Anybody here has any experience to share on how to even out touch-up paint after applying it? I've applied some touch-up paint to the car body and later tried to even it out with wet sand paper (the finest i could find), but it looked like i just stuffed it up.

Last alternative will be to send the car to a panel shop for some professional touch-up but we all know that involves some serious coins.

i havent actually done touch paint......yet but its creeping up on me as im sick of the scratches from when people fail to park next 2 me. My friend has done touch up paint on his white comodore and it looked good after. He said something along the lines of he stuffed up the first time because he didnt sand it enuf and didnt paint it evenly but eventually he got the hang of it. I think he ended up using some cardboard to wipe off the excess paint. And by wiping the paint horizontally with the card board it seemed to follow the body lines so it looked as though he never had a scratch.

I know this isnt much detail but i hope it helps if you need any more details just reply and ill try more detail.

Apply touch-up with a toothpick or a really fine brush. Put on just enough until you get a slightly raised spot.
Wetsand with 2000 grit. Then polish it with ScratchX as many times as it takes until it looks good.

I applied the touch-up paint with the tiny brush that came along with the touch up paint (Mitsu original one). Still it was a slight blob. The area is slightly big, 3 fingers wide roughly. Wetsanded with the finest paper but it looked like i stuffed up the clear coat on the surrounding area, creating dull paint look. I don't think i overdid the sanding though. Sigh...

Do you think polishing will bring back the shine? I just bought a whole bunch of Meguiars' detailing products today e.g. Swirl Remover 2.0, quick clay, yellow wax, waterless car wash pack etc etc.

I suggest trying it however i think the best bet is to sand back the area that doesnt look right just enuf to try again (remove the thickness unless u want a lump in ur paint)

eddie, use the scratch x alot until it comes out, i dont think you will need to go a heavier buff

']eddie, use the scratch x alot until it comes out, i dont think you will need to go a heavier buff

Do you mean the excess paint?

the excess paint, rub down more with 2000 grit sandpaper (soak for at least half hour), sand it until it is all smooth, obvioulsy your paintwork will be heavily scracthed, this is when the scratch x comes into work, work this ***** in until all the scratchs are removed.

did that make sense? sorry i rushed it :redface:

hmm...I have 6500 and 8000 sand paper which was for polishing aircraft canopy. Is nearly smooth as cloth, not sure that would help. thinking of some small touch ups on my car as well.

I think i get what you meant. Just had a look again at the sandpaper that i used. It was Norton P1200. Maybe still too rough. Will drop by Autobarn tomorrow to get the 2000 type sandpaper, plus Scratch X. Will keep in mind the 0.5 hr soak time for the sand paper. Phew... now my hope is up. Will give it another go! Will share the result in a couple of days. Thanks, guys. :D

If you still think you need to spend money, dont go to a panel shop, do a whitepages (http://www.whitepages.com.au) for "touch up guys"

Touch up guys is like a franchised name such a jims mowing etc. they are all over the place and are pretty cheap aswell. i was quoted $70 to touch up all the scratches on my car, which is really good becuase i had a panel shop quote me $500+.

Give them a try. :thumbsup:

yeh touch up guys are great...they do a nice job in touching up ya paint.

fairly resonable prices too...keeping in mind they are touching up the paint....not repairing it, so the marks are still slightly visable :)

will look into this recommendation

cheers!

Yeah i found their website too last night. Just bought myself Meguiars Scratch X and sandpaper 2000. Will test it out once it cools down outside. Hot as hell out there. If **** doesn't work, Touch Up Guys it is then...

have faith, it will work, just use the a crapload of the scratch x :)

Tried Scratch X, didnt seem to do much, I really need my front bar redone as there are so many stone chips. May get it redone and then covered in the protectant film. Has anyone had this done?

touch up guys are good i used them in my old mirage. but kwik fix are even better i only heard 'em from "bright ideas" they fixed my scratch for 120$ that other qouted me 240$ to fix from other panel beaters.

Like Greenmatt I have a few scratches on front bar. Those panel shops ask for $400 for a respray. Which is a bit ex just for a few scratches.

if the paint is still new and non-faded, theres nothing you cant do yourself with a bit of touch up paint, 2000-3000 grit wet sandpaper, and some scratch removing product

depending on what colour your car is the quality of touch ups can vary. white is the most forgiving colour and hides damage well, as do many solid colurs. metallics are a different story as you cannot brush on the paint and get the metallic particles to sit right, it needs to be sprayed on. if you shop around you should be able to find a smash shop who could fix it for a reasonable price, or you could give the touch up guys a go. However these guys will just blend the repair and if not done properly the paint edge can reappear. it all depends on how much your willing to spend but remember you get what you pay for.

touch up guys are good i used them in my old mirage. but kwik fix are even better i only heard 'em from "bright ideas" they fixed my scratch for 120$ that other qouted me 240$ to fix from other panel beaters.

do they quote you over the phone or come out? is it per chip / dent or based on time? did they leave you with any touch up paint?

May get it redone and then covered in the protectant film. Has anyone had this done?

i presume you are talking about the plastic film they cut to shape and stick on your front bar?

anyone that has this put on needs shooting. It looks terrible..

had an Evo 8 in at work the other day and this sh!t has been plastered all over it and it looks terrible.. It discolours and starts to peel off.. looks tacky, especially if they have to join it..

id sooner put up with stone chips then have this stuff put on my car. The only thing it is good for is putting it around the top part of utes trays (so the teaunnau (sp?) cover doesnt rub the paint back to nothing)