How to Paint a Fiberglass Spoiler
by Jenny CarverFiberglass spoilers are lightweight and won't weigh down the truck of your car when you open it. Fiberglass spoilers can get chipped and scratched, and may need to be repainted every few years. Painted fiberglass spoilers also fade and need to be repainted. Fiberglass and plastic spoilers need different steps to prepare and paint them. Learn how to paint a fiberglass spoiler by following the steps below.
Step 1
Sand the fiberglass spoiler with 200-grit sandpaper and a small sanding block. If the sanding block won't fit into all of the crevices, use your hand with the sandpaper, but try to keep your hand level and flat. Sand the entire surface of the spoiler that is to be painted.
Step 2
Wipe the spoiler with wax and grease remover and a lint-free towel. This removes dust and oil from your skin that can cause disturbances in the paint later. These spots may not be visible until the last coat of paint is sprayed and dried, so wipe thoroughly.
Step 3
Spray three coats of primer on the spoiler, making the coats thin and evenly distributed. The entire surface should be covered in primer. Allow each coat to dry.
Step 4
Use 1200-grit sandpaper to sand the top layer of primer on the spoiler. This leaves a smooth surface for the paint. Sand lightly as to not sand through the primer. Wipe the spoiler with wax and grease remover and a lint-free towel again.
Step 5
Paint the spoiler with four thin coats of paint, spraying light, even coats. Start with the underside of the spoiler, and finish by painting the topside. Allow each coat to dry.
Step 6
Clear the spoiler with three or four coats of automotive clear. Use light, even coats, spraying in the same pattern as the paint was sprayed. The clear protects the paint from light scratches and UV rays that can fade the paint.
Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper (200 and 1200 grit)
- Sanding block
- Water
- Wax and grease remover
- Lint-free towel
- Automotive primer
- Automotive paint
- Automotive clear
Warnings
- Don't spray primer, paint or clear too heavily because it will run and have to be sanded off and redone.
Writer Bio
Since 1997 Jenny Carver has served as editor and freelance writer for many offline and online publications including lovetoknow.com, autotropolis.com, "Hoof Beat News," "Import Tuner" and others. Carver owns a custom automotive shop where she has been doing paint and body work, custom interior work and engine building for over 11 years.
