Uneven touch up

[PTRobert]

Gary,

I know I've probably asked this before, but I was wondering if there is a way I can fix some poorly done touch-ups on the front of my PT. I figure the only way to do it is to sand them down a bit and use polishing compound, but what is the proper grit to use, and should I wet sand it first? Do I step down with 800 to start then 1,500 then 2,000 grit paper? I need to fix some ugly blotches.

Thanks!

Rob

[turbomangt]

Rob, you better call me BEFORE you touch the car with sandpaper. (630 947 2090) are the chips from stones? did someone already touch it up? how many are their, things like that I need to go over with you. also, if you never used a buffer, you should never wet sand. In the morning is good for me, on mid west time/ Chicago. Gary

[PTRobert]

Yeah - I attempted the touch ups back more than a year ago, when living in Southern California. We lived near a rock crushing/ concrete plant and their trucks were forever dropping bits of crushed rock on the roads, which would be flipped up on my car from other drivers, or by the trucks themselves - those trucks have good range of up to 100 feet [}]. Unfortunately the freeways and roadways near our home all ran past the plant and there was no feasible way around the debris (which also littered the freeways due to these guys hauling crushed rock to new construction sites). (On the other hand, who knows how many cars I chipped by flipping up bits of stone from my tires???)

Anyway, I hastily touched up some of the spots just to prevent rust, because the stones took good-sized bits of paint off the car and in some places, down to the metal.

I have used the Langka product and I found it to be worthless... I'd wait an hour and try to clean off the excess and invariably would clean the paint right out of the chip. I was thinking I needed to sand down the high spots and make them level with the rest of the paint, which is why I asked about sandpaper.

I have polished 95% of the swirl marks out of the paint and use a clay-bar and polish regularly (though it's not yet been sealed and I know the polish lasts for 30 days or less). I have not used a buffer; I polish it all by hand.

Thanks.

[turbomangt]

Robert, your right about Lanka. Go to the main home page of LINKS, click open my "detailing tips" link. then open the title "touching up paint chips", that should help you out. Gary

[PTRobert]

Thanks Gary! I knew you'd know the answers! Do you know any good body shops in the North Dallas? I'm in Plano (actually Allen, but nobody seems to know where Allen is so I tell them Plano).

For point of reference, about 25 miles north of Dallas, an hour south of OK.

[Johns Steel Blue]

quote:Originally posted by PTRobert


I have used the Langka product and I found it to be worthless... I'd wait an hour and try to clean off the excess and invariably would clean the paint right out of the chip.

I have used the Langka product and am extremely please with the results. There is a "nack" to not removing all the paint from the touch-up area. It took me a few tries to get it down to a science. I have used it on shallow and deep nicks and scratches.
We have 2 Cruisers and I use it on both.

[rszappa1]

I think the whole story with using the west sand method is...DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING...I have had very good results with 1000 and 2000 grit paper. I would fill the chip in slightly higher then the area around it. let it dry for a day and use first 1000 grit to smooth it down almost level then you 2000 to level and then use a little polishing compound then some wax...The end result is great...You just have to be careful with wet sanding...just a few light strokes is all that is usually needed.