Paint Scratch and Ding Repair

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Credit to riceK from 8thcivic.com for the original thread content
paint scratch/ding repairs - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

Hello folks!! I'm contributing this DIY to the forum. I've had some rock dings in my car and it bugged the hell out of me.

I checked on some local paint and body shop around my area and they are quoting me prices that I just can't simply afford. Then one day I was at Payless shoe store (buying shoe strings), some idiot bumped the front of my car while I was in the store!! I didn't notice the damage up until I got home and notice a big dust circle on my bumper. The first thing that went to my mind is "hhhmmm... that is unsual...", then it dawned on me, someone hit my car !!! So I quickly dusted it off and sure as sh!t there it is I have this noticeable ding on my car it may not be so bad for some people but I'm not some people...it's my car !!!

That's when I decided that I need to do something about this before it me or my car up the wall!!! So here we go.opcorn:

Tools:

Touch-up paint (you will need the color for your car)

Dupli-color 2-in-1 scratch fix kit

1000-1500 grit sand paper.

small sanding block

Meguairs scratch X and the 3 stage waxes

Klean Strip Auto Prep

Toothpick

Water hose (connected to a water source of course!!)

sponges

Dish Washing Liquid

and some rags

krazy assumptions:
I want to add this part because I am assuming that:

-one you know how to clean your car!!
-two you are doing this at your own risk
-three you can follow simple directions
-four you have time to do this project (because you will need a couple of days to complete this DIY, tho not necessarily in a row but you need sometime to let the touch-up paint cure.)
-five it's a nice day out or you're in a garage and it doesn't matter what the weather is like outside!!!

Procedure:

First clean your car with the sponges and dishwashing liquid. To make this process faster yes you can simply clean the area that you are going to be working on.

Second dry your car up with the rags or a chamoi

Third apply the klean strip auto prep (follow the directions on the can for proper use)

Fourth, making sure the surface that you are working on is clean and free of debris, use the toothpicks to apply the touch-up paint. You want to dab the paint in the dings or scratches not spread, I dunno the consequences of spreading the paint versus dabbing it, but this is what I did. Also it's okay for the touch-up paint to go beyond the dings a little bit.

Fifth wait for the touch up paint to dry. If your car color is like mine, you will notice the improvement already. Don't get too excited, because you will need to add a second or maybe a third coat once it dries.

Sixth once it dries, see if the touch-up paint is either level or above the original paint, if it is not one or the other then you will need to dab a little more. you want the touch-up paint to stick out a little bit because you will sand the paint down to the level of the OEM paint. don't worry if the touch-up paint dries out wrinkly or not smooth. Wait to dry again and repeat, other wise move-on to the next step.

Seventh now the scary and boring part, when the touch-up paint dries you will need the hose and the sand paper wrapped in the sanding block, if you bought the dupli-color kit it comes with the sanding block and some 1000 grit sand paper. Keep the hose runing and pour the water above the touch-up paint getting it soaked. With your free hand, lightly sand the touch-up paint, while the water is running, and just a little bit past the area of the touch up paint. Your goal here is to sand the touch-up paint down to the level of the OEM paint (clear coat). Also "feel" the touch-up paint every couple of strokes, once you feel that it's leveled to the OEM paint it's time to stop.

WARNING:

Do not and I repeat do not put too much weight on the sanding block because there is a chance you can strip the paint!!


Eighth once you got it leveled, dry the area off with the chamoi or rags.

Ninth once dried, use the meguairs scratch X to remove the scratches. I poured a generous amount on the scratched area it self and rubbed fast and put a little elbow grease into it. Wipe off the excess constantly and repeat.

Tenth once the scratches are gone feel the touch-up paint again to see if it's level then use the 3 step meguairs FTW





you might have to apply the clear coat from the kit to get the touch-up paint and the OEM paint to match. Same rules apply with the clear coat and the touch-up paint.

when applying the touch paint, be sure to go a little bit past the dings and above the OEM paint it's better to have too much material and sand it down than not have enough and you end up sanding the OEM paint off.

while sanding the touch-up paint down or clear coat , be sure that the water is constantly running so that the debris from sanding it down will wash away immediately and also constantly stop and feel the area you are working on to make sure it's smooth (sand a little, check, sand a little, check).

when sanding, use very minimal pressure, if you put too much pressure while sanding you will end up damaging the surrounding area more and then you will hafta bring your car to a shop.

I pick up trash for a living, I'm not an auto detailer or bodyshop guy or even a painter. I just didn't want to fork up all that cash for minor paint issues I ended up spending about less than $50.00 to fix all the dings and hits in my car when the shops are asking five to ten times that amount because they will have to strip the entire panel and repaint. You don't need all that if all you have are a couple of dings. To some of my dings you can see where it went all the way to the metal.

Hope this help some of you that are wondering how to touch-up your paint. if you have any questions feel free to post and I will try and answer it the best I can. :vtec: