Fixing paint chips

[jon laing]

I had a paint chip 1/16" x 1/2" in the middle of my 39 ford trunk. I tried to fix it with a small paint brush but it looks terrible. Color is garnet maroon. What is best way to fix it? Perhaps I need to go to a good body shop. Will the whole trunk need to be painted? HELP appreciated. I believe the paint is a one part lacquer but not sure. Jon Laing

[john worden]

Best way to fix it? Have the work done by a restoration or custom shop.

[WestCoast]

first thing to do is prepare a small piece of metal about one square inch, clean primer and paint, when dry lay it on the trunk to see how the color matches, if the color is off then you will need to take it to a good paint store and have it color scaned

[19Fordy]

Jon, What type of paint is it... acrylic enamel, lacquer, base coat clear coat, urethane enamel, just plain old enamel?
When you say " in the middle of my 39 Ford truck" what location are you referring to?

[V8COOPMAN]

Hey Jim.........TRUNK! DD

[WestCoast]

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when I fill a chip i clean the chip and the paint around the chip about 3 inches, if the chip goes all the way to bare metal I put a thin later of primer in it to make sure the paint sticks I use a tooth pick to get the primer and paint in the chip, when primer is dry I almost fill the chip with the paint, leaving the chip just a little low, when every thing is real dry I once again use a tooth pick to fill up the rest of the chip, make sure you have the paint sticking to the edge chip, have the paint have crown in the chip and spread a little ways outside and around the chip, having the paint have a crown in the chip stops having a line around the chip, let dry completely for at least a few days, then use 1000 or 1200 grit wet and dry sand paper and a sanding block to wet sand the repair, go slow and gently till you have sanded off the crown on the paint and smoothed the paint around the chip, then polish the repair and surrounding paint, this is not a one day job, it can take 2 or 3 days to do it right so the repair wont show in the paint

[V8COOPMAN]

Above is the ONLY way that you have a chance at a good repair.....well said! DD

[quickchange34]

WestCoast has it down right and the only way to fix a chip. It works.

[19Fordy]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Hey Jim.........TRUNK! DD

Thanks V8. I need to practice my reading and "pay attention" skills.
I agree also with West Coast. Take it slow and have the patience of a toothache.

[john worden]

The thing is that now that it's been painted with a brush it's no longer a chip.
Fill and polish may still work if the surrounding paint film is thick enough to stand the sand/buff routine.

[Kahuna]

Westcoast
What is done to try to repair a chip on a vertical surface?
Or, can anything be done?
Thanks
Jim

[markivpedalpusher]

I'm dealing with a rather large paint chip myself. Lots of youtube videos on this and the method stated above is consistent with the youtube videos I've watched. My chip was deep and I had to build it up with primer. I'm crossing my fingers it turns out well not quite to the paint, color sand and buff stage tho.

[WestCoast]

on a vertical surface dont thin the paint to much, use just enough thinner so it will flow, you have to stay close so you can pull any runs back into the chip till the paint sets enough so it doesn't want to flow, it helps to have the metal warm, not real hot, just enough so the paint will set faster, take a small piece of metal and put a small ding in it, hang it up and practice filling the dent with paint till you figure out how to do it, better to make a mistake on the metal than on your car, advice is great, but experience is unbeatable, if you have to put 4 or 5 thin coats of paint in the chip that's fine, use the tooth pick to apply the paint to the bottom of the chip and the point of the pick to pull the paint down into the chip and working the paint onto the side of the chip, practice and patience is what creats a good job, keep a lint free rag at hand with some paint thinner on it so if the paint runs out of the chip you can clean it off with the rag, which you probably will do several times, knowledge comes with practice , patience and experience

[Kahuna]

Thanks so much, Westcoast. I really appreciate it

[jon laing]

I ended up having NAPA use a special camera to identify the color and mix a can of paint. I took it to a reputable body shop and he followed the best procedure noted in this thread. Unfortunately the color was not close. I suspect Napa only goes to a paint chip color that most closely matches my color. That doesn't always work. The proper COLOR I believe is GARNETT MAROON. ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT? Jon L.

[Kahuna]

I took the air vent off my 32 to an Auto paint store. He scanned it, gave me the paint and it is a dead match. Couldn't be happier.
This was to be able to match a hood and grill shell. Cost me 80 bucks for the paint.