Bumpers

Post by **lmangwin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:54 pm

Hi

Does anyone know which way would be the most effective to sort out my rusty bumpers!! Sounds rude - lol.
I was hoping to get them re chromed at the docks but they have stopped doing it. Some one said to use " wet and dry" but dont know what that is and didnt want to appear to daft and someone else said easier to buy new!

What do you reckon!!

Lorna

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:58 pm

Depends how rusty they are really - Post up a pic and we'll have a look for you

Post by **lmangwin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Hopefully will add a picture now<br>

<br>

Post by **kennatt** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:22 pm

by the look of them I'd say throw them out and buy some new or secondhand ones you will never clean those up to a satisfactory finish unless you are going to paint them body colour,even then sanding chrome is nigh on impossible its just too hard to shift

Post by **lmangwin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:28 pm

ok, thats really what i thought. Do i just ask for front and rear bumper for 1965 morris minor?
Does anyone know how much i should expect to pay for new ones and also for secondhand?

Post by **aupickup** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:30 pm

well unfortunately new chrome is no where as good

i would say if buying from a shop new, then go for bull mottif , he gives a 2 year guarentee on chrome

Post by **kennatt** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:42 pm

£60 to £80 each approx but as au says the quality of the stuff is very poor, put two on mine and they started to show slight blistering after about two years,but haven't got any worse over the last two years,secondhand originals are the better bet IF and a big if you can find any, bit like gold dust,when I say slight I mean very slight by the way, I can live with it and a good chrome polish now and again cleans them up nicely(Never to concours but then the rest of the car is bits and pieces of various other years so not bothered) Re chroming your old ones, if you specify how many application of chrome you want done,will give much better results but very expensive,probably too prohibitive.Good luck with it

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:56 pm

Yes, agree with the above... Seek out good (or better) secondhand ones. Pay about £25 for decent ones (they are out there if you look hard enough). I would also get the complete valance and chrome trim as they are almost impossible to separate without a lot of effort !!!

Post by **MGFmad** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:08 pm

Those bumper will never clean up properly but you might get a satisfactory improvement by cleaning them with wire wool and Autosol chrome cleaner.

Post by **lmangwin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:22 pm

will give it a go , i need to see what the mechanic thinks needs doing first - i just want to make her prettier but know that she has more pressing needs!!

Post by **Sidney'61** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 8:36 pm

I've seen bumpers de-chromed and painted in silver hammerite before, not as shiny but still look quite effective. Don't know if anyone else has tried this method...?

Post by **Lukey** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:15 pm

Is re-chroming expensive then?

Post by **lmangwin** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:18 pm

Lukey wrote:Is re-chroming expensive then?

I dont know, my brothers in law work at the docks and they used to be able to do it and would have done it for free but they dont have the facilitiy( dont know what else to call it) there now.

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:38 pm

It is amazing how much rust you can get off with wire wool and Brasso and an awful lot of rubbing. The chrome will never look perfect but with a lot of rubbing you can get it passably good. Work on a small section and if that cleans up then carry on with the rest.
At the next National Rally you can then check the quality of the bumpers on sale.

Post by **Dean** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:58 pm

lmangwin wrote:
Lukey wrote:Is re-chroming expensive then?
I dont know, my brothers in law work at the docks and they used to be able to do it and would have done it for free but they dont have the facilitiy( dont know what else to call it) there now.

Probably dropped it due to environmental reasons. This ruling has killed off a lot of quality engineering methods.

Post by **dalebrignall** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:27 pm

as mike says worth a go at polidhing it try autosolve,chrome polish or t cut might do it .

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:29 pm

Liberal applications of Brasso, wire wool and elbow grease will remove the surface rust stains just leaving the pitted bits. I discovered this when I was loaned a 2 door whist my MM was being restored. I also T cutted the paintwork and it looked fairly respectable for a working runabout. The front overiders were too far gone though

Post by **kennatt** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:21 pm

looking at the photo I think they are too far gone,I wouldn't like to start rubbing away at them,it,s a shame I gave my old ones to the gypos (can I say that ) sorry metal recyclers, aka (Police terminology)borrowers

,cos they were 10000% better than those,and you could of had them,for the postage

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:30 am

Sidney'61 wrote:I've seen bumpers de-chromed and painted in silver hammerite before, not as shiny but still look quite effective. Don't know if anyone else has tried this method...?

Yes I have seen that done a few times and it would spruce things up quite a bit and not cost much to do until you decide what to do Lorna.
Thinking about it are not some commercials bumpers finished like that.

Post by **markc** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:54 am

I have seen bumpers painted in silver Hammerite..i think they look ok but use the spray its much better finish.

Anything is better than rust!