first rock chip

[Tyrannical]

Well, I was washing my car today, when i noticed that i got my first rock chip. it's driving me crazy, as it's not just scratched paint, but a small dent as well. I looked into touch up paint, but what will get rid of the dent? or is this just one of those things that you need to get over?

[lvsilentbob]

Noticed my first one yesterday also. FAIL.

[TheoUkr]

welcome to the club bro, the front of my hood is covered in tiny little ones.
Watch out for the bugs too, if u leave em on too long they can eat away at the paint too.

Consider maybe a touch up pen?

[lvsilentbob]

I had thought about that but it sounds like the original poster has a small dent also. For that, I might recommend one of those paint-less dent repair places. I was looking into it for my last car before I traded it in. Once the dent is gone, then try doing a clean - polish - wax on it and see how noticeable it is afterward. If it is a little more severe, there is always something like Scratch-X.

Has anyone had any success with a touch-up pen? Or are you better off making the chip / scratch as unnoticeable as possible and just leaving it?

[GTI4John74]

you might want to order some touch up paints at FIX-UP. here's the site

http://www.fix-up.com

i've ordered mine 2x cause i used it on my chip. So far it's pretty good without that messy clear coat stuff cause they already mix both together.

[Xenor]

Bound to happen...the only thing I'd recommend is an Avery Stoneshield clear bra (note, not 3m). I had one on my 2006 350z and it was awesome, and you couldn't see it. I'd get one but it's 500 or so and you can see them more on a black car, particulary with a high polish like mine.

[Tyrannical]

i'm starting to get over it. the dent is so small, that i think only I can notice it. It just bugs me. I might have it taken care of next time I take it in.

[Xenor]

I wouldn't get it repaired unless it was significant. It's going to happen again. I'd wait until you can't stand it anymore than get the pieces painted that need it.

Sounds anal, but I won't drive behind semi trucks, dump trucks, large pickup trucks and some SUVs, trucks with trailers (like lawn services) and stuff like that. Even with me driving like that, my front end is speckled with just under 6k miles.

[danger dan]

my whole votex lip has probably hundreds of little paint chips. i have maybe 2 on my hood, it sucks, im going to get it repainted one day i guess.

[Kurupt]

get over it

[vdubya 6]

dude get used to it if its a daily drive you will have alot more........ just suck it up every one get em.

[Tyrannical]

I've realized that it's not that big of a deal. The car is meant to be driven, so it's gonna happen. Now, I'm just focusing on my new audio system. It'll take my mind off the little things when I have my system installed.

[v-dub89]

I had my first dent and chip after about 1 week of ownership. Luckily it's on the rocker panel.

[s16]

can soemoen tell me the BEST way to apply touchup paints?

[FaLLeNAn9eL]

Originally Posted by s16

can soemoen tell me the BEST way to apply touchup paints?

I can't but this guy sure can.

Paint Chip Preparation Process
Before applying paint, you must prepare the chip to accept paint. Although paint may adhere for a while to a chip with rust, dirt or oil, eventually the repair will fail. The preparation process begins the day before you repair the paint chips and scratches.

The afternoon before starting your chip repairs, wash your car with Dawn dish-washing detergent to remove all wax and silicone from your paint. Dry your car thoroughly and put it away for the night.

After washing your car, make up several sanding pencils. Use a hole punch to punch out a few dots from the 1200-grit wet and dry sandpaper. Apply the sandpaper dots to the ends of your pencil erasers with rubber cement. Allow them to dry overnight. You will use the sanding pencils to scuff up and clean out nicks.

To make a chip ready for touch-up paint, you must make sure it does not have loose edges, and then clean it and sand it. I use a toothpick to check the edges of a chip. If the edges are loose or lifted, I use the toothpick to knock off the loose paint. To clean, I like to use denatured alcohol or Prepsol and a foam swab. I pour a little bit into a plastic cup and use a foam swab to clean the chip and surrounding area.

