How to Recondition a Bumper Cover

Everyday, bumper recyclers recondition bumper covers and then sell the reconditioned bumper covers to body shops. Buying reconditioned OEM bumper covers from a bumper recycler saves money for the insurance company and the customer. And, because it is a reconditioned OEM bumper cover, you can be confident that the bumper cover will fit. Aftermarket bumper covers often do not fit well.
This bumper was damaged in a common, real-world accident; a dog ran out in front of it. (Don't worry...the dog is fine, and it has learned its lesson and does not chase cars anymore!) You can see that this type of damage is repairable, and the repaired bumper is much less expensive than a new OEM bumper.
This video shows how to weld the broken pieces back together, remove dents and high spots, and repair a crack in the fog light area.
Look below for links to some of the products from the video.
View this video on our website for more information and product suggestions for this repair: www.polyvance.com/video/nitro...
Nitrogen plastic welder: www.polyvance.com/Nitrogen-We...
Waterborne Primer Surfacer: www.polyvance.com/Waterborne-...
Chapters:
Intro: 0:00
The damage: 0:10
Applying aluminum tape: 0:35
Cleaning: 1:11
Grinding and v-grooving: 1:21
Welding the backside: 2:10
Welding the cross stitch: 3:08
Prepping the other area for welding: 3:30
Welding the rest of the backside cracks: 3:50
Prepping the cosmetic side for welding: 4:39
Welding the cosmetic side: 5:06
Smoothing the welds on the cosmetic side: 5:35
Removing dents and high spots: 5:53
A crack in the fog light area: 7:49
Sandblasting: 8:02
Applying aluminum tape: 8:19
Grinding: 8:33
Welding the backside: 8:47
Prepping the cosmetic side: 9:34
Shaping the cosmetic side: 9:53
Cleaning and applying adhesion promoter: 10:28
Mixing the filler: 10:41
Applying the filler: 11:00
Sanding the filler: 11:21
Applying primer surfacer: 11:58
Applying the final coat of primer: 12:15
Price breakdown: 12:40
⚠️ Important ⚠️
- Always wear proper safety gear while working!
- The length of this video is in no way representative of the actual time required to perform a complete repair and therefore should not be used for estimating purposes.
✅ SUBSCRIBE to our channel for updates on our products and tutorials!
🌐 VISIT us at www.polyvance.com
📧 EMAIL us at [e-mail]
📞 CALL us at 1-800-633-3047
✉️ SIGN UP for our email newsletter at omniform1.com/forms/v1/landin...
👍 Follow us on social media:
- Facebook: / polyvance
- Instagram: / polyvanceofficial
- TikTok: / polyvance
- LinkedIn: / polyvance
Browse our products:
- Best sellers: www.polyvance.com/Best-Sellers/
- Newest products: www.polyvance.com/New-Products/
Check out Polyvance's plastic welders and welding rod:
- Nitrogen welders: www.polyvance.com/Nitrogen-We...
- Hot air welders: www.polyvance.com/Hot-Air-Wel...
- Airless welders: www.polyvance.com/Airless-Wel...
-Plastic welding rod: www.polyvance.com/Welding-Rod...

[@JOEGGGJOE]

Great stuff. Hope the dogs ok. Now that’s a blast cabinet 😲.

[@sandofarms]

Good craftsmanship! Recycling is environmentally friendly, and it's good American labor!

[@polyvance]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@angelhall7737]

I appreciate the video and the music. I just wish i had the tools and materials available to do my bumper cover that way. It looks professionally done and reinforced. I'd definitely think there's no reason for concern when it comes to the integrity like most of the "how to" videos I've watched so far. So, thanks for that.

[@polyvance]

Thank you! Yes, the nitrogen plastic welder shown in this video is something a body shop would use. However, we do have some products for DIY use. You can have a look at our airless plastic welders or the Steinel hot air welder kit on our website.

[@markyessdyches7046]

That was good ish! Thanks

[@chryslerny413]

"Continue sanding with 7" mudhog until bumper cover is paper thin" lol

[@allaboutbumpers1382]

Nice job

[@polyvance]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonnyjaywalk]

but what happened to the dog?

[@scottb7600]

It recovered nicely, but now it doesn't chase cars!

[@polyvance]

View this video on our website for more information about the products used for this repair and for some helpful tips: www.polyvance.com/video/nitrogen-hot-air-fusion-welding/how-to-recondition-a-bumper-cover

[@sandippatil362]

Which raids use for plastic water tank repairing

[@bengteskil]

as someone who works with ford, i can say that this is not allowed by Ford. It removes the pedestrian safety zones from the bumper

[@scottb7600]

How so? I would love to hear a detailed explanation of how repairing a crack in a bumper cover to its original strength removes a "pedestrian safety zone." I guess "pedestrian safety zone" would also need careful defining as well.

