Took both bumpers out under the sun. They look good to me. Clear coating next.

Clear coating went fine, except I got a three runs. One I tried to take off with the sticky side of some tape, but it was making it worse. So, I'll have to do a little wet sanding and buffing. No biggie.

I think it will be easier to wet sand and buff with the bumper covers on the car. Folding work stands are pretty wobbly.

Looks great! Glad it worked out for you.

I got the front and rear bumper covers installed. The new front styrofoam energy absorber had the "up" arrow pointing in the wrong direction, and while I was struggling with it, I chipped off some paint on the edge right below the right headlight. I'll get some touch up paint for that. It's not too visible. Rear bumper cover was quick and easy.

I wet sanded the runs out with 1500 and a small block, then did a light, careful buff. There's something strange about how they look after I got finished. There is a telltale sign of where the drip was, almost as if the drip disturbed the metallic underneath.

Not worth worrying over, but this could be a learning experience for me. I used Sherwin Williams 4th Dimensions base coat and Tamco 2100 clear coat.

There were no runs in the base coat. I'm sure of that. Any ideas?

It's hard to tell from the photo if you really got the run totally eradicated but assuming you did - what might have happened is that the clear inside the run will take a lot longer to dry obviously, so might have disturbed the metallic paint underneath.

chris wrote:It's hard to tell from the photo if you really got the run totally eradicated but assuming you did - what might have happened is that the clear inside the run will take a lot longer to dry obviously, so might have disturbed the metallic paint underneath.

The run in the first picture is by the inside corner of the headlight. Looks like a tear. Gives the car some personality.

I'll have to be really careful about runs with this base coat/clear combo. I didn't have any runs to deal with when I painted my Tundra, so it can be done.

There is a fine line between laying clear on heavy enough to flow out like glass and having it start running. I find most of my runs come when I am not careful to keep the gun the same distance from the panel. Just a nano second of moving it an inch too close is all it takes.