Chip painting over lacquer.

[john-e89]

Can anybody advise on a query I've got please.

I will at some point get a chip on the bonnet on my sapphire black E89. Looking at vids etc, the following seems a good method:

Tiny disc of 2000 grit wet and dry stuck to a pencil top, twist into the chip to flatten down the paint and lacquer edge, use a cocktail stick etc, to fill with paint over a few days, wet sand down a small area around the chip to blend in and flatten the paint to level, polish back to standard shine.

Now my queries are:

They mention clear coat, is that another term for the top layer of lacquer over the paint?

How do you replace the small patch of lacquer, or clear coat, that has been taken out by the chip? Do you do the same as the paint and apply a small amount then sand back down? What sort of lacquer should be used?

Any advise much appreciated as always.

Thanks in advance.

[andysat]

Think I remember reading somewhere that some people have mixed the paint and laquer.

[john-e89]

Think I remember reading somewhere that some people have mixed the paint and laquer.

Yes that's exactly what the guy did but he didn't say why.

Excellent, that's the jigsaw complete then, cheers Andy.

[markeg]

Yep, as Andy confirmed, mix the two together, John. Also you may want to look for a paint denibber (like this one) - great for leveling

[john-e89]

Yep, as Andy confirmed, mix the two together, John. Also you may want to look for a paint denibber (like this one) - great for leveling

I have seen those levellers before Mark but forgotten about them tbh so thanks for the link. Those sanding drums look spot on, I'm going to make an order and practise on the van bonnet. Any tips on what grade of polishing mops I'll need for a rotary polisher?

Do you know the ratio of paint to lacquer I need?

[markeg]

Yep, as Andy confirmed, mix the two together, John. Also you may want to look for a paint denibber (like this one) - great for leveling

I have seen those levellers before Mark but forgotten about them tbh so thanks for the link. Those sanding drums look spot on, I'm going to make an order and practise on the van bonnet. Any tips on what grade of polishing mops I'll need for a rotary polisher?

Do you know the ratio of paint to lacquer I need?

For ratio in stone chips, I use about half the amount of lacquer and mix well with a cocktail stick/orange stick. After denibbing, I do the area with increasing grit paper (3000, to 5000). For finishing, I use a Meguiars G220, and some hex logic pads (green for heavy cutting, then orange or blue for medium/light, then black for finishing) with Meguiars 105 & 205 mirror glaze.

Am sure others will be on with their choices shortly!

[john-e89]

Great thanks very much Mark.

Sound products judging by your spoiler, the paint and finish are perfect. Did you use an airbrush or similar for the spraying, or just mask off a big area and use a normal gun?

(Should have asked you all this at the time... )

[pvr]

My paint on the 911 is a premixed clear/paint. I tested the cocktail method on my wing which worked well, also bought the felston tool to de-nip but will practice that on the Audi first.

Only got about 20000 rear wheel arch chips to do from the Scottish trip

[john-e89]

My paint on the 911 is a premixed clear/paint. I tested the cocktail method on my wing which worked well, also bought the felston tool to de-nip but will practice that on the Audi first.

Only got about 20000 rear wheel arch chips to do from the Scottish trip

Not considered 3M clear protective film Paul? I would have thought you'd have all that under control from the outset.

[pvr]

The standard film on the rear arches got shot by the stones, so I now have a CF magnetic option there instead. Fortunately, 95 % of the stone chips are underneath that now.

[Maniac]

I've done this plenty of times with very good results.

Clean out the chip, put just a tiny amount of paint on a cocktail stick and paint in the chip leaving it concave.

After a couple of days clean it out again then paint in the lacquer/clear coat.

Leave it a couple of days and then wet sand and polish for an almost perfect repair.

[markeg]

Great thanks very much Mark.

Sound products judging by your spoiler, the paint and finish are perfect. Did you use an airbrush or similar for the spraying, or just mask off a big area and use a normal gun?

(Should have asked you all this at the time... )

I have a hobby airbrush that I use for small jobs (like the spoiler) and a large gun & compressor for panels, but stone chips were rattle-can paint and lacquer into a plastic cup

[srhutch]

One of the benefits of black Sapphire, fixing stone chips makes the repair invisible.

I wouldn't sand before applying the paint though. Apply paint, allow to dry for a week or so and then remove. I use the de-nibber now which is easier and quicker than wet sanding.

[markeg]

One of the benefits of black Sapphire, fixing stone chips makes the repair invisible.

I wouldn't sand before applying the paint though. Apply paint, allow to dry for a week or so and then remove. I use the de-nibber now which is easier and quicker than wet sanding.

I found if I didn't key the area by sanding the chip & surround (only about 0.5cm diameter), the paint blob would occasionally come out.

[ric19]

John, when you have found out the secret, can I pop down to Baslow and you can do mine.. OK ?