Paint Chip Repair A sound understanding of the proper technique and the correct process will produce excellent results even with a mediocre product. A quality product used without the proper surface preparation or application technique will never obtain a satisfactory result. Using the proper methodology (surface preparation, using a quality product, along with the correct application technique) will ensure an excellent result. Proceed with this in mind; the products you use constitute a very small factor in the equation. Methodology and technique constitute 95%; the reasoning behind the choice of quality products is to eliminate any limiting factors, thus enabling you to place emphasis on technique used. Some methods described may be beyond the capabilities of the average detailer or enthusiast; in this case we strongly encourage the reader to consult a professional detailer or body shop concerning the matters discussed herein. Liability The writer assumes no responsibility, expressed or implied, due to misuse or misinterpretation of the information or methodologies used, or for any vehicle damage or injury that may occur due to the suggestions and information offered. Why repair paint chips and scratches; to improve the vehicles appearance, to prepare vehicle for lease return, increase retail value and to protect the vehicle from further (corrosion) damage. Chips and scratches aren't just aesthetically unpleasing, the exposed metal underneath may be prone to rusting or additional chipping. Fixing these spots with touch-up paint is an easy step in protecting your investment- Methodology 1. Apply isopropyl alcohol (ISP) to a Q-tip and dab on the rock chip or scratch a few times. 2. Take a clean towel and dry the paint chip. 3. With a utility knife cut the paint around the edge of the chip, the edge of the paint chip indentation will be slightly higher than the surrounding area and/or the edge of the chipped area may have separated from the metal surface or there could be some wax/dirt in the area or the paint may have oxidized on the edges (it is not absolutely necessary, but it does improve the results and will avoid leaving a dark outline) 4. Angle your blade toward the centre of the chip and press down gently. Work slowly and carefully, removing a small piece at a time, it’s not necessary to remove a lot of material. Clean the area with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) again and allow it to dry. 5. With painters masking tape cover the area surrounding the rust spot 6. Use Nikkens ™3000 grit finishing paper and a Unigrit Sanding Block to remove any rust 7. Use an AutoSharp paint pen (AutoVisuals.com – The Best Automotive Paint Touch Up Using the AutoSharp Pen) colour matched to your vehicle. The pen itself is very easy to use. You simply shake it, depress the felt tip a few times to start the paint flow, and then begin to "colour" paint into the damaged areas, much like you would highlight a section of text in a book. 8.Do not to try to fix the chip in one application, apply a small amount of paint and ensure that you cover a small area surrounding the ‘chip’, allow to dry, repeat over a couple of days. Once the painted area is slightly higher than paint surface, allow to dry. 9.Once completely dry, using a Nikkens™ 3000 grit finishing paper and a Unigrit Sanding Block (previously soaked for 4 hours or over night) to ‘feather’ and level touch-up paint with the surrounding paint surface 10. Use Woolite® or a car shampoo on the chip repair for lubrication. 11. Use a very light pressure on the sanding block, lightly wiping the area often to check your progress 12. Next, using a Nikkens™ 3000 grit finishing paper and a Unigrit Sanding Block to reduce the high spot off of the chip repair, using the block in one direction only. Do not use a circular motion (it will produce swirls) or a back and forth motion and ensure the sanding block is always wet 13. Keep the area well lubricated with water and shampoo; otherwise it will dull the paint. Once the surface appears level, use a block to squeegee off the excess water / slush (3M™ Wetordry™ Rubber Squeegee, P/N 05517, 2 ¾-inch x 4 ¼-inch) If the water you are using has a high mineral content, don't let it dry on the car, as it could leave spots which may bleed through the new paint. 14. Dry the surface with a clean towel and inspect with your fingertips. 15. If you can feel a high spot, repeat the sanding process. 16. If done correctly, you will hardly notice the repair. 