Rock chips = Quality of paint job?
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rock chips = Quality of paint job?
So I've noticed that I've accumulated tons of front bumper rock chips in the span of 5 months of owning my aftermarket bumper. And it was just ridiculous compared to my stock bumper.
My driving style didn't change nor did I take the car cross country. Same places, same speeds and the same driving pattern.
Which leads me to assume, can a cheap paint job lead to a poor easily chipped bumper? (When I mean cheap, i don't mean poor color matching, cause I had no issues with that nor the quality of smoothness and gloss)
I'm thinking of doing it right the 2nd time when I have my bumper painted.
Tips / suggestions / shops in SoCal that can help?
My driving style didn't change nor did I take the car cross country. Same places, same speeds and the same driving pattern.
Which leads me to assume, can a cheap paint job lead to a poor easily chipped bumper? (When I mean cheap, i don't mean poor color matching, cause I had no issues with that nor the quality of smoothness and gloss)
I'm thinking of doing it right the 2nd time when I have my bumper painted.
Tips / suggestions / shops in SoCal that can help?
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by CAVZ33
How long did you let it sit before driving it? It takes about 4-6 weeks for paint to cure all the way. If you don't let it, you will get the results your talking about.
So wait, 4-5 weeks after the paint job?
What does curing mean, btw? Like not using it? Just letting it sit on the floor for a month?
I used it a week after the paint job, i guess its not enough.
I might just have to do that next time then.
#7
Registered User
iTrader: (52)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: So Cal
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know if you can tell when it's fully dried, but I have been told to wait at least a minimum of 4 weeks. You might want to let it sit in the sun. Last time I had no choice but to drive my car and I got major rock chips just like u.
Trending Topics
#9
Registered User
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: San Pedro (South of Torrance)
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Material is a big part of it. I have an Aerosync Type N bumper (which is urethane) and have driven it daily since the day I got it back (its been about a year), and the rock chips are minimal compared to when I had a Vertex (hybrid fiberglass). My Vertex looked sandblasted after a few months of driving.
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by SuperBlack350z
Some places use a harder clear and some places don't. If they used a softer clear, it would obviously be easier to cut and buff the bumper.
Can these be mentioned to the painter as a special request? Or do they jack up the price once they know what you're talking about?
#14
Registered User
iTrader: (59)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Posts: 8,517
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Originally Posted by InZpire
Can these be mentioned to the painter as a special request? Or do they jack up the price once they know what you're talking about?
#15
Registered User
iTrader: (59)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Posts: 8,517
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Originally Posted by UHATEIT
same goes for washing or waxing it, should wait a week before washing the car or 2 months before waxing it. Have to let it cure
#17
New Member
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Highland, CA
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ClearBra FTW! I used to have urethane on my daily and never saw any chips until about a year and with fiberglass on my Z it had rock chips the same day after it was painted. I have clearbra on my Z now and it helps big time! It was worth the extra $$.
#18
New Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[expletive deleted] dude. You seriously need to see my [expletive deleted] OEM front bumper. A drive from Portland OR to Anaheim CA [expletive deleted] KILLED it! On a super black no less. It's amn embarassing monstrosity. I honestly can't imagine an aftermarket paint job being less [expletive deleted]ty than the OEM paint.
Got any pics?
Got any pics?
#19
Registered User
iTrader: (51)
Yup seriously. When I had my V2 I got it painted by my local shop which does AWESOME job and in 6 months of owning in I didn't get a SINGLE rock chip.
When I got my Amuse bumper I got it painted at a cheap price at not-so-good bodyshop, and within a month my bumper was just scattered with countless rock chips.
You get what you pay for. Don't go cheap on the paint job.
When I got my Amuse bumper I got it painted at a cheap price at not-so-good bodyshop, and within a month my bumper was just scattered with countless rock chips.
You get what you pay for. Don't go cheap on the paint job.
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gsazabi
Yup seriously. When I had my V2 I got it painted by my local shop which does AWESOME job and in 6 months of owning in I didn't get a SINGLE rock chip.
qsazabi,
PM me the shop? lol!
No seriously, i want to put them on my book when i decide to have this painted.
Thanks bro!