Touch Up 101

[Ranger16]

I have done a few touch up jobs, but not sure if I've ever done a clear coat job so here is my question to you pros.

I need to do a small, rattle can touch up on my daughters front fender. It is a non metallic white BC/CC. I have the paint from Paintscratch.com. Once the base coat dries, do I buff it before the clear coat or just clear over it and then buff that? My thinking is anything under the clear will show threw so I should buff it out like it was a single coat and then clear over it. Then of coarse buff the clear when it dries.

 

[Yatzee]

I have done a few touch up jobs, but not sure if I've ever done a clear coat job so here is my question to you pros.

I need to do a small, rattle can touch up on my daughters front fender. It is a non metallic white BC/CC. I have the paint from Paintscratch.com. Once the base coat dries, do I buff it before the clear coat or just clear over it and then buff that? My thinking is anything under the clear will show threw so I should buff it out like it was a single coat and then clear over it. Then of coarse buff the clear when it dries.

Can't buff clear coat or you'll get ghosting under the clear that looks like wipe marks. You'll have poor adhesion as well so best to spray, wipe down and apply the clear. You can wet sand ever so lightly with 1500 grit provided you don't leave the infamous " angel hair" effect.

 

[69L48Z27]

Yatzee - you mean - you can't buff base coat right?

Spray the base coat then clear within the specified window. After the clear is on buff away. If you have rattle cans I wouldn't think of buffing it. It'll probably never get hard enough.

 

[Ranger16]

Wait a minute. So you are saying, spray the BC and in :10 min. or so spray the CC just like doing the second coat of BC? And no buffing out the CC? I can't blend it? Just spray and leave it? Do I have to do the entire fender? Damn, this is a bit more complicated than the old BC, buff and admire. Hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew.

 

[69L48Z27]

If you were doing this with regular BC/CC system you would:

Fix the area
Prime
Sand
Seal
Spray blend agent
BC blend into the panel as far as you need to
CC entire panel

De-nib and buff

 

[747mopar]

Agreed.

Don't know about rattle can base but the way I do it is prep the whole panel with 1500 grit then spray the base only where the repair is until it's hidden then another cost to blend it out. I always clear the whole panel when possible (easier than sanding and buffing it out).

 

[Ranger16]

Oh boy. You guys are scaring me now. I'm used to the old single coat paints. Maybe I did bite off more than I can chew. Thought I could save her $1500, but may have to back out now.

 

[Ranger16]

Feedback:
I sanded the area, sprayed the white paint, about 3 coats with 5 - 10 minutes in between and then cleared it after another 5 - 10 minutes with no sanding. A week or so later got the car back and was able to buff out any over spray and the color match is perfect. I didn't feather the area as good as I should have when I sanded it, so I may have to do it over again, but the paint procedure and color match worked just great. You really have to know what you are looking for and where to look to be able to detect it.

 

[Bb70charger500]

Great . I was going to say just do it your not going to hurt anything! Post up a picture of the good side and the repair side bet no one can tell !

 

[Ranger16]

I'll try to remember to take some pics next time my daughter comes over.