Paint Advice: Rookie Needs Help

[mschuep]

I need to get some paint to touch up various knicks, and probably a spray can to eventually (try to) redo the rear valence.

What do I need to get? Spray Enamel? Spray Lacquer? Touch up bottle?

I read elsewhere that Tower Paint is a good source. Also, in case this helps, my paint code is 673-9-2...."marmorgrau". Is this a single stage paint? For fun, here is a pick of the original touch-up bottle that came with the car.

[livi]

Any pics of the car (and the various knicks) ? Its a beautiful color.

[mschuep]

Sure, gimme a minute (I have to pretend like I am working for a while)

[mschuep]

Looks best on a cloudy day, In the sun it looks white, shade you can see the grey.

[mschuep]

Bumpalump

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by mschuep

Looks best on a cloudy day, In the sun it looks white, shade you can see the grey.

My baby found her lost twin



So that is what my baby looks like without a Boob Job, Heels and Shades.

Awsome!

So then there were Three. Hey PatrickB we have 3 Marble Greys

[kenikh]

This works pretty well:

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/spray_paint_matched.aspx

A can of the above, a can of Dupont high-end acrylic primer, a can of light catalyzed filler, a sanding block, wet-sand paper (320, 600, 800, 1200, 2000) a nice buffer and three progressive cuts of 3M polish for the final shine and you are done.

[bkreigsr]

there's a "Paint & Bodywork Forum" under 'Miscellaneous Forums' (all the way at the bottom of the list) that's has a fair amount of traffic.
Very knowledgeable contributors.

The rear valance is easy enough to remove, then strip to bare metal, followed by acid etch primer, followed by a sandable filler primer, followed by a color coat, or if you prefer, a couple coats of 3M Rocker Panel Texture paint/protector, then followed by a color coat. (All available in rattle-can.)
Not sure about how it will hold up in proximity of the exhaust temps.
Folks on the other forum will know for sure.
Bill K

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

My baby found her lost twin

Poor baby. What did she do that landed her in jail?

[kenikh]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

there's a "Paint & Bodywork Forum" under 'Miscellaneous Forums' (all the way at the bottom of the list) that's has a fair amount of traffic.
Very knowledgeable contributors.

It is a great forum, indeed. You can learn what you need from the sticky post at the top, for basics.

FWIW, I just took my front bumper off last night, sanded it smooth and will be doing the final filler/smoothing coat before painting today. You can learn everything I just did on that forum - it was just the refresher I needed after a decade of not doing bodywork.

[snbush67]

If it is just small chips and nicks then it is best to use the touch up like shown in the picture as it will fill better. The general idea for chips is to dab a small amount in like a drop and let it harden completely if it is low add another dab and let it harden until the hardened paint is level. If you use normal "Spray-able" paint that has been reduced it will take much longer and more applications to do this.

Once the chip is filled you can even it out using 2000 grit sand paper to level it out completely and then some buffing compound to blend it in, then buff.

Most small light scratches will buff out with some rubbing compound by hand.

[kidrock]

Originally Posted by snbush67

If it is just small chips and nicks then it is best to use the touch up like shown in the picture as it will fill better. The general idea for chips is to dab a small amount in like a drop and let it harden completely if it is low add another dab and let it harden until the hardened paint is level. If you use normal "Spray-able" paint that has been reduced it will take much longer and more applications to do this.

Once the chip is filled you can even it out using 2000 grit sand paper to level it out completely and then some buffing compound to blend it in, then buff.

Most small light scratches will buff out with some rubbing compound by hand.

I believe this process is called, "color sanding". I've had good results doing this.