Fender got keyed....Options here?

[ps2cho]

Some piece of work keyed my car last night.

Hit it with ultimate compound...got the shallower areas to just a small 'nick'....but the deeper areas are down to the primer.

Too expensive to have it sanded and resprayed.

Anything I can do with maybe a stronger product than UC?
Then maybe a careful touchup-paint-attempt?

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Murr1525]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

I would start looking at touch-up options, not more with UC.

Havent done that kind of touch-up myself. But should be quite a few good detailers around you as well who may have done some, or can learn as you go...

[ps2cho]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

I am definitely a DIY guy...so I will attempt it myself.

Anybody here done any of this type of touch up? I mean, regardless of the touch up, it would make no difference because in the long term if I decide to respray the bumper it will come off anyhow. May as well give it a shot.

Its just a shame since it really contrasts against black. Black is always the most difficult color to hide imperfections.

[mswerb]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

A lot of touch up paints come in a pen now, as opposed to the bottle with the nail polish style brush applicator. Try your local paint shop to get a color matched pen. I got one for my 07 Equinox for about $15.

[Murr1525]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

The basic concept would be to apply paint with a toothpick to keep it as fine as possible. If you do a good job, and dont want to do more, just try to even it out.

If you want to try for better, you would apply it so you get a little raised area from the touch-up paint. Then after it dried, you would look at quality wetsanding paper, sand the raised area down. Then UC?3105, etc on the area to remove the sanding marks... Might not be as easy by hand to remove the marks.

I've just done the toothpick part to basic chips.

[ps2cho]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

Ok....so for possible wetsanding:

First I could first build up enough touchup paint carefully to make it just over even with the rest of the panel.

Next get 2500? 3000? grit and wetsand it using a block (I've read a rubber school eraser works great!?)

Finally finish off with UC then polish?

I've done plenty of wetsanding, but not on something with clearcoat. Should I be worried about dulling the clear and basically making it worse than it currently is, or with a wetsanding using 3000 grit should it be safe?

[Murr1525]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

Well.. not being able to remove the sanding parks would be a concern when just working on your own by hand.

You can certainlu look at the Nikkon papers Meguiars sells, see what the highest is, and start with it.

[David Fermani]

Re: Fender got keyed....Options here?

Too expensive to have it sanded and resprayed.

About $350-375 for that fender to be professionally repaired/refinished. Small price to pay on such an expensive car actually.