Discussion
......are these to be avoided at all costs?
I have a relatively deep, but narrow straightline scratch on my bonnet. Car is relatively new with metalic paint and is rather let down by it, yet I'm reluctant to respray as I don't plan on keeping it much longer.
Can anyone recommend the best course of action?
I have a relatively deep, but narrow straightline scratch on my bonnet. Car is relatively new with metalic paint and is rather let down by it, yet I'm reluctant to respray as I don't plan on keeping it much longer.
Can anyone recommend the best course of action?
First of all, resign yourself to anything other than a respray being cosmetically disappointing.
Do check that the scratch isn't just in the lacquer layer - to the lay eye this can be very deceptive. If it is, probably best to get a local detailer to finesse it out, although you could try it yourself - though it's bad news if you polish through.
If the scratch is through the lacquer, and you're looking to keep cost down but not have the bonnet turn into a rusty swiss cheese on you, a touch-in pen isn't a bad start. You need to get *something* into the scratch. Wax is way too temporary.
The brush tip supplied is the worst thing you could possibly use straight onto the panel. It will put paint everywhere nearby as well as on the scratch.
To avoid this, mask along the scratch with some tape, as close to the scratch as you can, an even distance, all the way along.
Then put the paint into the masked scratch. Try to line the scratch in as few passes as possible. If the paint needs slight thinning to help with this, thin with the appropriate solvent for the paint you're using.
If you have access to an airbrush, thinning the paint to the right viscosity for it and then using that on the scratch will be a better option.
Remove the mask. Do not use the clearcoat if one has been supplied as it is likely unnecessary, and can make removing the pen for a professional repair impossible without grinding the whole lot off.
That's probably the recipe for the best result while keeping cost right down...
HTH
Tol
Do check that the scratch isn't just in the lacquer layer - to the lay eye this can be very deceptive. If it is, probably best to get a local detailer to finesse it out, although you could try it yourself - though it's bad news if you polish through.
If the scratch is through the lacquer, and you're looking to keep cost down but not have the bonnet turn into a rusty swiss cheese on you, a touch-in pen isn't a bad start. You need to get *something* into the scratch. Wax is way too temporary.
The brush tip supplied is the worst thing you could possibly use straight onto the panel. It will put paint everywhere nearby as well as on the scratch.
To avoid this, mask along the scratch with some tape, as close to the scratch as you can, an even distance, all the way along.
Then put the paint into the masked scratch. Try to line the scratch in as few passes as possible. If the paint needs slight thinning to help with this, thin with the appropriate solvent for the paint you're using.
If you have access to an airbrush, thinning the paint to the right viscosity for it and then using that on the scratch will be a better option.
Remove the mask. Do not use the clearcoat if one has been supplied as it is likely unnecessary, and can make removing the pen for a professional repair impossible without grinding the whole lot off.
That's probably the recipe for the best result while keeping cost right down...
HTH
Tol
Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff