Paint abrasion, horrible touch up job

[brentech]

So, I had a little abrasion on the rear of my car. Tried to fill it with my VW paint pen, but it took forever to get the paint to start coming out, and when it did, it rushed the surface.
I tried to take off some excess, but it dried much faster than expected and I definitely made the whole situation worse.

I'm not sure how to smooth it out, if I even can at this point.

Here's how it looks now (about the size of a thumbnail)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7342103490_b0f0e8ee85_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8144/7342104218_c2d1c78cdc_z.jpg

Anyone have some advice. I'm kind of depressed that it looks so much worse.

[brlukosk]

If your comfortable with it, I'd try wet sanding it level. You should then be able to polish it back up.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

[alko]

:whs:

[storm100]

If your comfortable with it, I'd try wet sanding it level. You should then be able to polish it back up.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
:iagree:

[brlukosk]

If the paint is relatively fresh you might even be able to wipe it off with a solvent. I've used IPA on stuff like this before. Usually it takes quite a while for touch up paint to get hard enough to wet sand anyway.

[BobbyG]

With a sanding block, I'd start off with 600 grit wet/dry paper and concentrate on leveling out the high spots. As you approach the clear coat be careful not to be too aggressive. Once there you might want to switch to 1500 grit, finish leveling then compound and polish...

[brentech]

Guess I don't know a whole lot about wet sanding. Will need to read up and see if I can do this. New car, afraid to mess it up further.

[Mike Phillips]

If your comfortable with it, I'd try wet sanding it level. You should then be able to polish it back up.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2


Just a note about wetsanding it level...

You have to be very careful to try to keep all your sanding marks on the touch-up paint and not on the factory clear paint.

Why?

Because the touch-up paint will be soft and the factory paint will be hard. When you go to buff out your sanding marks the sanding marks in the touch up paint will buff out quickly and easily. Might not work that fast or easy on the factory paint.

You could try placing painter's tape around the touch-up paint when you do your initial sanding to knock down all the excess material but at some point you'll have to remove the painters tape and then you'll be putting sanding marks into the factory paint.

Another problem happens if you use a rotary buffer to compound out the sanding marks. When working on a small area like this it's real easy to heat up the paint and the panel. What can happen then is the touch-up paint will simply pull off the panel and then you'll be back to where you were when you started only now with thinner factory paint where you sanded and possibly still remaining sanding marks.


Ugh...

I feel your paint - Bill Clinton
I feel your paint... Mike Phillips


If you lived close by I would be more than willing to help you with it...


:)

[BobbyG]

Set a spell and do some reading....


Wetsanding, Colorsanding & Dampsanding (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/26278-wetsanding-colorsanding-dampsanding.html)

Wetsanding - Fresh Paint vs Factory Paint (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/21471-wetsanding-fresh-paint-vs-factory-paint.html)

It's the person that does the wet-sanding, cutting and buffing that makes or breaks the paint job -Mike Phillips (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/28707-s-person-does-wet-sanding-cutting-buffing-makes-breaks-paint-job-mike-phillips.html)

[brentech]

Looks like I have some reading to do, and sandpaper to buy. Will update when I get the nerve to go at it.

[Mike Phillips]

Something you might consider...

How to use Meguiar's Unigrit Sanding Blocks to remove runs and dirt nibs in paint (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/46895-how-use-meguiar-s-unigrit-sanding-blocks-remove-runs-dirt-nibs-paint.html)


Here's just an excerpt from the above article..

Here's Robert DiTerlizzi of Impressions Fine Detailing sanding out a run on the high side of the rear fender body line.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/MegsSandingBlock009.jpg


After sanding the run flat Robert will dampsand using a Meguiar's 3" #3000 Unigrit foam backed sanding disc on a Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher and the buff the area using a compound with a wool pad on a rotary buffer.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1377/MegsSandingBlock010.jpg



Then for removing your sanding marks, use M105 or UC by hand to remove the majority of the sanding marks and the do clean-up by machine to avoid heat issues.


:)

[brentech]

Ugh...

I feel your paint - Bill Clinton
I feel your paint... Mike Phillips


If you lived close by I would be more than willing to help you with it...


:)
Man, if only.

Although maybe that'll happen one day. My wife is a big Disney World fan, and to my surprise, would be happy to have me go to your boot camp the next time we make a trip to Florida. That could happen sometime next year (won't work this year since our anniversary is just a few days prior to your Sept dates. Already got a trip planned).


Anyways, I might be giving this a try today. Sandpaper has been soaking for a while now. Going to re-read some things and when my nerves are solid, I'll make a go at it.

[A-train]

You may be able to check around the forum and see if there are any detailers in your area who wetsand. You may come out cheaper just doing it that way once you consider the time and materials used.

[BobbyG]

Man, if only.

Anyways, I might be giving this a try today. Sandpaper has been soaking for a while now. Going to re-read some things and when my nerves are solid, I'll make a go at it.

Remember, what you're trying to accomplish is to sand down as much of the touch up paint as possible WITHOUT damaging or removing any of the surrounding paint.

Get some 2" wide painters tape, or 1" will work, and tape off the area around the affected area in order to protect it. Tape out approximately 3 inches either side of the area to be sanded.

Because the area is wide open you might ant to start off with your sandpaper wrapped around a fairly rigid or stiff block to concentrate your efforts on the high points only. This will tend to remove most of the unwanted or extra paint allowing you a much easier time and fixing this.

If you're careful and take your time this should come out pretty nice! :props:

[Mike Phillips]

Remember, what you're trying to accomplish is to sand down as much of the touch up paint as possible WITHOUT damaging or removing any of the surrounding paint.

Get some 2" wide painters tape, or 1" will work, and tape off the area around the affected area in order to protect it. Tape out approximately 3 inches either side of the area to be sanded.

Because the area is wide open you might ant to start off with your sandpaper wrapped around a fairly rigid or stiff block to concentrate your efforts on the high points only. This will tend to remove most of the unwanted or extra paint allowing you a much easier time and fixing this.

If you're careful and take your time this should come out pretty nice! :props:




Perfect advice.


You can also cut the sandpaper into small pieces and use your finger to lightly sand the area.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2600_nikkensandpaperpieces.jpg



And to be extra careful, work the sanding marks out using either M105 or Ultimate Compound using a small piece of terry cloth with your fingers.

:)