Paint Chip Filling

[Totoland Mach]

Well, I finally got around to filling the hood chips on this BMW. This is the last step in my reconditioning process and is time consuming.

First: Wax and grease remover around the chip area.
Next: Using a rubber flat edge and touch-up paint with reducer and hardener, I squeege the touch up applied with a syringe. The rubber flat acts as a squeege. For large chips, this process is done 2-3 times until the paint builds up to the layer of the original.



Here you can see a partial fill



After each fill, I use a mixture of linseed oil and reducer and wipe the excess with a blue paper shop towel wrapped around the rubber tool. This removes the excess touch-up while leaving the "crater" alone.





Once the chip is filled and the paint hardened, I re-wax the area.





This car had numerous chips on the front end: hood leading edge, bumper, etc. Rather than a re-paint (and the high costs) this is pretty acceptable for most folks. The dealer can always offer a complete re-paint if they want to pay the extra $$$, but most will live with the filled area.

Toto

[:::houseofbunny:::]

I usually read that you're not suppose to wax or seal fresh paint for at least 30 days. In your experience, do you feel that it is not critical to wait for this period? Is it different for small chip repairs than, say, whole panels?

Also, does the fact that you used hardener make a difference in whether or not to wait before protecting?

[killrflake]

Wow Toto, you do chip repair along with your other detailing talents. Is there anything you do to paint that you think could use improvment? I certainly don't think so. You've earned the name "Master Toto".

[drivesunvalley]

Howdy from Idaho! Looking for some help in choosing a touch up paint system. So far I have looked at the rightlook system, drcolorchip and twin color at detail king. From the little I've read it looks like the rightlook system is the best but it is also the most expensive. I would like to find a system I can use with factory paints for the best possible match and also be able to smooth and blend the paint for impresive results even when there are alot of chips invloved. Any suggestions?

[Totoland Mach]

houseofbunny: On a fresh re-paint of a panel, yes, you wait for a cure time (the body shop can give you a better time depending on their cure process). On touch-up paint this isn't the case. Most touch-up paints are quick drying and I add hardener + reducer for better flow. It dries approx 30 seconds after applying to the chip.

drivesunvalley: The dealer bought Paint Magic some years ago and the supply is depleting so we too are looking at a replacement system. Rightlook is pretty good, but in our shop, we only need the BMW color lines. Most of the chip repair companies have color match software and a host of other features that we'll never use. I looked at another company when I attended Mobile Tech Expo and they were expensive as well.

killrflake: In my old age, I never quit learning! Keeps me young LOL

[king air pilot]

grat job but i have chips on a vertical area what do you do for that?

Cheers
Mike

[Totoland Mach]

Originally Posted by king air pilot

grat job but i have chips on a vertical area what do you do for that?

Cheers
Mike

Same process, but don't thin the paint out too much. Plus, you'll probably have to apply 2-3 coats to bring it level with the OEM paint.

Toto

[bfowkes]

WOW, thats an awesone job man. I wish I would have been able to read this one about a week ago when I was fixing some wheels for a friend.

You truely are an all around master..

Toto is the king in my book.

[maiku]

Awesome work!

[julian]

That sure is something I need to get a handle on, Thanks for the tips.
I ruined my new hood trying to repair some chips,now I have to repaint it.
I lived and learned I guess.