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Paint Chip Repair
Okay -here's the probIem. You've driven your Thunderbird on tour or to the local drive-in and a piece of gravel flipped into your lovely, shiny paint. Here's how to go about making that chip disappear.
Since a major portion of successful auto body work depends on using the proper materials. I'm listing those which I have used and know are good -by part number and manufacturer. But there are many more goodies at the paint stores made by other reputable folks, so if you deal with a complete auto/body supply house, they, too, can steer you to the right stuff.
Before I get into the actuaI processes, a few general recommendations and cautions:
1) Always read the instructions on the cans or jars of the materials you are going to use. I may have forgotten something.
2) Learn to wait, wait, wait. Most of the things you are using have solvents. These must evaporate before the next layer goes on. If not, you'll get to do it all over.
3) The only solvent I know which won't hurt you is water, and sometimes even that is questionable. Thus, be sure that you have good ventilation, unless you're hooked on glue-sniffing-type highs.
Now to work. The first thing to do is clean the area to be repaired. Its not likely your
Thunderbird is dirty but, if so,. wash it. Then wash the area of the chip with prep solvent
(DuPont Prep Sol 3919S -also good for tar spots and road-kill bugs) , followed by a flush
with clean water .
Take a good look at the bottom of the chip hole (Fig. 1 ). Does it go through to the
base metal? If it does, you have rust. Maybe only on the level of a few
molecules' thickness but, nevertheless. It must be attended. Typically, the edges
of the chip will be upset and the paint adhesion broken. To deal with these two
conditions , you need to inflict some prophylactIc damage. Using a tool like a dental
pick, which is somewhat smaller than the hole, scratch it out until the inadvertent
damage is gone. If your chip has landed in an area underlaid by body filler, the filler
may have absorbed moisture. This can be removed with alcohol.
If your hole was, or now is, down to metal, treat with metal prep (DuPont Metal Conditioner
5717S). TIme for a coffee break while this dries, read the instructions on the bottle.
Click here to view Figures 1, 2, and 3 on the next page
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