Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

[rapport25]

Hi Guys,

Sorry its a bit late . Happy New Year!!!!

Its been a while since I last posted a thread. Thats british weather for you . God I wish I could detail more my d/a is collecting dust.

I have been out quoting over last few weeks for work to commence in around 4 wks weather permitting. Sorry guys no pics.

I came across a VW Golf in great condition minimal correction required due to spending around 4 days on the car last year . And teaching the customer how to wash with 2 buckets .

The only problem is prior to the winter he had a lot of rock chips on the hood and has what can only be described as blobed the paint on.

Whats the quickest and most effective way to level the paint?

I counted around 25 blobs of paint all over the hood. Will a D/A with U/C work? Or will I need to tape off around each repair and wet sand? If so any hints and tips.

Many Thanks,

Rappy.

One thing guys I wish I lived in the states as all I can do is look at these new product with envy. I wonder if these will land in the UK before 2012? Mr Stoops? Can you advise

[bmrfan]

Re: Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

For blob paint chip repairs - I usually end up having to tape & wet sand as you've described. I've tried using a D/A with foam cutting / polishing pads and I wasn't successful in blending the blob of paint (just ended up with a shiny blob of paint).

[rapport25]

Re: Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

Thanks, thats what I thought would happen.

Not to upset my customer I have said I would imagine there is a fair bit of work to smooth the repairs.

My idea/suggestion.

Use the end of a pencil or something simular Apply double sided tape to the back of the sanding paper just a slightly bigger area than the pencil head and apply pressure and rotate the pencil between both hand to flatten the blob.

What have you tried method/technique? Also what is the most aggresive paper I can use? I was thinking of going down to 1200 and refining upto 3000. finishing off with a cleaner wax at first and maybe step up to swirl x.

[bmrfan]

Re: Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

Your idea is pretty much exactly what I've done. I've taped sand paper to the end of pencils or wood dowel pins and sanded the paint blob by hand.

As for technique - I find I have better control sanding in a straight line (back & forth) rather than spinning the pencil or dowel pin between my fingers.

As for grade of paper - I try not to go coarser than 1500 - 2000 grit.

BTW - 3M makes a Paint Denibbing system designed to remove dust nibs from car painting. I saw this demo'd at SEMA and it would be perfect for paint chip repair - downside is 3M charges $600 for the system.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/3MAutomotive/Aftermarket/Products/Featured_Products/Denibbing/

[TKDDAD]

Re: Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

There's another product out there that I plan on trying this spring once the temperature is above 10 ...looks like a pretty good product and a very reasonable price.

http://www.drcolorchip.com/

[Blazebro]

Re: Help!!! What's The Best Way To Smooth Out Poor Rock Chip Repairs?

Just to add my 2p:

The only way is a wet sand. However if these are "Blob" repairs it is quite likely that the "Blobs" would be lifted leaving 25 white dots. I've not wet sanded and it's not for the unskilled or faint hearted. Don't forget once you've wet sanded your going to have to polish a couple of times in reducing strength to polish out the sanding marks.

Where I've seen it done it's been an entire panel, probably to give some uniformity to the paint, so as such it seems a little overkill to look at using a micro amount on a pen tip.

I've seen "Blobs" lifted by a pressure washer let alone any form of polishing so it might be wise telling your client a respray might only be the way to get rid of the chips.