17. A good car polish (Menzerna Intensive Polish or Menzerna Final Polish II ) will restore the paints lustre 18. Finally apply wax/sealant protection (See also Wet Sanding, Rust Decontamination) Alternative products- a) Lanka Paint chip and scratch repair technologies, is both a chemical and mechanical process, once the touch up paint has dried, The Blob Eliminator® will re-soften the paint, and the light rubbing mechanically begins to "smooth" down the excess paint, with the touch up paint now appearing on the cloth - LANGKA Paint Chip and Scratch Repair Langka and Metallic Paint-the reason metallic looks different after using the product is the metallic flakes migrate to the upper level of the paint surface while setting up. To counter this, use the blue sanding card on edge immediately after applying the touch up, like a razor. This will remove most of the touch up while the metallic flakes are still suspended evenly throughout the paint, smearing the excess across the local area. Let dry and use the Langka to wipe away the smear tail left across the original (OME) paint. - LANGKA Paint Chip and Scratch Repair b) A system called Sprayless Scratch Repair- Sprayless Scratch Repair | About Us c) AutoSharp pen the pen itself is very easy to use. You simply shake it, depress the felt tip a few times to start the paint flow, and then begin to "colour" paint into the damaged areas, much like you would highlight a section of text in a book. AutoVisuals.com – The Best Automotive Paint Touch Up Using the AutoSharp Pen Note: The newly applied paint will appear darker; it will eventually lighten to match once it has been exposed to UVR d) Dr. ColorChip™ Paint Chip Repair system - Dr. ColorChip fool-proof auto touch up paint kit for chip repair on your car- BMW,Porsche,Ford,Honda,Mercedes,Lexus,Toyota...most color codes Paint chip repair companies- (UK) http://www.chipsaway.co.uk/index.asp e) Touchup123- Use detailer’s clay on panel to be treated Wipe on Final Touch Compound to prep surface, Wipe Colorfill on ENTIRE panel to cover all the blemishes, Wipe on Final Touch Compound to remove excess Colorfill, Wipe off haze of Final Touch Compound to leave a polished shiny finish, Touch up any left over larger chips with a brush (can be built up and smoothed out later with Final Touch Compound if desired) - http://www.touchup123.com Metallic paints, silvers and gold’s, have to be applied with care to avoid problems with the "colour flop". Colour flop is the term given when metallic flakes in the chip reflect light giving you a lighter or darker appearance. This is a variable that cannot be controlled, for best results; shake the paint very well to get the metallic flakes evenly distributed before you apply f) Automotivetouchup.com dedicates itself to touch up paint, aerosol spray paint, and auto or car paint backed by a strong exact colour match guarantee for your basecoat/clear coat original finish. They offer touch up paint packaged in aerosol spray paint cans and touch up bottles with a brush in cap applicator as well as auto paint packaged in pints and quarts cans. They guarantee your touch up paint or spray paint to match the original factory finish on all vehicles. Orders are custom matched to your vehicle using your original factory paint code and the highest computer technologies available. Not only is their touch up paint the exact colour; the size of metallic and pearl colour is the same in your paint. g) Touch-Up Magic Application: 1. Thoroughly clean each chip or scratch with a silicone remover and shampoo. 2. Cover chip or scratch with touch-up paint. 3. Allow paint to dry to touch, but not hard. (Time varies with paints) 4. Dab-on Touch-Up Magic, wait 15-30 seconds. 5. Rub across blob with a soft cloth. 6. May also use plastic razor blade if necessary (included) 7. After repair has completely dried (24 hours), follow with your favourite swirl remover and wax. Touch-Up Magic h) Paint chip repair (Sal Zaino’s method): [Here’s a fix for the chips. Take isopropyl alcohol on a q-tip and dab in only in the rock chip or scratch a few times. Take a clean towel and dry the paint chip. Take a match out of a matchbook. Use the opposite end of the head. Dab this in touch-up paint. (Do not thin out touch-up paint) Very carefully dab a very, very minute amount in the chip. Do not get any paint anywhere other then the chip depression. The trick here is not to try to fix the chip in one application. Do this every day until the paint in the chip is even with the rest of the paint surface. If you do this correctly, you will hardly notice that chip repair and the colour will match.] Best way to touch up chips in the paint? - Corvette Forum Information resource- Automotive Detailing Inside & Out; A Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist– Jon Miller © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights reserved This is one of is one of a series of unbiased and informative, knowledge based, subject specific articles, which are dedicated to the automotive detailing enthusiast or professional detailer in search of development and further education Copyright Protection and intellectual property rights-© This work is registered with the UK Copyright Service All original material is copyright, unless otherwise state (1) it may be copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes only provided that you retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the original material, (2) the information is copied in full with no changes unless prior written agreement is obtained from TOGWT, and a reference to © TOGWT ™ is included, any unauthorized use of these materials may violate copyrights and/or trademarks
