[Help Needed] How do I use the Honda touch up paint correctly?

[wizkid057]

So, after 10k miles of mostly highway driving I seem to have ended up with several noticeable rock dings to the front bumper and hood.

I have a thing of the touch-up paint, but, I can't seem to figure out how to use it correctly... lol.

To test, I put some on a spot under the front lip (which I scraped up pretty bad somehow without noticing...) where it's not visible and I can't get it to come out decent looking. It's always raised and rough compared to the factory paint and very noticeable, even more noticeable than the original black ding mark.

Can anyone give me a rundown, tips, etc, on how to do this and make it look at least half decent?

Thanks

-wk

[EmptieHand]

I find it looks smoother when you tape and press it down after each layer. You'll have to be light on the paint because when you press the tape down, it'll spread.

The paint will match better after you apply the top coat, but it'll never look perfect without a full paint job.

Others recommend sanding with high grit sandpaper... but I found that too tedious.

[tryc]

Originally Posted by EmptieHand

I find it looks smoother when you tape and press it down after each layer. You'll have to be light on the paint because when you press the tape down, it'll spread.

This might be a dumb question (I do not know a lot about detailing and auto painting) but what do you mean about tape? Is the tape supplied with the touch-up paint? (I have never seen tape with touch-up paint before, but that does not really mean much.) If not, what kind of tape do you use?

[Colin]

A long time ago, I read a tutorial on applying touchup paint. I wish I could find it again, but it involved light sanding to smooth things. The person who wrote it, used an old pencil with a full eraser head. Applied small (round) bits of sandpaper to the heads and used that to only sand the area needed. IMO, too risky for my tastes.

Personally, I find the applicators are all too big. I place a small amount of touch up paint on a small sheet of paper or plastic plate. I then use a toothpick to carefully fill in only the chip. If you add too much you'll have a bump (this is where the sanding comes in), but in lieu of that, I go in stages and lightly 'color' in the chip and build up the paint over a few hours/days. <- this assumes you're especially particular.

[EmptieHand]

plain old scotch tape is what I've been using

[carlg1212]

The idea of using a pencil and sandpaper isn't a bad idea, it might be like killing a fly with an atom bomb though.

Try rubbing compound instead. The surface does need to be clean & abraded somewhat so the new paint will stick. The toothpick idea works. After rubbing compound, fill in the area with paint, let it dry 30 minutes, apply another layer so the paint is slightly above the surface b/c you're going to buff it down later, let it dry, then use a clay bar in one direction (don't go back and forth) to buff it out. It ain't perfect, but it's hardly noticeable. We're talking tiny chips/nicks here. Other people might have better ideas but this way works.