[78w72]

I will let the paint gurus suggest their steps or correct me if im wrong but this way will get pretty good results for the average hobbyist doing it in their garage.

For small spots that didnt require much surface prep, apply the touch up paint as you showed, a 2nd coat will help build it up a little. Once its as smooth as you like, apply a couple coats of clear to build it up just above the existing paint, a small brush for plastic models would work good. Then carefully sand the new clear down using 1500-2000 wet, same process as sanding/buffing out runs in new paint, once its level & smoothed out it can be buffed by hand with a compound like 3m perfect-it or similar. Or, apply it smooth enough that it lays out smooth and doesnt need sanded.

Do you have some of the paint left? if its base/clear you can use a little clear if you can get some from the painter or ask a local body shop if you can have a few drops. It will cure without the hardener added but can take a week or 2 before you want to sand it, i like to add a drop or 2 of the additive to a teaspoon of clear. If its single stage then 2 coats are fine.

An air brush could work too if youre good with it, but thats a very small area & you dont want to get much paint/clear on the existing clear since it usually wont blend well, there can be a visible edge. Doing it carefully by hand up to the edge of existing paint minimizes seeing an edge.

If the chrome trim covers 80-90% of it, I would probably just add another coat of paint or clear to seal it & smooth it out a bit then install the trim.

[cnc]

Originally Posted by 78w72

I will let the paint gurus suggest their steps or correct me if im wrong but this way will get pretty good results for the average hobbyist doing it in their garage.

For small spots that didnt require much surface prep, apply the touch up paint as you showed, a 2nd coat will help build it up a little. Once its as smooth as you like, apply a couple coats of clear to build it up just above the existing paint, a small brush for plastic models would work good. Then carefully sand the new clear down using 1500-2000 wet, same process as sanding/buffing out runs in new paint, once its level & smoothed out it can be buffed by hand with a compound like 3m perfect-it or similar. Or, apply it smooth enough that it lays out smooth and doesnt need sanded.

Do you have some of the paint left? if its base/clear you can use a little clear if you can get some from the painter or ask a local body shop if you can have a few drops. It will cure without the hardener added but can take a week or 2 before you want to sand it, i like to add a drop or 2 of the additive to a teaspoon of clear. If its single stage then 2 coats are fine.

An air brush could work too if youre good with it, but thats a very small area & you dont want to get much paint/clear on the existing clear since it usually wont blend well, there can be a visible edge. Doing it carefully by hand up to the edge of existing paint minimizes seeing an edge.

If the chrome trim covers 80-90% of it, I would probably just add another coat of paint or clear to seal it & smooth it out a bit then install the trim.

Yes I do have some paint its bc CC...thanks for the procedure I will also post for possible different suggestions...