Bumper Paint Job Advice

[immortality]

Hello

I am preparing bumper paint. I've searched and decided what tool, what kind primer and clear coat i will use. below is the list. please give me advice or correction if anything looks wrong.
(of course, i will sand from 80 grit to 1000 grit then start painting.)

1. Air Spray Gun - Devilbiss finishline FLG4($220)
or Tekna prolite model ($ 350- 550)

2. Paint - BMW oem black sapphire ($250)

3. Primer - Eastwood Polyester ($32) why cheap comparing paint?

4. Clear Coat - Duplicolor ($20) .. why so cheap too?

i think there must be better primer and clear coat than i listed... can you please recommend better one with specific model name?

total cost is $520~850. should i go paint shop for professional result?

[nontoxic]

I had my front bumper repainted for ~$350, they did everything perfectly except the body panel alignment. DIY cost might not be worth it unless you are planning to repaint lot more.

[immortality]

really? was it over re-painting or just paint without sanding, primer job?
$350 is amazing price if all pre-job is included.

[Bloodrobe]

I was quoted 850.00. Can you provide who did the work? Was it a national chain? Maybe I just need to shop around more.

[nontoxic]

I took it to Sunrise Collision Center in Houston, TX. It was a new M style bumper they painted and installed for me.

All the local Corvette guys recommended the place and I had my S2000 bumpers repainted (front and back for ~800) for minor damage parking lot accident and curb damage.

But based on what you guys are saying, seems like I got lucky with a local place.

[Aliquantus]

For just a bumper, the materials cost doesn’t make it worth it. If you’d do other projects using that gun, it might be.

You forgot a few things like reducer and clear hardener, a good clear should be about the same price as the paint.

[immortality]

can you please tell me more about reducer and clear hardener?
what is it coming after? clear hardener sounds like very last job after clear coat.
but i have no idea what reducer is

[Silverstar]

Wow didn't realise paint jobs in the USA were so expensive. I just had my front bumper repaired and repainted on my E89 for 110 euros here in Spain! The workmanship was first rate too!

[Aliquantus]

Originally Posted by immortality

can you please tell me more about reducer and clear hardener?
what is it coming after? clear hardener sounds like very last job after clear coat.
but i have no idea what reducer is

Sorry, haven’t been here for a while.

The reducer is just a thinner that gets mixed with the base coat 1:1. The clear hardener is like a two part epoxy and gets mixed with the clear, usually in a 4:1 ratio.

[immortality]

it's very helpful. Thank you so much,
but more studying paint, more complicated.
i am thinking to give up repaint..

[paris1]

Originally Posted by immortality

it's very helpful. Thank you so much,
but more studying paint, more complicated.
i am thinking to give up repaint..

Good idea....