Please help a noob: Did I spread the touch-up paint wrong? Should I start over?

[tholden1]

I bought a used car that had a long chip that had went through the primer and had already rusted. At least, I hope that was rust or else I just sanded off brown primer. So, I got the 3m sanding pen and after much work and wearing down the pen I got all the rust (primer?) out.



I then followed the instructions for the primer. I got a toothpick, dipped it in and touched it to the center of the chip. Well, it did not flow like it was supposed to. I then put a bigger amount on the toothpick and tried again. This time it flowed onto the chip but didn't spread, it just left a blob. So, I took the toothpick and spread out the primer. Well, it dried but since I spread it out it was not very smooth.



I then started applying the touch-up paint the same way. It would just blob at wherever I put it so I would again spread it with the toothpick. I have not filled everything completely but what I have now is a very bumpy filled long chip.



Should I just keep filling until it overflows? Does it really matter that the current long chip is very bumpy and uneven? I plan on wet-sanding it in the end. Should I be doing something different? Should I sand it down with the 3m pen and start over?



Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[tholden1]

bump

 

[acl99]

If the paint isnt spreading its too thick, try thinning alittle of it and trying it like that for what remains of the chip. If its bumpy it just means that theres more paint in one spot than the other, keep filling the chip till it overflows than wetsand it down flat, you should be fine.

 

[tholden1]

Thank you for your reply. I will try that.



This is my first time trying this. I am so glad I found this site because I cannot afford to take it to a body shop. The combination of the detailed instructions here and the fact that my new used car is black has inspired me to give it a shot.



Thank you for the help

If the paint isnt spreading its too thick, try thinning alittle of it and trying it like that for what remains of the chip. If its bumpy it just means that theres more paint in one spot than the other, keep filling the chip till it overflows than wetsand it down flat, you should be fine.