I know it's a weird question, put it on and let it dry (duh), but i want to know if there's a process to make it last longer. Is there a clear coat i can use? Should i sand down the paint once it dries? Any tips would be appercated since i'd like to make it blend in as much as possilbe. Thanks- C.T.

 

First, Go to any art supply store and pick up a #000 sable brush (fine). I don't recommend using the "cap brush."

Also, I used the end of a paper match to get very small nicks painted. If you use the brush you will get paint on your original paint.

2.) clean the area(s) with soap and water
3.) Sand the area. (yes this will be tedious) For very small areas, get a match stick and wrap a very small piece of 600 grit around the tip. Then clean again.
4.) Apply 5/6 very very thin coats as opposed to just sticking a glob of paint down on the area.
5.)Let dry.
6.) Apply 3/4 thin coats of clear.
7.) For bigger areas, use rubbing compound to smooth the surface and shine it up.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks! I have another newbie question about step 7. The area is actually quite large. About the 3 inches both vertical and horizontal. What do you mean by rubbing compound? Thanks again for the reply- C.T.

 

Rubbing compound is a sandy/gritty substance you use on scrates. 3m makes a good one. Will definatly leave a hard to shine patch on your car though, so i'd go easy with it, if you don't have a porter cable.

What i use for sanding, is go buy a whole box of crappy, but brand new pencils and a 1 hole, hole punch.

Punch out holes from your 600 or 1000 grit sand paper and glue them with whatever good epoxy you have laying around, to the eraser ends of the pencil and let that dry for a few hours. Works like a charm. DONT buy those touch up sanders with the glass fibers. 1 st of all, they're ****, and secondly, you'll end up with tiny glass fibers in your shop towers that hurt like a bastard and are hard to find.

Make sure that after you've sanded and are ready to apply the touch up paint, that you prepwipe the spot with denatured acohol or some kind of prepsolution -- because you'ver more than likely ran your finger over it a dozen times while sanding it, and if you dont' get that grease out, the paint will eventually bubble up beneath the chip.

 

Thanks Crymson. Sounds like a new weekend kinda deal Appercated!- C.T.

 

There are ALL kinds of faq's, tutorial, and how to's on Autopia. Definately spend a few hours reading up on there before you go at it.