Scratch repair technique please.

[KH]

Gentlemen,

I Have a two-inch scratch on a silver Mazda rear bumper. I've sanded it down using 1500 wet and dry paper.

I've ordered the Aerosol paint and also some Clearcoat lacquer.

Shall I mask up close to the scratch itself rather than spraying a large area?

Do I sand the newly sprayed paint before applying the lacquer or do I not need to?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but I've never used this two-stage process before. Thanks in advance, Kim

[Vette]

Mask about a foot either side of the scratch. Flat the entire area with 1500 W&D. Spray in light coats over the scratch and drift the spray out either side so you have a 'soft' blended area of paint - do not go too far either side of the scratch. Try to confine the paint area to a couple of inches either side. When you are satisfied with the coverage allow to dry - do not sand it! Apply the lacquer in even consistent coats over the area and beyond the paint area a couple of inches. Allow the lacquer to drift and blend into the existing lacquer (you should still be on the 1500 prepared area).

When all dry, machine polish from the new lacquer toward the old but do not over machine as the lacquer edge will appear.

Despite all this, you may still see the repaired area. I suggest you contact a local SMART repairer and you should get an undetectable result.

Good Luck!

[KH]

Thanks Vette. Good lad.