When you try and fix other people's disasters (PAINT RELATED

[Laura877]

Afternoon all,

So I've got a paint problem.

I bought a car, cheap, there were some cosmetic issues that I (being a woman), thought I could fix.

I started with what I thought would be the easiest.. someone had repainted the door panel (about 5inch x 7) in a paint corrector pen/brush by the looks of it (joy). I thought, oh that'll stand down and I can compound it. Easy peasy, right? Nah.

So I've wet sanded it, started with 1500, then up to 2000 and finished with 2500. Well I've got the worst of it off, it was a completely thick layer and the majority is gone. HOWEVER. There's patches that look like I haven't sanded down enough, so I've gone over it with 1500 and they're not shifting and my main concern is I'm pretty close to going through it. I've gone over it with a compound to get the scratch marks out so I can see better and make a decision what to do next.

Any advise is greatly appreciated, do I carry on going over it with the 1500? Shall I go down to. 1200? Shall I just leave it as it is before I damage it? Don't say shall I go a to body shop PERLEASE. I'm determined now to do it!

I don't have a before picture because I didn't think it would be a problem, I do have a picture of the remaining bumps of paint however that I can't seem to sand down.

Many thanks 😆

[S2AVANT]

Is it a poor dent repair and the bumps are in the filler? I can't see from the picture on my phone.
If it is proud continue sanding, but if it's hollow you will need to fill it. Probably best removing everything from the bodge job and getting it back down to bare metal and starting again.

[Laura877]

I couldn't say, I *thought* it was just a case of poorly lathered on touch up paint over a scratch or something, it doesn't feel dented and there's no obvious signs that it's been filled.

This really was badly done, you could see the brush strokes in the paint and the edge of the paint from the factory spray was easy to feel and see. It feels completely smooth to the touch now I've sanded it, however when I run my finger over the remaining paint I can't sand down it feels like there's a lump over it. I'm tempted to jump on the 600 and just power sand the whole door but I'd like to get out of this much easier.

[Laura877]

Ive adjusted the contrast so jopefully it's more Visible, it actually looks here the problem area is "indented" but it actually feels and looks in real life like it hasn't been sanded enough as it's protuding slightly, resulting in a change of colour and giving the "oil" look on edges.

Just to add it has been compounded so I could see what the situation is after the sanding marks have gone.

Edited by Laura877 on Saturday 19th August 17:03

[bolide]

You don't get brushstrokes in paint applied with a spraygun. If you can see parallel lines under the paint they are probably sanding marks in the filler

This is a typical ste bodyshop habit - get a lovely finish over bad prep work

The only cure is to have the panel prepped & repainted properly

Nick Froome

[Laura877]

No, it definately wasn't done by a spray gun.

I completely resprayed my zetec a while ago (which came out beautifully may I add) and I can tell straight away this was done with a touch yo pen/brush. The only way I can explain is when you repaint a wall in your house with a cheap brush. You're left with brush marks in the paint. It stood out. The colour was slightly darker (due to obviously no top coat) and there was no shine. Buffing and comping has definitely levelled it to an extent and brought the shine out but my issue is the parts that just won't level out and/or match the parts I've got to coincide with the existing factory paint.

[Scimitarinjection]

Treat it like a paint run, so you just cut back the high spots. Go down to 400 if you have to. Then when level (if you have any paint left!) you can compound it again.

[Laura877]

Thanks for your help guys, wet sanded with 800 and it came straight out and levelled. Compounded it and it looks good as new. Cheers!