Arrrgh T-Cut !!

[McRod]

Hi all,

I thought the 911 could use a T-cut and polish as it felt a little rough when you ran your palm across the paintwork.

I got out the t-cut and started on the front wing and before too long the car was silky smooth and even shinier than before.

The problem though is that every single tiny little stone chip is filled with the white powder residue from the t-cut and polish.

If anything, it has made the car look worse than when i started as every chip is now illuminated with this white residue. The chips were hardly noticable at all before i started.

Can anyone advise me if these colour restoring polishes are any good or if there is another strategy i could use to get rid of the powder out of the stone chips?.

Cheers

McRod

[AirCooledExcellence]

Hi Rod,

Pick out the powder with a cocktail stick, then go get some touch up paint and carefully fill in the chips. Build the layers of paint up gradually.

As for restoring the paintwork, I use zymol. They do a great cleansing product (called HD-Cleanse) that removes all old layers of wax and dirt. See www.zymol.co.uk for info.

Cheers

[Wayne 962]

Or, see our Zymol section:

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/shopcart/DWKS-Zymol.htm

-Wayne

[RickM]

I've tried one of the color/pigment impregnated waxes and it was useless. This was a couple of years ago. Perhaps technology has improved, but I doubt it.

Regarding the repair of chips there are a few tools that can make life easier.

One interesting product is sold here. Not sure how well it works, perhaps someone can chime in, I'm curious. http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/autocat/load_page.cgi?page_number=1&bookmark=0&model=DWKS&currsection=mothr1

"used in conjunction with matching touch up paint—will remove those blobs, leaving the surface perfectly smooth and looking like new."




For the more traditional approach you can make some simple tools or buy them from Eastwood Auto Supply.

Below is a link and a couple of tools from their catalog.....
http://www.eastwoodco.com/ Click "Painting" on the left column, then click on "Chips, Drips and Touch-up Repair". There are eight pages of tools specific to this subject. If anything it will give you a good idea of what you'll need to get the job done nicely.

Example:

"The Final Finish System Kit has all you need to smooth and polish painted chips and new finish flaws such as drips and runs. Includes: 24 ultrafine (1500 grit) "wet" sanding disks. Convenient adhesive backing holds them to the round fingertip sanding spool. Scalloped edges ensure against "edge cutting". Sanding spool is rotated by the fingertips to level the blemish, confining the damage. The repair is completed with the paint polish and pad."





OR

"Item No. - 34001
This tool, mounted on a wooden block, saves lots of time and labor by letting you dress down hardened high spots. Finish the repair with wet/dry sandpaper. "

[McRod]

wow nice reply Rick, thanks

Plenty there to get me started.

Thanks again

McRod

[Rob McKibbon]

Rod,
This site was posted up a few months ago, very interesting and useful as well. Can you power wash the white out?

[silverc4s]

Rod,

I never have heard of T-Cut. Is that like clay/ Or what? Thanks...

[RickM]

From my favorites archive:

In the spirit of overkill here is a link to a printable web page that steps you through the Chip Repair process. There are many techniques so gauge your comfort with what you learn and the products you have.

http://www.carcareonline.com/viewarticle.aspx?art=8

[don911]

I used Mothers paint cleaner last weekend. If the chips are not thru the paint, the cleaner will get in an clean out all the old polish/wax.

[McRod]

Originally posted by silverc4s
Rod,

I never have heard of T-Cut. Is that like clay/ Or what? Thanks...

hey Bill,

T-Cut is well known in the UK as a cutting compound for removing faded paint and restoring the shine back to old paint.

What they don`t warn you about is that every tiny, minute little chip gets filled with bright white powder residue when you try to polish it off

All day at work today i`ve been in a hell of a mood because of all the highlighted, powder filled chip marks but when i got home my girlfriend came out, took a look, went inside, brought out one of her old soft bristled tooth brushes and delicately removed the powder from each stone chip.

Weaker sex my ar$e. Women have that great ability to always see the bigger picture when we guys throw the rattle out the pram

I`m happy again as the car no longer looks like the sky at night and i managed to find a touch up stick in on Halford`s half price stall that was Ford Nimbus Grey......and it was a perfect match.

Spent about 2 hours gently filling in the chips by layering coat after coat of base colour in to them. I`ll go at them agin tomorrow and see how they are looking.

Thanks also for the links guys, got some great tips on there also. Stuff that i`d been too scared to attempt etc.

McRod

[catuck]

Marry that woman!!!

[Victor]

Originally posted by catuck
Marry that woman!!!

Lousy advice there. You're obviously not married? All that stops the minute you set foot in the house after the honeymoon.

[Don Plumley]

I'd suggest a liquid wax remover or other solvent to get all residue out of the chips before painting - toothbrush probably worked okay too.

Rick posted a good link that I've used in the past (lazy-man's modified version) with great results. I used the 1500 sanding block to level the filled-in chip, then buffing stuff and you can't find the chips.

[Dantilla]

My wife is wonderful! She went for her first ride today in the '73 coupe with the new 23/31 torsion bars and said "This car doesn't ride too bad".
She LIKES it.

I guess it helps to know that her daily driver is a Jeep.

She's a keeper.

[catuck]

Lousy advice there. You're obviously not married? All that stops the minute you set foot in the house after the honeymoon.

Actually, I am married! My wife convinced me to go for it and get my 911. She also comes with me to every PCA event including Auto-x!

[thomschoon]

I just want to thank all who chimed in with the links as I am ready to do the same and now have some good info.

As to the married issue, my wife just ignores the things I bring home. To her, a car is just transportation and she feels no need to explore it any futher than that. When she needed a new car I was hoping for a Boxster or 325, she liked the MBZ because it had a better cup holder. In the end, I have 2 P-cars and I dont have to share except with my 7 year old who has her own tool box.