Tips for touching up minor paint chips, marks, scratches, etc.

[PostmanPot]

Hi all

I bought a touch up paint kit for my Audi, consists of the base coat and clear coat. I'm excited to do some minor cosmetic repairs, instead of paying a lot more for someone else to do them.

I've read about fixing stone chips i.e. on the bonnet. The method seems to be to tape around the chip with masking tape, and then apply a few coats in the chip using a toothpick in order to build up the paint level. Then sand with wet 2,000 grit sandpaper, and apply clear coat. I suppose one could/would sand after the clear coat has been applied, too.

Please share your touch up tips and tricks? Methods for chips, marks, scratches, etc.

I might post some pics of bits I need doing.

Thanks in advance!

 

[EchoZA]

I got a kit when I bought my FIAT in 2006, pity the touch up bottle was bone dry I now use a black wax pencil and a clear coat.

 

[riscbroker]

I would be REALLY careful with the sandpaper. Even though 2000 grit feels almost as smooth as ordinary A4 printer paper I'm amazed at how quickly it removes stuff. You could easily sand off some surrounding clear coat by mistake.

 

[PostmanPot]

I would be REALLY careful with the sandpaper. Even though 2000 grit feels almost as smooth as ordinary A4 printer paper I'm amazed at how quickly it removes stuff. You could easily sand off some surrounding clear coat by mistake.

It'll only be touching the chip/what's above it, as there will be masking tape around it. Agreed though.

 

[riscbroker]

It'll only be touching the chip/what's above it, as there will be masking tape around it. Agreed though.

Yes, the masking tape is a good plan to protect the surrounding paint, you might just find that the repaired spot stands a little proud depending on the thickness of the tape. You could then take that down with a fine polish I guess.

 

[PostmanPot]

Yes, the masking tape is a good plan to protect the surrounding paint, you might just find that the repaired spot stands a little proud depending on the thickness of the tape. You could then take that down with a fine polish I guess.

Good point. Will bear in mind and be sure to not layer too much.

I wonder if it's better layering with more coats of paint, or more coats of clear coat?

Perhaps more of either is used in different situations.

 

[riscbroker]

I'd be inclined to use just enough base to achieve a good colour match (depending on depth of the chip/scratch, whether the chip has exposed bare metal, colour of paint etc) and then use the clear coat to bring the repair up to the level of the surrounding paint. Also depending on the paint colour you might want to wait a little between applications, before applying clear coat, as the colour is bound to change a little from freshly applied to dry.

I always suspected that the layer of paint is pretty thin, this I found very interesting:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?33723-Can-this-be-right-(paint-thickness)