Driver's Education
Club Racing
Member List
RSS
Help
10-22-2006, 03:00 PM
Considering that I've just spent the weekend doing touch-up work, I thought I'd share some thoughts with the board.
I bough a paint pen from Paintscratch.com to compliment the bottle/brush approach. I was hopeful that the pen would provide an easier method to touchup and that particular source camde highly recommended. In reality it was interesting to note that although the pen nib was small and sharp, it still applied paint over similar areas to the small brush, but in smaller amounts, so I found myself using both methods of application.
The real gem that I learned this year (from another forum) was removal of excess paint using rubbing alcohol, a credit card (or similar plastic card) and a piece of t-shirt fabric.
Apply a thin layer of touch-up paint using your pen or brush. Wait 10 mins, then wrap the fabric around the plastic card and apply a little rubbing alcohol to it. Gently rub the card across the touched-up area. The damp cloth will then remove the excess paint and the card will ensure a flat application. It made a vast difference to the quality of the touch-up work - no more paint blobs!
Be warned that if you try removing/flattening the paint in less than 10 mins it will be too wet and you'll probably take off all the paint that you applied. Wait longer than 20mins and you'll have problems getting any of the paint removed.
I spent all day Saturday doing touchup... one thin layer every every 10-20 mins. I did the clearcoat this morning. Overall, I'm fairly happy with the job. My first efforts at applying clearcoat were a little heavy and will need some rubbing compound in a couple of weeks, but overall not bad. I'm especially pleased with the areas where I repaired the damage that my front plate bracket had damaged the bumper.
Paint touch-up was the middle job... removed the front plate bracket, applied a new clear brake light (red LEDs), did the touch-up, applied bumper plugs.... the car looks soooooo nice with the clean-up done.
I bough a paint pen from Paintscratch.com to compliment the bottle/brush approach. I was hopeful that the pen would provide an easier method to touchup and that particular source camde highly recommended. In reality it was interesting to note that although the pen nib was small and sharp, it still applied paint over similar areas to the small brush, but in smaller amounts, so I found myself using both methods of application.
The real gem that I learned this year (from another forum) was removal of excess paint using rubbing alcohol, a credit card (or similar plastic card) and a piece of t-shirt fabric.
Apply a thin layer of touch-up paint using your pen or brush. Wait 10 mins, then wrap the fabric around the plastic card and apply a little rubbing alcohol to it. Gently rub the card across the touched-up area. The damp cloth will then remove the excess paint and the card will ensure a flat application. It made a vast difference to the quality of the touch-up work - no more paint blobs!
Be warned that if you try removing/flattening the paint in less than 10 mins it will be too wet and you'll probably take off all the paint that you applied. Wait longer than 20mins and you'll have problems getting any of the paint removed.
I spent all day Saturday doing touchup... one thin layer every every 10-20 mins. I did the clearcoat this morning. Overall, I'm fairly happy with the job. My first efforts at applying clearcoat were a little heavy and will need some rubbing compound in a couple of weeks, but overall not bad. I'm especially pleased with the areas where I repaired the damage that my front plate bracket had damaged the bumper.
Paint touch-up was the middle job... removed the front plate bracket, applied a new clear brake light (red LEDs), did the touch-up, applied bumper plugs.... the car looks soooooo nice with the clean-up done.
