Work on Civic wing

[Eddie6th]

Started today to fix a small problem on the left wing. When it was resprayed a few years ago,they missed a bit when they went over with the second coat of clear.This had left a dull patch. I never really bothered too much in the past as it wasn't really noticeable,but decided to fixit up.
I started sanding before any pics! So I forgot to take one of what it was like originaly. I went with a little caution here as there was only one coat.
Here are two pics. One after sanding and one after buffing.
Wetsanded with 2000 grit,followed by wool pad using 3M finesse-it and finally a flat fine foam,again with the same compound. I feel,I could get nicer results with a better selection of compounds,like M105/205. But this is all I can get at the moment.







Everything worked out fine and plastics were removed or masked(not visible in pics),but the only thing is,the buffed part has a nice smooth finish and the rest of the wing looks a little inferior due to orange peel.
Anyway,the point is,it looks a lot better.
My intention was to start work on the hood,where the badge is,but there was a thunder storm,so I'll have to wait 'till tomorrow.

[the_invisible]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Turns out nice Eddie. Don't worry about not using M105. M105 may get you there faster. But as I have learned, once you have removed the sanding marks using a compound, the appearance very much depends on the polish.

I think I have the EXACT same problem to deal with on my bumper. The second coat of clear needs to be blended with the first coat of clear in the area where I touched up a spot. I wish I have a rotary to play with. Get things done so much quicker!

Now that you've fixed the wheel arch (wing), sand your way up slowly

[Eddie6th]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Thanks Invisible. I have got a lot of silly,but tedious little problems on my car's finish. This what I meant in regards to one of your earlier threads regarding quality of workmanship in bodyshops. I'm in the middle of repairing a problem that occurred under the badge on the hood. Basically,no sanding beforhand,paint doesn't bond and flakes off!

Are you thinking about buying a rotary?

Everything here has been closed for a couple of weeks untill the 18th. I am going to telephone Meguiar's in Italy,to see if I can get some more products.


Maybe it's the weekend,but I was hoping one or two of the staff would chip in here. Any advice from the pro's is greatly appreciated!

P.S. Incase someone mentions,how uncool my tire looks. The car has been sitting outside for a month without being used....They don't normaly look like that!

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Looks good Eddie!!!

You do not have a close up photo of the fixed area do you?

I am concerned about the raised edge of the panel as paint is usually very thin there. When I wet sand a panel, if it has a raised edge like yours does, I use a very thin 3M tape to tape the crease so that I can sand and buff around it. Also, you need to "buff to the edge" (which is a rotary technique that has nothing to do with stopping at the edge but rather the way you move the rotary off of the edge) as you can remove paint on the lip of wheel well incredible easily.

Oh...and will you please put some dressing on those tires!!!

Tim

[Andy M.]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Looks good Eddie!!!

You do not have a close up photo of the fixed area do you?

I am concerned about the raised edge of the panel as paint is usually very thin there. When I wet sand a panel, if it has a raised edge like yours does, I use a very thin 3M tape to tape the crease so that I can sand and buff around it. Also, you need to "buff to the edge" (which is a rotary technique that has nothing to do with stopping at the edge but rather the way you move the rotary off of the edge) as you can remove paint on the lip of wheel well incredible easily.

Oh...and will you please put some dressing on those tires!!!

Tim

Do you have a sun shot of the area you repaired? It looks good.

Hyperdressing is your friend!

Andy

[Eddie6th]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Thanks for the input.I have no classes or anything like that over here.So any tips from you guys is what i'm looking for! This is my main reason for adding this here. Believe me,....I hate stopping to take pics!!!

Tim.This is something that is beneficial to know and I find interesting aswell. Do you mean the top of the arch? The lip? I do have some proper painter's design tape,which is thin and flexible.I think it's the 3M tape. I still play about on the old scrap panels that I have. Tim or Andy,what is the best stage to practice(apart from repeating)? I've already done wetsanding,swirl removal,buffing on a lip.My resources are a bit limited at the moment...Good or bad for learning? I would think,in a way,good,as it is kept simple and not get overwhelmed at once with too many different things.

