeTek

I've just spent 20 minutes on the bumpers after finding my heat gun stuffed in a box at the back of the loft. (I think the missus discovered Nitromorse just before the gun vanished), I've posted some more pics below. I have to say it is a MAJOR improvement, although any chibs or gouges that were there before will remain. I used a Black & Decker heatgun holding it about 1-2 inches away from the surface keeping it moving in a circular motion for the best results. DO NOT let the gun or anything for that matter touch the bumper when it hot as you will smear the plastic and always keep the gun moving. Only time will tell if this lasts and you never know I may have accelerated its demise. Anyhow, it beats slabbering oil based products on it which only last a couple of weeks. It does look 10 years younger with its "chemical peel".

now if i can only find the heat gun great improvment

[dooderooni]

OK, I've given the Big Red Girl a good wash, I've got my heatgun cocked and loaded and I'm about to tackle the bumpers.

I've taken some 'before' pictures and will post them and the 'after' pictures once I'm done.

Wish me luck chaps!

[ShadeTek]

Good luck, it'll be interesting to see if We all get the same results.

P.S. I had a look at my bumpers this morning and they haven't turned into crazy paving landfill...yet. ;0)

[dooderooni]

Managed to get the front bumper done before the heavens opened and it has made a bit of a difference to the bumper colour. Will have to leave off doing the back bumper for a less inclement day.

Anyway, it's now gone from greyish-white with a hint of pink (think the previous owner wasn't too careful where the colour polish went) to a darker grey with slightly less noticable pink bits.

Once the weather gets better I think I'll take the bumper off, possibly give it a light sanding and take the heatgun to it again.

[adamsky01]

i always use boot polish

[ShadeTek]

Originally Posted by dooderooni

Once the weather gets better I think I'll take the bumper off, possibly give it a light sanding and take the heatgun to it again.

DON'T take the bumper off and do it. I read on the original post that this can cause the bumper to sag as there's then no support for it when it is in its hot flexible condition.

[bb54]

hi ST, did you have to protect the paintwork or any other parts ?

wayne

[dooderooni]

bb, I fashioned some 'heat-shields' out of tin foil and a cereal box (I kid you not!) and used Blu-Tac to hold them in place while I did the trim strip on the front quarters.

I think as long as you don't dwell with the heatgun then you should be OK.

For reference, I used a 1600W Black & Decker to do mine.

[ShadeTek]

If you keep the gun moving it doesn't heat up too much. I checked my paintwork and it was hot, but it wasn't damaged.

[bb54]

cheers ST and Dood, ill give it a go tomorrow, ive always had patchy results with the boot polish, the heating method looks a whole lot more uniform.

wayne