Chips- Terrified of sandpaper

[CARdiac]

I have never been good at stone chip repair and after a recent road trip I am in need…. I even have a chip on the leading edge of my black roof.

I bought Touch-Up Paint Applicators from Griot’s Garage but need any advice you can give me. I bought the Official Mini touchup paint… it comes with color and a clearcoat… I searched a couple of sites and I am terrified of using sandpaper on my black roof…. Please give me any advice you can offer…. How do I make it look the best with the color and clearcoat?

[Goose]

I sympathize with your plight... paint chips are the worst.

I also have the Griot's paint applicators, and have had somewhat mixed results. Depending on the size of the chip(s), you may just be better off with some very small (#0000 or so) artist's brushes.

Another product that I've considered but have not gotten is Langka. It sure looks like polishing compound, but alot of people swear by it.

Hope this helps...

[gokartride]

I've yet to get satisfactory results from Langka (their web site shows a child doing it....yeah, my egos bruised). Apparently Lankga has "issues" both with metallic paint AND w/ clearcoat.....ouch!!

A local body shop fixed one spot on my MINI by using touch-up paint and then polishing the snot out of it!! Best I've seen so far.

I think I'm going to bump it up another notch and go professional one of these days to fix the few chips I currently have. Need to research this.

[911Fan]

I've used Langka and have been satisfied with the results. The trick with metallics is to use the minimum amount of paint. If you attempt to fill the chip with metallic, it will become too dark compared to the surrounding area. One light layer of metallic followed by however many layers of clear it takes to fill (actually over-fill) the chip will avoid that problem.

As to the earlier comment about Langka being polishing compound -- I think it chemically dissolves the not-fully-cured touch up paint as opposed to acting like an abrasive.

[agranger]

Langka is good on Chips, barely adequate on deep scratches of any length.If you want a great applicator, search the Langka site for their little red toothpick things with foam tips. Very cool!

[CARdiac]

Originally Posted by C4

Fix the chips and do yourself and your car a favor and invest in a clearbra kit:

www.accuguard.biz

Stone bounced off my headlight (protected by the same product as clearbra) and hit my roof.

[CARdiac]

C4, do you have any pictures?

[CARdiac]

Originally Posted by C4

Yes, but honestly you won't be able to see the clearbra much at all, because the material is nearly 99.9% optically clear.

I am interested in the point where the bra ends... how does that look?

[Goose]

Where the bra ends depends on the supplier. Different companies have slightly different approaches to cutting the patterns. Most usually end just above the headlights/hood scoop.

I think there are only two companies actually producing the material -- 3M is the big guy and somebody else that I can't remember. Both are fine; the unknown guy supposedly had a "clearer" film, but 3M has countered this with an improved film - take your pick. Having seen the OEM film at my dealer, it looks a little thinner than the standard 8 mil thickness (although I can't be sure).

Loads of companies sell the two films under various brand names - take your pick. Prices range over a pretty wide amount, with big differences in product support/warranties. With a MINI, you're better off hiring a pro to install the film due to the compound curves of the hood. Find a local outfit that's been doing clear bra installs for a while, preferably with experience with MINI's. Given the complexity of the install, a pro's gonna charge you $500 to $750 for a full-front install.

[911Fan]

imo, there are several problems with the "Saran wrapped" approach...

The biggest is the unsightly edge which collects dirt and wax. The paint color makes this a lesser or greater issue.

Second, every plastic wrapped car I've seen has had very light scratches on the plastic. Sure, the paint might have ended up with the same very light scratches. But you can deal with very light scratches on the paint. You can't do anything when the plastic gets scratched except replace it.

Finally, there is the visual difference between the painted surface and any adjoining plastic coated surface, especially from certain angles. Maybe if the entire surface was covered, without any demarcation line, this would be less objectionable.

I prefer the more "organic" touch up paint + Langka approach. Besides, a few driving related paint chips aren't such a bad thing -- they're just proof of enjoyment!

[CARdiac]

Thank you... I first saw the clear bra at a car show, when it shoudl be looking its best and I felt similar... they also used it on a white car which should have hidden the line well.... ahhh the struggles of paint chips... I will keep working on my Deflector Array ... and no I am not a Treckie...

[CARdiac]

I have my touch-up, Griots Brushes and the Lanka... I will practice on my Camaro first and see how it goes... I just need to wait until the outside temp gets below 95... may have to wait a couple of months.