QuestionQUESTION: I have an 2007 Black Tahoe. A week or two ago, a rock hit the front of my SUV right above the grill. The rock penetrated the paint and you could see the metal underneath. I went out and bought some primer etc.. filled it and sanded it. And repainted it. The problem is the paint doesn't look very good. The color looks to match decently, but its all bumpy. I'm using a GM black paint pen with its included brush. How could I get the paint on thinner? Is there a special brush you use? Or should I just say screw all this and save up the money to get it painted professionally? The paint area is about the size of a quarter. Sorry for the bother, but this is really bothering me.
ANSWER: Hi CJ,
You might try going ahead and filling the chip up high than the original paint around the area and then get some 2000 grit wet sand paper. this site has it if you have trouble finding it:
http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_3m_imperial_wetordry_sheet_32044.cfm
Soak your paper for at least 15 minutes prior to use. Sand down the touch-up paint to the same level as the original and buff back to a shine with a rubbing compound and then a hand glaze polish. This should give you a flat finish that matches the original. Be careful not to sand to large of an area on the Tahoe because getting the sand scratches out of black paint is tough. I hope this helps you!
Gary
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QUESTION: Actually that helps a great deal. How can I "control" the sanding I guess you could say? Should i just do light strokes until i get close to the finish? And can i hand buff it back to shine? If so what kind of rubbing compound?
I apologize for all the questions, i really really appreciate the help. You have helped a great deal. I'm just a bit nervous about screwing it up.
ANSWER: Hi CJ,
You might think about using a good quality masking tape around the chip. This should prevent sanding on to much of the original paint. I didn't mean to cause too much alarm about sanding on the original black. If you did sand it (which you will a little) it can be buffed and polished back out. It's just a little harder to do and will cost a little more. Check out this product made by 3M. It's designed for removing scratches from dark colored vehicles. At the bottom on the right is a link for a video showing how to use it. Take a look at it and it will ease your mind.
As far as handing polishing, It can be done but it will take a lot of elbow grease. You might think about picking up a 7" electric polisher. I have a Dk. Blue Metallic vehicle that I bought a polisher especially for. You can buy an off brand quality polisher for around $75.00 - $100.00. If you watch the video it will tell you that you will need to use around 1750 RPM's for that particular product. Of course that would be hard to achieve by hand. Most compounds and polishes only use around 1200 RPM's. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Gary
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QUESTION: Alright sounds good. Tomorrow i plan to sand down the remainder of the touch up paint. I hope I put enough primer underneath. (Is primer really that important in this situtation?) When using a rubbing compound and then a hand glaze polish do I just do the general area of the chip? Or should I do almost the whole front of the car to blend in the colors
AnswerHi CJ,
Primer in this situation is not of great importance. If you got a coating on the bare metal that should give you adhesion which is what is of the most importance. I would just compound the general area where the chip is. You can use the hand glaze polish on the whole vehicle if it needs it. If you have any other questions just let me know.
Gary
