Tips on my for metallic paint chip repair by hand?

[SF Space Grey]

Should say "my method for metallic paint repair..."


 


Someone recently bumped my car, leaving a half inch scratch / chip on the rear bumper (through to the black plastic).  I'd like to see what I can do with touchup paint to make it less noticeable.  I know I can't make it disappear, but I want to do something better than just paint the surface of the scratch.  What's my best bet for filling in the scratch a little and levelling the paint as much as possible?  My main limitation is that I don't have a DA, so any polishing afterwards will need to be by hand.


 


Here's what I'm thinking... would love to get some advice from someone who's done this before.


 


1. clean out the chip with Z-PC to remove wax


2. CarPro eraser to remove polish and any oils


3. slowly layer up the metallic grey paint in the chip until just below the level of the rest of the paint


4. add clearcoat layers until just above the level of the rest of the paint


5. wetsand using 2000 grit sanding block to cut the clear touchup down to the right level?


6. polish area with Ultimate Compound and Z-PC to restore gloss


 


Am I taking a huge risk by trying to wetsand a small area when I've never done it before?  Is wetsanding the right method or should I use Langka instead?  Is 2000 grit the right gauge?  Finally, will I be able to polish out sanding marks by hand using Ultimate Compound and/or Z-PC?


 


Sorry for all the questions.  Grateful for any help you can give.  Thanks!

 

[tom p.]

 Is wetsanding the right method or should I use Langka instead?

 


I've gone thru this.  I'd be using Dr Colorchip.  You're only going to hide this so much.  I would not be wet sanding. 


 


If this needs to be perfect, go to the body shop, Space Grey.

 

[Accumulator]

SF SPace Gray- As my pal Tom recommended, *DO NOT* do the wetsand unless you're already quite experienced at it and *KNOW* for certain that it'll turn out OK. Seriously, people are *always* coming back with fo0llow-ups about "I wetsanded my repair a little bit and now I have this problem....." and the solution is always "get it repainted".  Just don't do it.  ESPECIALLY without a very good polisher.  Really.


 


I'd use less basecoat and more clear.  Just enough of the former to get the look reasonably right (and that's the best it'll turn out anyhow).


 


I'd either try the DR ColorChip stuff (I don't apply it the way the instructions say to; I use it like regular touchup paint and it turns out a lot better for me) or live with the "blob" (hey, I'm really fussy and I'm living with a small one on the rear bumpercover of my beloved S8), or level it with Langka.


 


Yeah, I do wetsand lots of my touchups.  But I've done it for decades and I have an OK feel for the job.  And I sure don't wetsand all of 'em, not by a long shot.  I've done OK with both the DR ColorChip and with Langka, and sometimes I've been OK with just leaving the blob...the blob bothers me at first but after a few years, not so much if it's not in an obvious spot (e.g. that one on the S8).


 


Did I remember to recommend that you not wetsand it?

 

[RaskyR1]

SF SPace Gray- As my pal Tom recommended, *DO NOT* do the wetsand unless you're already quite experienced at it and *KNOW* for certain that it'll turn out OK. Seriously, people are *always* coming back with fo0llow-ups about "I wetsanded my repair a little bit and now I have this problem....." and the solution is always "get it repainted".  Just don't do it.  ESPECIALLY without a very good polisher.  Really.


 


I'd use less basecoat and more clear.  Just enough of the former to get the look reasonably right (and that's the best it'll turn out anyhow).


 


I'd either try the DR ColorChip stuff (I don't apply it the way the instructions say to; I use it like regular touchup paint and it turns out a lot better for me) or live with the "blob" (hey, I'm really fussy and I'm living with a small one on the rear bumpercover of my beloved S8), or level it with Langka.


 


Yeah, I do wetsand lots of my touchups.  But I've done it for decades and I have an OK feel for the job.  And I sure don't wetsand all of 'em, not by a long shot.  I've done OK with both the DR ColorChip and with Langka, and sometimes I've been OK with just leaving the blob...the blob bothers me at first but after a few years, not so much if it's not in an obvious spot (e.g. that one on the S8).


 


Did I remember to recommend that you not wetsand it?

 


My cure for the blobs


 

 


Shave them down with a denibber first, then lightly wet sand and polish.

 

[Accumulator]

RaskyR1-  Shhhh....we ought not mention stuff like that ("don't try this at home, kids!")   Lots safer than a razor blade, huh?


 


Whose do you use?


 


IIRC, Kevin Brown sells one too.

 

[RaskyR1]

RaskyR1-  Shhhh....we ought not mention stuff like that ("don't try this at home, kids!")   Lots safer than a razor blade, huh?


 


Whose do you use?


 


IIRC, Kevin Brown sells one too.

 


LOL! Yeah, a LOT safer than the razor blade!


 


I know what you mean about the "don't try this at home" though, seen way too many horror stories of newbs sanding through their clear!


 


I have the Festool one, which Kevin sells.


http://www.buffdaddy.com/product/LKZ-HM

 

[SF Space Grey]

Glad I asked!  Ok, you convinced me... I'm not going to try wetsanding.


 


Anyone have an opinion on choosing between the following?


 


1. Layering up clearcoar on top of the metallic coat until the chip is as level as possible


2. Building clearcoat up above the level of the surrounding paint and leveling it with Langka


 


In other words, is Langka actually useful to repair chips in metallic paint or should I just use it if I screw something up?

 

[Accumulator]

RaskyR1- Yeah, might've known you'd have the Festool one!


 


SF Space Grey-  I'd do a combination of your two options, sorta split-the-difference.  IMO people overdo the "build up a blob" and then have to risk overdoing the Langka to get it all leveled out. 


 


Do a bit of excess and then go easy with the Lanka.  I use the mindset of not trying to Langka it perfectly level, but rather using the stuff to make a modest improvement.  That way it's less likey that you'll end up removing too much/all of the touchup's clear (let alone the basecoat).


 


And be sure to use a soft enough cloth for the Langka-ing, and note that said cloth will then be trashed for future contact-with-paint uses; I cut up an old MF for jobs like this.


 


Glad to hear I scared you off the wetsanding