How To Repair A Fiberglass Bumper

Fiberglass is often used in auto bumper construction, partly because it is bendable and easy to fix. With a simple fiberglass repair kit, car owners can usually fix small dents and dings in their bumpers. Learning to make these basic repairs is a great way to maintain the structural and aesthetic integrity of your car's bumper. This article explains how you can repair defects in a fiberglass bumper using a basic repair kit.

Using A Fiberglass Repair Kit

Fiberglass repair kits included most, but not all, of the things that you need to repair dents and dings. Most kits will include the following:

  • Fiberglass cloth
  • Fiberglass resin
  • Liquid hardener
  • Mixing tray
  • Plastic mixing stick

On top of this you will also need the following basic supplies:

  • Pair of scissors
  • Plastic putty knife
  • Painter's tape
  • Autobody sandpaper
  • A vibrating power sander

You can often get away with sanding by hand, but the job is much easier with a power sander.

Prepping the Spot

First, you need to prepare the area that you are going to patch. Lightly sanding the area is necessary if the paint around it is chipping or peeling away. Be careful to not sand off too much of the paint. You don't want to create more work for yourself. After sanding, wipe down the area with a wet rag. Next, you need to cut the fiberglass cloth to the right size. Cut the cloth so it is at least a full inch wider than the hole on every side. Then, use two small pieces of tape to place tape the cloth over the hole at the two top corners.

Next, you need to mix the resin and liquid hardener together. Once the hardener is added, the liquid dries very quickly, so you need to be prepared to spread it.

Applying the Resin

Applying the resin is a little tricky, but you will get used to the consistency of the liquid once you start spreading it with the putty knife. If you are worried, you can practice spreading it on a piece of wood. Once you start to spread the resin onto the cloth, you will need to remove the tape. You might not get complete coverage on the first coat, so apply a second layer after the first coat is completely dry. Finally, you can get out the sander and smooth out the patched area after the final coat is dry.

As you can see, this is a fairly simple process, so you should fix small dents and dings in your fiberglass bumper with complete confidence. For more information, contact Aldrich Auto Body & Repair, Inc. or a similar company.


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