Today, we are trying to repair our front driver side bumper in our 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan GT. Not too long ago a deer hit the driver side of my mother's minivan leaving a 5-6 inch hole in the bumper, as well as dislocating the quarter panel. We are attempting to use our plastic hot welding stapler kit, mesh, steel wool, bumper filler, glazing putty, primer & spray paint without taking the bumper off. We want to see if it's possible to get a semi- professional result without going to the body shop and spending hundreds, if not thousands in body repairs. This is my very first time attempting to repair a large hole in the bumper. If you see me doing something wrong, or if you know a better way, please feel free to comment and let me know. This whole process took about 2 days on and off to complete the whole job.
When we were sanding and filling the bumper with our plastic rods in the video, the footage was either corrupted or deleted, as a result it is not shown in the video, my apologies.
Unfortunately, our body filler dried up as we were using it on the hole on the bumper, as a result the filler looks very gritty when dry. We will be sanding it anyway, so there's no real issue. Just as a lesson, always apply your body filler or glazed putty quickly, that will ensure a smoother finish when you get ready to sand. If you wait too long when applying body filler of glazed putty, you will have very gritty looking area, but you will be sanding it anyway.
Step1: Prepare bumper for repair (clean damaged area thoroughly)
Step 2: Measure the size mesh you need to cover the hole.
Step 3: Plastic weld the mesh almost halfway through the bumper to avoid high spots.
Step 4: Use steel wool or fiber cloth over the mesh to strengthen the repair.
Step 5: Use bumper filler over entire mesh area until mesh cannot be seen.
Step 6: Let filler dry, then sand with 80 Grit, 180 grit, 320 grit, until very smooth.
Step 7: If blemishes appear after sanding, use glazing putty to cover imperfections.
Step 8: When glazing putty dries, repeat sanding procedure until smooth.
Step 9: Prep repaired area and clean with mineral spirits or isopropyl alcohol.
Step 10: Use primer, then use choice of spray paint.
Step 11: If any blemishes or paint drips, wet sand with 1000 grit with soapy water.
Always wear safety glasses and a proper ventilation mask when working with harmful melting plastics, paint products & sharp staples.