Quick and easy stone chip touch up...
Discussion
Right, I'm hoping I wont get too much stick for this topic since it's so stupidly basic that it could be seen as a waste of bandwidth! However, before I had any paint knowledge whatsoever, there was no way I would have had the confidence to mess about with my car's paint regardless of how simple it was.
My car had always had a few white stone chip marks, and being a darker colour (reflex charcoal) they were pretty obvious.
Earlier this year I was having some paint work done at the rear of the car. When I arrived to pick it up from the body shop, I found the guy crouched over the front of my car with a tiny paint brush. It turns out he was dabbing my stone chips with the leftover paint (bought from here: http://www.internationalcolours.com/paint-touch-pa... ). Whilst not perfect as the indentation is still there, it really makes the stone chip harder to see because it is no longer white. You almost have to know where you're looking to spot it.
I was told you could go a step further by dabbing some lacquer (get an aerosol can of it from Halfruads and spray some into the cap so you can dip into it) on top of the paint and then giving it a good polish to smooth it out.
I haven't bothered with the lacquer step and I'm more than happy with the result. I find myself every couple of months walking round the car looking for any imperfections that I can touch up. I actually find it quite therapeutic
Finally, rather than a brush, I have a cheap fountain pen which I dip into the paint. It saves you having to wash it each time and it allows you to be very precise with the application.
The result obviously wont compare to a front end respray, but it certainly looks better than the unsightly white stone chips that many of us suffer form.
My car had always had a few white stone chip marks, and being a darker colour (reflex charcoal) they were pretty obvious.
Earlier this year I was having some paint work done at the rear of the car. When I arrived to pick it up from the body shop, I found the guy crouched over the front of my car with a tiny paint brush. It turns out he was dabbing my stone chips with the leftover paint (bought from here: http://www.internationalcolours.com/paint-touch-pa... ). Whilst not perfect as the indentation is still there, it really makes the stone chip harder to see because it is no longer white. You almost have to know where you're looking to spot it.
I was told you could go a step further by dabbing some lacquer (get an aerosol can of it from Halfruads and spray some into the cap so you can dip into it) on top of the paint and then giving it a good polish to smooth it out.
I haven't bothered with the lacquer step and I'm more than happy with the result. I find myself every couple of months walking round the car looking for any imperfections that I can touch up. I actually find it quite therapeutic
Finally, rather than a brush, I have a cheap fountain pen which I dip into the paint. It saves you having to wash it each time and it allows you to be very precise with the application.
The result obviously wont compare to a front end respray, but it certainly looks better than the unsightly white stone chips that many of us suffer form.
Detailer was my other thought, as you know, so have contacted Ben Ten for a quote
phillpot said:
Chipex is basically a "posher" version of what you've done 
A match stick end dipped into a matching aerosol paint in the cap is perfect for stone chips. A £30 saving on Chipex! You can choose how thick you want the paint by allowing it to evaporate in the cap. This also helps to prevent runs.m4tti said:
Good advice. Also stick small bits of blob size wet/dry to end of match stick with Evostick and using a binocular head magnifier, the proud paint blobs can be sanded down taking extreme care not to stray beyond the blob margins. Finish with Farecla G3 just rubbing with finger thumb. A very patient excercise, if you have the time!Edited by EGB on Friday 7th September 18:55
All great stuff - I also us a cotton wool bud. Just roll the bud across the applicator brush until it's flattened with the paint and apply as you need. If you wait a few seconds the paint will soak in and allow you to roll the bud across the chip or use the tip of the bud.
Can really help give an even finish with no paint lift!
Cheers
Steve
Can really help give an even finish with no paint lift!
Cheers
Steve
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff