Cracks and chips on bumpers are almost the most common type of damage that motorists encounter. Small stones from under the wheels, unsuccessful parking, or a light collision — and defects appear on the plastic body part. A new bumper costs a lot of money, so many drivers decide to restore the old one themselves. Below we will tell you how to solder a bumper in garage conditions, look at methods using metal mesh and plastic ties, and also separately focus on repairing the VAZ-2110 bumper.

What to prepare for the work

Before starting to solder a plastic bumper, you need to gather the necessary set of tools and materials:

  • a heat gun or a soldering iron with a power of at least 60 W;
  • a metal mesh that will reinforce the seam;
  • plastic clamps (ties);
  • scissors for cutting metal;
  • sandpaper with grit from 80 to 240;
  • a degreasing compound;
  • a spatula and putty intended for plastic;
  • protective gloves and glasses.

Preparatory stage

  1. Removal of the part. To ensure the repair is done well, it is better to remove the bumper from the car. This will make it easier to access the damaged area from any side.
  2. Cleaning. The part must be washed with soap and all dirt removed.
  3. Degreasing. The crack area and the zone around it should be wiped with a solvent or a special degreaser.
  4. Chamfering. Along the edge of the crack, you need to slightly remove the edge with a knife or grinder — this will improve the adhesion of the seam.

Soldering with mesh

This option is suitable for restoring the strength of the plastic element.

  1. Heat the soldering iron to operating temperature.
  2. Cut a piece of metal mesh of such a size that it overlaps the crack by at least 1–2 cm on each side.
  3. Apply the mesh to the back side of the bumper.
  4. Heating the plastic with a soldering iron, carefully melt the mesh into the material.
  5. After cooling, the mesh will be inside the plastic and will act as a reinforcing frame.

This technology works especially well for large cracks and fractures.

Repair using ties

This method is more often used for temporary restoration or to give the seam additional rigidity.

  1. Along the crack, drill holes with a diameter of 3–4 mm with a step of 1–1.5 cm.
  2. Pull the edges of the plastic together with clamps, tightening them until they touch tightly.
  3. Cut off the excess ends of the ties.
  4. For greater reliability, you can additionally go over the seam with a soldering iron from the inside.

Features of soldering the VAZ-2110 bumper

Bumpers of this model are most often made of polypropylene (PP). This material normally withstands soldering, but it is important not to overheat it — otherwise the part will warp.

  1. Remove the bumper from the car.
  2. Check the plastic marking — it is usually applied on the inside.
  3. Work with a soldering iron or heat gun, setting the temperature to about 250–300 °C.
  4. To reinforce the seam, use a strip of plastic rod made of similar material.
  5. After finishing soldering, treat the seam with sandpaper and, if necessary, apply putty.

Final treatment

When the bumper soldering is complete, it remains to perform a few final steps:

  1. Sand the repaired area.
  2. Apply primer for plastic.
  3. Paint the part in the body color.

If you approach the matter carefully, traces of repair will be almost invisible. Restoring a plastic bumper at home is quite possible. The mesh will give the seam strength, the ties will help quickly restore the shape, and taking into account the features of a specific model — for example, the VAZ-2110 — will ensure the durability of the result. This approach allows you to save money and tidy up the appearance of the car without going to an expensive service.