[@bengteskil]

the safe zones or the soft zones, is soft places in the bumper that is supposed to minimize the damage the pedestrian will take if you hit someone with the car. if you repair it with welding or glue it will make the bumper harder in those places and also it will be a high probability that the bumper will crack them places and cut the pedestrian. There is info about it on euro ncap for example

[@scottb7600]

I understand the adhesives issue because of the addition of another layer of material on the backside of of the bumper, making it stiffer and weaker. However, your last statement is contradictory. A good nitrogen weld is no more likely that the injection molded portion of the bumper to crack nor produce a hard spot in the bumper. Welding plastic is an integral part of MANY bumper assemblies from OEMS and if what you said were true, they would not be able to use welding plastic to produce their bumpers. What is the impact standard for pedestrians and what reference do you have showing how a properly repaired bumper cover increases risk to anyone since it is considered a cosmetic part.

[@bengteskil]

well, what i say is true. it's restrictions we receive from Ford. if you don't believe me you can look it up

[@scottb7600]

Can you provide a link? What speed is it rated to hit a person and not hurt them? 2 mph? Make me a believer, show me the spec's on this zone, the study for references, and the statement from Ford.

[@husseinalnasrawi3766]

your work is awesome i wish work with you

[@polyvance]

Thank you so much! We are glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Wolfdog370]

Great results, but a lot of work involved, in Australia the labour cost would far exceed the cost of a new bumper, plus I've never seen most of those products over here .. I can see these products are perfect for repairing parts no longer available.

[@TruthHurtLiars]

I would like to disagree here. I got a bumper bar repaired for $250 some time ago instead of paying $700 to buy a same used bumper from the wreckers. Now I repair the bumpers myself whenever required and everything is available in Australia for the required repairs. Let me know if you need any of the items used in this repair video.

[@Wolfdog370]

@@TruthHurtLiars will do, thanks for letting me know 👍

[@cpzmelbs]

​@@TruthHurtLiarsI'm interested. We don't do any plastic at work so I'm after somewhere selling direct to public preferably

[@davidgutierrez2654]

Por que no usar directamente fibra de vidrio ?? O cual seria la diferencia entre este procedimiento y reparacion con fibra de vidrio

[@polyvance]

This is fusion welding, so we are using a rod that matches the base material and fusing the plastic together. It becomes whole again. Fiberglass and epoxy would be put over the damaged area, but the crack or hole would not be fused with matching material.

[@arlequinantarius858]

Perdí la cuenta de cuantas beses lijo la pieza,sera que quedaría plástico. En mi opinión como que me compró la pieza nueva

[@scottb7600]

Si la pieza no está disponible o es muy cara, entonces es más práctico reparar la pieza, en lugar de reemplazarla. (Google Translated Response)

[@user-gm6ud4uw1h]

เส้นเชื่มมอะไรครับแบบนี้

[@polymexdf69]

Video es great very splenatory but music on back ground it distracting but thanks for info

[@polyvance]

Thanks for watching! Our music has changed on our newer videos if you want to check them out! :)

[@Alpi-yn5jk]

or go and buy a new bumper for save your 4 weeks

[@polyvance]

The nitrogen welder is more for body shops and recyclers to use since they will be able to pay the welder off quickly. This particular process isn't for a DIYer. However, we do have products a DIYer can use to repair a bumper (like our Mini-Weld Model 7 or our FiberFlex Repair Kit). Buying a new bumper may be cheaper if your damage is very bad. Many people have cars where OEM bumpers are hard to find (and therefore more expensive). If you buy an aftermarket part, you may have fit issues and you may have to get it painted to match. By the time you pay someone to fix the problems from the aftermarket part, you may have spent more than repairing the OEM bumper.

[@husseinalnasrawi3766]

Hi guys do you have video how to fix a rubber bumper

[@scottb7600]

If you mean urethane, yes we do. go to our website, filter the videos by airless welding and watch the ones on bedside truck fenders and others with "Urethane" in the title.

[@husseinalnasrawi3766]

Scott Bixler please give me the link

[@polyvance]

Hey, Hussein! We have a whole playlist on this channel called "Repairing Thermoset Urethane". I hope it can help you find what you need! Here is a link to the playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIa5YqSmo7Crosk

[@husseinalnasrawi3766]

Polyvance. Gad bless you

[@seephor]

What's the point of spraying the cleaner if you're going to grind the plastic anyway

[@scottb.5344]

seephor. If the part is dirty or has oil or other contaminants on the surface prior to grinding, the grinding action removes the majority of the substance, but some also ends up getting ground into the substrate. Many weld failures are caused by poor prep work and cleaning the surface prior to grinding is cheap, easy insurance to rule that out as a cause of poor quality welds.

