Styling scratches

[daztap]

iv scratched my wing mirror a bit how can i make it look better?
iv seen some correcter pens in my colour from halfords are they any good?

 

[bandido41]

They are ok for touch ups and stone chips and small things oh yes and also if some :tosser: keys your bootlid so if the scratches aren't to big they should be ok for you to. The colour match is quite good to be honest.

 

[jug]

dealers sell the best paint, its also cheap, and the brush is actually quite accurate if you chop half the bristles of.

 

[daztap]

should i jst put the paint straight on or should i t-cut the scratches or sand thm flat or what?

 

[bandido41]

If you get the hellfrauds set up they have instructions on them no need to t-cut they give you a little sanding thingummyjig with the set.

 

[JoskeJTD]

I would ideally paint over the scratch or chip in layers. The last layer should be more or less the same level thickness of the original paint. Let it dry for a day or two. Then t-cut, the scratch, if you buffer it right, it'll remove any protruding excess of touch up paint and smooth it in with the vehicles paint.

 

[jug]

I would ideally paint over the scratch or chip in layers. The last layer should be more or less the same level thickness of the original paint. Let it dry for a day or two. Then t-cut, the scratch, if you buffer it right, it'll remove any protruding excess of touch up paint and smooth it in with the vehicles paint.

:yeahthat:
fresh touchup paint is softer than the original paint, so you can t-cut the excess touch up away to leave a smooth surface. then it is hardy noticable. getting it right is never easy.

 

[daztap]

bought some touch up paint from halfords other day, primed the scratches yesterday, then applied the paint colour today and i am not impressed. the paint is shades darker and the paint is rather lump. i'm hoping this is normal at this stage? do i T-cut it before the laquer or after?

thanks
help would be great tips etc

 

[jug]

you can only use primer if it remains below the paint surface, i.e. the primer does not completely fill the scratch. if it does fill the scratch, once smoothed it will always show the primer. you need a very deep scratch to use primer (galvanised coating removed type scratch).

i would only use touch up paint. get it as level as possible. then let it dry for a couple of days. once dry you can use original t-cut and a rag wrapped around something flat (e.g. bit of wood) to smooth it down. if you rub back and forth across the scratch in circular motions (done both ways gently) you'll slowly remove the touch up paint until eventually you get to the point where the surface is smooth and the touch up paint is only inside the scratch. thats the first stage. its not as easy as it sounds. you dont want to remove any of the original paint if you can help it, so be gentle, fresh touch up is surprisingly easy to flatten, but it takes time, not force.

once flat let it dry again for a day.

you'll notice loads of tiny scratches around the area you used original t-cut on. to get rid of them use colour t-cut and a polishing cloth. gently rub over the area to remove light scratches and give a better finish. do not try to remove any paint, just buff the minor imperfections out. this will usually also improve the colour match.

once you're happy with the surface, apply some good quality carnauba wax. this will keep the area shiney for many months, removing the need for laquer and making the surface finish better. if you smoothed the touch up paint correctly the scratch will now be difficult to notice from most angles.

end of the day, it will never be perfect, but a smooth surface and good colour match will make the scratches practically unnoticable.

halfords paint is almost always much darker than the actual paint colour (but surprisingly cheap!), thats why you should use the stuff from your dealer.