Next, I use a sanding pencil to clean out the chip and rough up the edges. Simply dip the sanding pencil into a cup of clean water, dab a few drops of water on the chip, and gently rotate the sanding pencil over the chip. Keep the area you sand as small as possible. Rotating the sanding pencil back and forth in your fingers 8 to 10 times should be enough to do the job. If the chip has exposed bare metal, or if you can see rust forming, use the edge of the pencil eraser to remove the rust. When you finish sanding the chip, dry it with a terry cloth towel, and clean it again with Prepsol and a foam swab.

How-to Apply Touch-up Paint
Once the damaged areas are cleaned and prepared, you can begin the touch-up itself. If a chip exposed bare metal, you must primer the chip before the color touch-up. After mixing thoroughly, pour or spray a small amount of your primer into a plastic cup. Next, use a clean toothpick to apply the primer. I do this by dipping just the tip (2 to 3 mm) of the toothpick into the primer. If I get a blob, I wipe it back.

Next, I touch the tip of the toothpick to the center of the chip and allow the paint to flow off of the toothpick into the chip. You will be amazed how well the capillary action works. If you prefer, you can use the #2 artist's brush. Do not allow the primer to overflow the sides of the chip. Allow the primer to dry for 2 or -3 hours. You can speed dry the primer with a hair dryer after allowing it to air dry for one hour. Simply wave the hair dryer 3 to 4 inches over the primered chip for 30 to 40 seconds. Do not touch the chips with your hands, as the oils from your skin will prevent the color coat from adhering.

Now, mix your color-matched paint thoroughly, and pour a small amount into a clean plastic cup. As with the primer, use a clean toothpick or #2 artist's brush to apply the color coat. Touch the toothpick or brush to the center of the chip, and allow capillary action to pull the paint into the chip. Apply a small dab at a time, and allow it to dry for 2 to 3 hours. You must repeat this process several times, so don't try to fill the chip in one pass. Applying several thin layers will produce much better results.

The color touch-up process is complete when you have applied enough coats to slightly overfill the chip onto the roughed-up area surrounding the chip. Once you've filled the chip, allow it to dry for another 24 to 48 hours; the longer, the better.

I'm often asked if it's necessary to apply a clearcoat over chip repairs. I don't think it's necessary or adds any noticeable difference. If you get the proper touch-up paint from your dealer, it will match without using a clearcoat. However, if you're a purist in pursuit of perfection, substitute a clearcoat for the last 2 or 3 coats.


Here is a close-up picture of a scratch after it has been repaired with touch-up paint. The touch-up creates a raised surface. In order to perfect the repair, the raised touch-up paint must be leveled. I will use 1500-grit sandpaper to level the repair. If you are new to wet sanding, use 2000- or 2500-grit paper.



Level & Polish The Paint Repair
Until you level or mill the paint repair down to the same plane as the original paint, all you'll have is an ugly looking blob. Leveling the paint repair is easily done using a small sanding block and 1500- to 2000-girt wet and dry sand paper. I like to use a 1" by 2" rubber erasure as my sanding block, which helps level touch-up repairs with surgical precision. Don't forget to soak your sand paper overnight (30 minutes at a minimum) before use, as the directions indicate.

To level your paint chips, use your finger to put a small dab of car shampoo on the chip repair for lubrication. Next, use your sanding block and sandpaper to mill the high spot off of the chip repair. I always sand in a straight line, with the length of the car, never in a circle. Keep the area you're sanding well lubricated with water. Wet sanding will dull the paint. Don't worry, your polish will easily restore the finish. When the surface looks level, dry it with a clean towel and inspect with your fingertips. If you can feel a high spot, it needs more work.

Source: http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...nt-clinic.html

[s16]

thx@!!

Originally Posted by FaLLeNAn9eL

I can't but this guy sure can.



Source: http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...nt-clinic.html

[bguttridge]

believe it or not....if you've got a black car, for the tiny tiny chips...a black sharpie will do. i've done this with a fine point and sure nuff it's not the real deal but it's certainlly not noticable and doesnt harm the finish.
Just a quick n inexpensive fix til you get it painted or do the touch up procedure listed in this thread.

[Eric1285]

Noticed my first one today too. I've had the car for less than a week and a half. It's on my hood, about a foot up from the base of it. I'm in the midst of applying multiple layers of Klasse SG, but I'm hoping that when I top it all off with P21S it'll be covered up a bit.