So our 78 vette has it's origional paint, and it actually looks pretty dang good considering. We are planning to have the car repainted, and done well it is time, but it will be two years from now im guessing. I am planning to do all the mechanical stuff first, then the interior and then the paint it seems like the most logical way to do things. I must have taken a rock at some point it has like two other little places like this one on the rear and one just above the drivers headlight which I guess is a common place to catch a rock I am told.


I have seen the stuff at autozone that looks like a guy with a fingernail type paint brush and just like he was painting a toe nail. I have never put touch up paint on any car so is that the right way to fix a little spot like that for a while so it is now so visiable and sealed up. Or is there a more right way. I know I can have a body guy fix spots like that for about 200 a pop, but I am planning to paint the whole thing soon. Also has anybody ever used any thing like that stuff you see on tv, that you wipe on like wax and it fills/erases small scratches on a car. Any opinions on that?

Thanks
Brent

 

When you drive these cars - rather than trailer - chips happen. What you have described does work and is basically invisible from five feet away. Google PaintScratch to get your color.

 

There are lots of ways to 'fix' a nick/chip like that. But, I would suggest that, if it has any depth, you first need to fill that damage with some polyester body filler, then let it dry completely. After drying, it will shrink back a bit; that will leave some space for paint.

Fill that space with a primer, then with thin, light coats of touch-up paint. BTW, I have never seen a bottle of auto touch-up paint with a brush that was anthing close to what should be used to do a good job. Go to a craft supply store and buy a good quality brush with a very small, round set of bristles that is good for any kind of paint (oil, watercolor, etc.). That brush needs to come to a sharp point at the end. Then, you just dip the end in some WELL mixed up paint, then touch the nick close to the middle of the area and let the paint wick-out to fill it. Let dry completely (overnight), then do it again. Continue until the touch-up area is as high, or just a bit higher, than the rest of the paint. Then, use some very fine wet/paper (800,1000, 1200, 1600, 2000) with a flexible pad to get the surface flush with the rest of your paint and really smooth. Finish the job with some fine finishing compound and a buffer to get a high shine.

If you do a good job, you will have to look hard to find where you repaired it.