NEED HELP in Detriot area!!!

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

Before I say anything, Have pitty on me. I am in College and have little money, and the money that I do have gets put into, and helps pay for my new car. A 2004 Pontiac GTO.

In my quest to save money, I wanted to fix as many things as I could by myself, and avoid costly labor charges. I've been detailing for several years, but I had never wet-sanded before... until now.

I was trying to touch up and level out the largest paint chips that were in the hood, roof and trunk, as well as a deep scratch on the passenger mirror housing.

In three spots I ended up going through the clear, and some other spaces when I didn't go through, got all wavy and it looks terrible. I could kill myself, but I guess to live an learn is a better way to go about it.

The spots through the clear are no bigger than a dime, and the same goes for the wavy parts.

I can take pictures, but it hurts me to even look at it now. I haven't finished buffing out the sanding marks either, but I hope that I can get that done.

So my question is this... is there someone, anyone, that would be willing to help a poor, dumb college kid out and help him fix this mistake... Maybe just make it a little better? I can afford to pay for some of the cost of repairing this, but no way can I pay for all of it.

If anyone can help me out, just let me know, and maybe make me an offer. Something like "Okay, we can see what can be done, but you'll pay for paint and materials" or something like that.

Cars are my life, and I'm at Kettering University (formerly GMI) to become a mechanical engineer. I guess in my quest to save money, I couldn't see past what my abilities and experience was, and tried something that I shouldn't have.

Please, I beg you, help.

Stephen

[Chex]

well that's a tough one, because as far as I know, if you go through the clear, you must repaint all the panel or just make a spot repair repaint.

however, maybe you could try spot touchups. read the article carefully:

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-paint-polish-clinic.html

BTW, as a little tip, whenever you sand a car that has factory paint on it, be sure to use sanding paper that ranges from 4000 grit to max, 2500 grit. you can use 2000 or more aggressive papers, but if you are not very familiar with the sanding procedures, I'd suggest you to start with 3000.

If you'd like to learn more about sanding techniques, check out the following link.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/mepovi.html

hope this helps.

[98blackbird]

even though i only live 4 hours away from you, i cant come and help you, but i will try to give helpful advice. You cant just spot in clear coat. you will need to do the whole panel in which you sanded through the clear, not the whole car unless you sanded through the clear on every panel. as for the waves, i'm kind of stumped, never seen waves in clear coat, all i can suggest it sanding down more with 2000 grit, very slowly, not applying very much pressure, and when i say very slowing i dont mean the speed of your motion, i mean only sand for a second or two and stopand feel it. make sure you use LOTS of water, you cant use too much.

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

thank you for the reply. I'm not sure that I want to touch the paint anymore with the sandpaper....but I'm probably paranoid now. Thanks for the advice, but I have another question.... why can't the paint be touched up and the clear re-sprayed?

[Chex]

I once asked that to some guy who paints cars, and what he told me is that when paint starts to cure, the flexibility of the pores starts to be lesser and lesser, so if you re spray clear on it, the pores will not be as flexible as when they are when the paint's fresh, and it'll cause the sprayed clear to crack very quickly...that what I understood :P

however, if you want to repair those little spots, please check the first link I sent you. it gives you a little guide in how to repair those kinds of problems. It tells you what to do, what materials to use, and it even tells you how many passes you must give to the spot you're repairing, even including clear.

regarding the main question you had, if you need a little more info, i'd suggest you to send an email to a paint manufacturing company and see what they tell you.