Proper procedure for touching-up paintwork?

[Volvo4251]

Hi all,


Springtime always brings us car enthusiasts something to do with our "beloveds"! Upon some further inspection, my 850 has a few places where the paint needs to be touched up. The front bumper has some scuffs and scrapes from the years, and there are some light scratches on the rear tailgate by the "Volvo" badge. I notice these areas because the rest of the paintwork on the car is flawless. As far as purchasing paint goes, I know I need the brush-in-cap bottle for the light scratches and probably the aerosol can for the front bumper. My question is this, what are the proper steps for both of these jobs? Sanding? Primer? Clearcoat? What is the general way to go about touching these areas up?


Thanks in advance.

[rspi]

I have been touching up for the past day or two. I purchased the touch up brush bottles from the stealer and mainly use it.

For light scratches, I never use paint. I usually use polishing wax/cleaner to hit light scratches. If that doesn't work I go deeper to rubbing compound. If it's deeper than that then I wetsand with 2,000 to 4,000 grit. Try to start with 4,000, watch youtube to see how it's done. Wetsand, then polish, then wax.

If it's a deep scratch or knick, then I use the touch up paint that the stealer sells. It comes with good instructions. Basically I clean the scratch, fill the scratch as best as I can, clear coat the scratch (comes in the dealer kit), and if it looks rough, wetsand it a few days later, maybe a week. I do all my wetsanding by hand. I usually do this for deep scratches as long as needed. Usually only you can tell where it was done because the color is so good.

If the spot is so big that you need a spray can, you are likely over your head. It's almost impossible to spray something with a can that will turn out smooth enough to look good. You will have to spray two or three coats, wetsand it, then spray two or three coats of clear, then wetsand it to get it smooth. I usually leave that to the pro's.

Have fun and hope it turns out good for you.

[matthew1]

There are so many ways to go about fixing paint, from $.50 to thousands if measured simply in money.

My cheap, good-from-a-distance, no-commitment method is using the "crayon" type touch up pen. Turtle Wax and others make them. Yes, it's non-permanent and non-professional, and yes you can tell up close. But did I mention it's cheap ?

I've even heard of using an actual Crayola crayon. Naturally, black and white cars are best for this solution because matching reds, blues, saffrons etc. to a crayon would be difficult.

Then there's the brush-n-cap paint that you mentioned, combined with Langka Paint Chip Finisher. Haven't tried it, yet.

Just throwing ideas out.

[Volvo4251]

Thanks for the ideas! However, I will post some pictures of the areas in question later and see what you guys deem necessary. This is definitely something I want to have well planned out.

[Volvo4251]

Here are the pictures of the areas in question. Any thoughts are welcome!

[JRL]

If you can't do it properly have someone wet sand and buff those scratches, they should get a lot better
As for that bumper, stay away from curbs and let someone professionally repaint it, that will never look too good with a spray can

[Volvo4251]

The scratches on the tailgate are something I can do myself. They look like branch scratches or something of that nature (pardon the pun). I would just need some rubbing compound, polish, wax, etc. On the plus side as well, they are in a relatively small area. The smaller the area, the better! Unfortunately, I do believe you are right about the front bumper. I will have to get it professionally re-done. The previous owner of the car had a steep driveway, and I guess inadvertently scratched the bumper on a daily basis.

[MilehighV70XC]

Those scratches look like they are just in the clear coat and can be buffed out pretty easily if you have a power buffer. By hand works to, just will take much longer. It will take a few steps but should come right out. I would try a scratch remover first, if that doesn't work a fine cut should take them out. Then come back with a good polish and finish with a good coat of wax.

As for the bumper. In my opinion I would not waste the money to get it professionaly done. I would sand the scuffed parts smooth and wet sand the good paint. Then find a rattle can paint that looks really close to your car and then paint the whole lower piece. Unless your car is a pearl color since that that takes to many steps.Tape off the bumper above the gap and paint up to the gap. By gap I mean where the lip piece attaches to the rest of the bumper. Since it is such a small piece it would be hard to tell that it was not an exact match and would look a lot better then just touching up the scuffed areas. If it where to happen again you would be able to touch it up much easier.

[Volvo4251]

I do have the Pearl White color (It's a Platinum), code number 424. However I definitely am going to tackle the tailgate area. I have an electronic buffer, but it is back in storage in Kentucky. So a little elbow grease will be needed, but it never hurt anyone!

[rspi]

As for that lower edge of the front lip, I would get the touch up from the steeler and try that since it's so low. It may work good for you.