All the time that I was working on the panel,there was strong sunlight and I was working in the shade. After I finished,I drove the car forward a couple of feet into the sun to take a pic. As soon as i opened the door to get out,the sun went away! Then there was a thunderstorm!

There is no sun at this very moment(will be dark in another hour),but I will get a better pic tomorrow. I'll try and get a couple of different angles.

Sorry about the tires! It's not acceptable on MOL!! I've got 'Hot Shine' spray.

[the_invisible]

Re: Work on Civic wing

As Tim has pointed out, the angle of your first picture looks like you sanded over the edges as well. Maybe it was just the reflection and angle giving us that impression. I am sure you are knowledgeable to avoid that.

I, too, use masking tape to tape over the edges. Defects are hard to notice around the edges, and in most cases you can get away without wetsanding/compounding the edges.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Work on Civic wing

As Tim has pointed out, the angle of your first picture looks like you sanded over the edges as well. Maybe it was just the reflection and angle giving us that impression. I am sure you are knowledgeable to avoid that.

I, too, use masking tape to tape over the edges. Defects are hard to notice around the edges, and in most cases you can get away without wetsanding/compounding the edges.

I see what you mean. Yeah,it's just the pic. I think it is a reflection that looks like a sanded down ridge. Even on the after pic I see a line. That is just a reflection. Yes,I did stay away from the lip when sanding.

Invisible,....Why do you have a pic of James May in your Avatar? Are you related? or just a fan. (I actually prefered the show years ago)....I'm just curious?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Also, you need to "buff to the edge" (which is a rotary technique that has nothing to do with stopping at the edge but rather the way you move the rotary off of the edge) as you can remove paint on the lip of wheel well incredible easily.

Tim, you're talking about the technique whereby you tilt the pad ever so slightly so that it's only making full contact as it spins off the panel and is lifted away from the panel edge so as not to "ride up" on the edge, right? This is done because that is where the paint is thinnest and therefore easiest to burn through. Not sure if that explanation paints (no pun intended ) a clear enough picture in people's heads.

How about this: Let's say you're looking at a panel edge from above, and the edge is oriented vertically in your field of vision. You're essentially lifting the pad at 12:00 but keeping it in contact at 6:00, thereby allowing it to roll off the edge but not roll onto the edge as it rotates in a clockwise direction. This prevents heavy friction against the naturally thin paint along the edge of a panel - as in the crudely drawn image below (really need to get Illustrator installed on this computer!!!)

[Eddie6th]

Re: Work on Civic wing

Michael.Thanks for the input.

The diagram is a bit basic,but I get what you mean. Maybe some photos would help. When I was buffing that part,I was doing something similair and raising off of the lip..It just felt right.

As soon as i can get all these little but time consuming jobs done...I'll get plenty pics.This is what I'm working on at the moment:




As you can see,not very nice.Wasn't prepped properly under the badge. The paint that I've got left isn't a perfect match,but it is not easily noticed when the badge is in place. So it has been sanded,painted and coated with clear. I gave a week and have sanded down and is now ready to buff. But I'm in no hurry as Ive also got this:



What's wrong here is the cut out. I made this about 2/3 years ago. It's a bit to tight causing a bit of rattle at idle. This looks easy enough,but it's not. The curvature of the bumper creates a bit of bother and the tip isn't perfectly straight. If I make the cut out mathematicaly correct(circular),it doesn't look right when fitted. So I have to keep playing around with it untill it looks accurate.Had the bumper been straight,the job would have been much easier. Again,I'll have to see how the paint blends when I'm done.

[KC's]

Re: Work on Civic wing

cool cool eddieth
finally at work

yo sorry for not going around to see yr posting