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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

2080.0. "How to fix scratched metallic paint?" by BUSSTP::JHANNAH () Fri Apr 30 1993 13:11

    Would anyone like to advise on the best way to fix a couple of
    scratches in the metallic paint on my car. They're not deep scratches, 
    they just look bad. I've tried the small tins of touch up paint you can 
    buy in Halfords and other such places, on previous cars I've had, but I've
    never found they match very well, if at all! 
    
    So can I fix them myself, or would I be better off paying someone
    professional to fix them.                            
    
    
    Jim. 
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2080.1Dulux and a 6" wide brush works best !AYOU35::WARRENFri Apr 30 1993 14:3819
Jim,

Best going to the dealer if you want to get a matching paint.

It also depends how *weathered* the rest of the body work colour is -
As the new paint will be bright, the existing paintwork may be duller, in which 
case you cant do much about it I dont think.  It might be quite expensive to get
a pro to touch up the paint as he may charge a minimum price for the job- 
ie you may only need a small amount of paint, but he will charge you for a full 
tin, and even more if he had to mix paints to get the correct shade, etc etc.

Have you tried T-Cut ?  I believe that it can cover up some scratches.

Tip: if you try to *touch it up* yourself, dont use the brush you get in the tub.
     Try something with a solid tip, as this will tend not to disperse the paint
     over a larger area than is required.

Warren.

2080.2BLKPUD::WILLIAMSHFri Apr 30 1993 14:406
2080.3super dooper polish....WOTVAX::DRAPERPPeter DraperFri Apr 30 1993 15:004
    You could give that Colour cote coulored polish a try if the scratches
    are not too deep - I believe you CAN getb it for metalics.....
    
    Pete
2080.4Coloured polishMUGGER::POWELLTue May 04 1993 17:267
    
    Dont T-Cut, this would ruin the paint. The prev note regarding coloured
    polish is right. It does make a good job (not perfect) and is also a
    really really good polish. I use it on a metalic blue R19 16v and it
    works well on small scratches and stone chips.
    
    								G.P
2080.5Check Your Orientation!CHEFS::CURRIEIDyslexic snice brithTue May 04 1993 17:4913
    Someone once told me that it's not only the colour of metallic paint
    that needs to be an exact match, but also the orientation of the car
    relative to the earth's magnetic field(!).  In other words, if your car
    was facing north-south when originally painted, it should be oriented
    the same way if being resprayed.  If there's any truth in this, it's
    related to the fact that the field will determine the orientation of
    the metallic particles in the paint, and this can have an impact on the
    appearance of the paint from different angles.
    
    This is hardly relevant for retouching scratches, but could affect the
    appearance of respayed panels.  Anyone else heard this theory?
    
    Ian
2080.6FORTY2::PALKATue May 04 1993 19:3516
    re .5
    
    I dont think the metallic particles are iron. They are probably
    aluminium, and so practically unaffected by the magnetic field.
    There are lots of other things that can affect the appearance, quite
    apart from the colour of the paint, and size, shape composition of the
    particles (which could all be matched from the original formula)
    
    E.g. exact viscosity of the paint.
    	temperature, humidity.
    	speed at which the paint leaves the nozzle
    	(which depends on nozzle size and pressure)
    
    These all make it very difficult to match the original appearance.
    
    Andrew