I WAS HAULING *** AS USUAL FROM THE CLUBS TO MY HOME WHEN I HIT SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I COULDN'T TELL HOW BAD IT WAS, UNTIL THE MORNING. THERE IS THREE DEEP SCRATCHES ON THE FRONT OF MY BRILLIANT SILVER G FRONT BUMPER. THEY ARE DEEP AND REACHED THE METAL WHICH MAKE THE SCRATHES LOOK BLACK. I AM TRYING TO AVOID TAKING IT TO THE BODYSHOP BECAUSE I AM ASSUMING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPAINT MY WHOLE BUMPER. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF BAD *** TOUCH UP PAINT I COULD USE OR IF I WOULD JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE BODYSHOP. I HATE HAVING THE SCRATHES ON MY CONCIOUS, SO ALL ADVICE AND OPINIONS ARE WELCOMED, THANKS!

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by wreck on 09/30/03 01:37 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

If you are willing to use some elbow grease, I can help. First off, prep the area well with alcohol to get all wax and other debris off. Then, if the scratch was down to the metal/plastic, get some primer and spray some on a piece of plastic, then use a fine brush to apply it into the scratch. Wait for it to set and dry.

Next, get the matching color paint and take a little and put it on a plastic pallet. If it is runny, then it is ok, but if it is thick, as they usually are, get a TINY bit of paint thinner, usually only a drop is necessary and mix it well into about a dime size splotch of paint so that it is spreadable without streaks.

Using a small flat brush, paint the area. Use a good quality artist's brush for best results. Let that set. If you paint over the intended area, wipe it off, but don't sweat it, you'll be compounding it later. Do not put copious amounts of paint in there, you will be painting it in layers to build it up to normal depth with the surrounding metal/plastic. (If it is that deep, consider using body filler.)

Once the paint is acceptable and overlaps the surrounding normal paint, (and the paint is both cured and hard) now is the time to get your 3M compound out and compound the area until it is smooth. Do not overheat the area and stop often to see what you are doing. Always keep a good amount of compound on the buffer, just to make sure it doesn't overheat.

I did this to the quarterpanel in my prelude and when I eventually got it painted for free at an auto body shop, the guy commended me for my attempt. The only thing that gave me away was the lack of gold flake in the new black paint.

Just make sure to take your time and don't rush! If you take your time, it can come out like a pro did it.

03.5 6spd DG/G aero pk/kit
He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.