[@chrislabago5426]

Or buy a fresh used bumperor find something in thejunkyard

[@polyvance]

The nitrogen welder is more for body shops and recyclers to use since they will be able to pay the welder off quickly. This particular process isn't really for a DIYer. However, we do have products a DIYer can use to repair a bumper (like our Mini-Weld Model 7 or our FiberFlex Repair Kit). Buying a new bumper may be cheaper if your damage is very bad. Many people have cars where OEM bumpers are hard to find (and therefore more expensive). If you buy an aftermarket part, you may have fit issues and you may have to get it painted to match. By the time you pay someone to fix the problems from the aftermarket part, you may have spent more than repairing the OEM bumper.

[@Denis-bo8ms]

I got a pre-painted bumper for my civic of Amazon for $250. How much would you charge for a job like shown in the video?

[@polyvance]

That is a good question. Honda bumpers are very inexpensive because they are plentiful and also because there are aftermarket ones available. You made the right choice. However, many bumper covers are expensive and/or discontinued leaving you no choice but to repair what you have. For the bumper in this video, a new OEM bumper was $450.00. Obviously, we wouldn't charge that much. The bumper in this video would cost about $250 and that would NOT include the paint.

[@_RickyAbraham]

A small amount of fible glass reinforcment to tht area would have made tht bumper more durable

[@scottb7600]

No it wouldn't. Thats like saying adding fiberglass to a steel weld will make it more durable. Once its welded, its back to being one piece of plastic and a surface bond to that will add little if any durability.

[@_RickyAbraham]

Scott B 😊

[@jxlee0856]

That's a lot of work. I'll just go buy a new one, and I'm cheap!!!

[@polyvance]

The nitrogen welder is more for body shops and recyclers to use since they will be able to pay the welder off quickly. This particular process isn't for a DIYer. However, we do have products a DIYer can use to repair a bumper (like our Mini-Weld Model 7 or our FiberFlex Repair Kit). Buying a new bumper may be cheaper if your damage is very bad. Many people have cars where OEM bumpers are hard to find (and therefore more expensive). If you buy an aftermarket part, you may have fit issues and you may have to get it painted to match. By the time you pay someone to fix the problems from the aftermarket part, you may have spent more than repairing the OEM bumper.

[@Atrociousa3]

Screw the bumper. How’s the dog?

[@Reparaturkanal]

"This Ford Fusion hit a dog and the bumper was damaged." - But what about the dog?

[@polyvance]

It recovered nicely and it learned its lesson...it doesn't chase cars anymore!

[@josecorrea2431]

And now the body shop can charge you for a NEW bumper 🤐🤑

[@LMBC6Brian]

Sure you repaired it, but now its going to be so brittle. One small bump and its going to crack. Bumper covers are so cheap nowadays, no need to do this.

[@polyvance]

Why would this brittle and crack easily? When you do a fusion weld, you are blending the two plastics together. It's like pouring a cup of water into a gallon of water; once they are put together, they blend and you cannot separate them. Also, not all bumper covers are cheap. Every situation is different, and sometimes it may be cheaper to buy a new OEM bumper. But many times, it is cheaper to have the bumper repaired rather than replaced.

[@scottb7600]

Define cheap. Welding plastic does not make a bumper any more brittle than melting plastic to form it into a part.

[@TruthHurtLiars]

Your statement is true only in case the bumper had been repaired using fibre glass method.

[@e36fanatics]

obviously someone who has no idea what they are even watching or capable of understanding it... next youre probably gonna go in video where someones welding steel and tell them its gonna crack in that spot. some people....

[@boltmann]

That's an 8mm rod not an 8 inch PLEASE!!!

[@polyvance]

The diameter is 1/8th of an inch.

[@boltmann]

@@polyvance That's better, though she kept saying 8"

[@vinsan-002]

Who tought you that?! 36 grit on bare plastic that has no bondo in it. Bullshit, totally wrong.

[@1totheright]

Man you guys ruined every single instructional video you've made with the annoying POINTLESS background music!!!!👎👎👎

[@polyvance]

This video is over 3 years old, and unfortunately we cannot do anything about the music. We have different music on our newer videos. Fortunately, this video has been captioned, so if you don't want to hear the music, but would like to receive the content, the video can be muted and the captions can be turned on. I am sorry you don't like the music.

[@ianmacfarlane9240]

Why do so many people ruin their videos with heavy metal other disturbing music. There should be a way to turn it off.

[@scottb7600]

agreed

[@polyvance]

This video is pretty old. The music on our newer videos has been changed. All of our videos are captioned, so if you can't stand the music, you can just mute the video and read the captions.