Paint Chip turned Nightmare. Help!

AdobePhil · 04-03-2011, 05:19 PM

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can fix this, or if I'm better off biting the bullet, and taking the Z into the body shop.

I received 2 decent sized rock chips as a result of getting stuck behind a gravel truck.

I purchased matching touch up paint from the dealer, and also bought 1500 / 2000 / and 3000 grit sandpaper, along with polish and a finish.

It didn't seem like It was going to be difficult, so I used a bbq skewer and filled in the paint chips with the touch up paint. I waited about an hour between each coat.

after about 4 applications, and about 2 hours of drying from the last coat, I noticed that the paint was MUCH darker than the surrounding paint, even though the color codes matched. So I figured this would resolve itself after sanding and polishing, since I followed the instructions and shook the touch up paint harder than a single waitress serving James bond a martini. I began to wet sand starting with 1500 grit. Well either I went to hard or nissan has soft paint, but the only thing that was sanded was the surrounding area of the chip. I didn't have an air gun, so the only thing I could do was dab cotton swap with touch up paint, and try to apply it.

Long story short, it looks terrible lol. I tried to lightly polish but ever time I did, it would take away the part of the paint that was covering the previously sanded portion. Ironically, the actuall chips look great, except the problems I made look worse than the chips did in the first place.

Does anyone have any suggestions, or should I just take her in?

azn370z · 04-03-2011, 05:33 PM

Try a final coat of Dr colorchip. The color may be off because the temperature isn't high enough.

AdobePhil · 04-04-2011, 09:25 PM

thanks for the advice. I just took it into the body shop though. I've used 2000 grit on other cars before, but I guess the paint on the Z is a bit too thin for it.

sucks. get stuck behind 1 gravel truck and get hit with 700 in paint repairs lol.

I'm going straight to the dealer when it's done in 2 days, and getting a clear bra.

shumby · 04-04-2011, 09:43 PM

^^^ lol and you next rock chip will be 1" beyond that. I know it happens to me.

AdobePhil · 04-05-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumby

^^^ lol and you next rock chip will be 1" beyond that. I know it happens to me.

PM me your address. Because if that happens, I'm sending you the bill for jinxing me haha.

Junkman2008 · 04-05-2011, 12:37 AM

The clear coat on the Z is way to fragile for 1500 unless you are going to repaint. Plus, I bet you didn't use a sanding b;ock. That was mistake #2. You should have used a product like Dr, Colorchip or Langka. Doing it the way that you did requires 24 hours between each application of paint. You rushed the job big time.

This is why I tell guys to stay away from touch up paint and sandpaper unless they either know what they are doing or they are using one of the kits that I mentioned above. The paint on these cars is very unforgiving when doing anything with sandpaper, especially 1500-2000 grits.

omgZ · 04-05-2011, 12:47 AM

Langka definitely helps because it allows you to remove excess, but never again will it be never be perfect. Nissan's crappy paint job is to blame.

AdobePhil · 04-05-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

The clear coat on the Z is way to fragile for 1500 unless you are going to repaint. Plus, I bet you didn't use a sanding b;ock. That was mistake #2. You should have used a product like Dr, Colorchip or Langka. Doing it the way that you did requires 24 hours between each application of paint. You rushed the job big time.

This is why I tell guys to stay away from touch up paint and sandpaper unless they either know what they are doing or they are using one of the kits that I mentioned above. The paint on these cars is very unforgiving when doing anything with sandpaper, especially 1500-2000 grits.

yea I had a feeling this paint was soft. I'm taking your advice though. I'm buying both dr colorchip and langka just in case I get knocked with another rock outside the clear bra.

The weird thing, is that as soon as I messed up the first chip, I used 3000 grit on the other one, and it still destroyed the paint. You're completely right about just staying away from sandpaper on this car.

Learn the hard way I guess. Oh well... Less money to loose in vegas lol.

Junkman2008 · 04-05-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdobePhil

Learn the hard way I guess. Oh well... Less money to loose in vegas lol.

I've been where you are. That's how I learned. It cost me $2000 once. I try my best to save every soul I meet from experiencing that lesson.

AdobePhil · 04-05-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

I've been where you are. That's how I learned. It cost me $2000 once. I try my best to save every soul I meet from experiencing that lesson.

yea man, your videos rock. The cars look so good after your treatment vids, that I almost flagged a few of them as porn.

Junkman2008 · 04-05-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdobePhil

yea man, your videos rock. The cars look so good after your treatment vids, that I almost flagged a few of them as porn.

Dude, I just lol'ed!

AdobePhil · 04-06-2011, 12:50 PM

hahahha.

I get the Z back today. Thank God, If I have to drive this rental Chevy HHR 1 more day I think i'd end up driving off a cliff.

I just hope the clear bra installation can be done quickly.

Junkman2008 · 04-06-2011, 01:54 PM

I feel you on the rental car. If I had to drive something like that everyday, I'd probably never wash it!

AdobePhil · 04-06-2011, 06:04 PM

hahaha my thoughts exactly.

I just got her home. She's not leaving the garage until the paint cures in 2 weeks, then I'm taking back roads to get the clear bra installed.

Junkman2008 · 04-06-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdobePhil

hahaha my thoughts exactly.

I just got her home. She's not leaving the garage until the paint cures in 2 weeks, then I'm taking back roads to get the clear bra installed.

On the paint curing, you meant 60-90 days, right?

04-03-2011, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 15	Paint Chip turned Nightmare. Help! I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can fix this, or if I'm better off biting the bullet, and taking the Z into the body shop. I received 2 decent sized rock chips as a result of getting stuck behind a gravel truck. I purchased matching touch up paint from the dealer, and also bought 1500 / 2000 / and 3000 grit sandpaper, along with polish and a finish. It didn't seem like It was going to be difficult, so I used a bbq skewer and filled in the paint chips with the touch up paint. I waited about an hour between each coat. after about 4 applications, and about 2 hours of drying from the last coat, I noticed that the paint was MUCH darker than the surrounding paint, even though the color codes matched. So I figured this would resolve itself after sanding and polishing, since I followed the instructions and shook the touch up paint harder than a single waitress serving James bond a martini. I began to wet sand starting with 1500 grit. Well either I went to hard or nissan has soft paint, but the only thing that was sanded was the surrounding area of the chip. I didn't have an air gun, so the only thing I could do was dab cotton swap with touch up paint, and try to apply it. Long story short, it looks terrible lol. I tried to lightly polish but ever time I did, it would take away the part of the paint that was covering the previously sanded portion. Ironically, the actuall chips look great, except the problems I made look worse than the chips did in the first place. Does anyone have any suggestions, or should I just take her in? Last edited by AdobePhil; 04-03-2011 at 05:28 PM.

04-03-2011, 05:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
azn370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,722 Drives: z34 - R1 Rep Power: 490	Try a final coat of Dr colorchip. The color may be off because the temperature isn't high enough. __________________ 2010 k23 H&R sport springs / Spc rear camber arms / SSR SP1 / Berk cbe / Varis cf lip / Nismo S-Tune side skirts

04-04-2011, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
shumby Captin Canuck Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: with your mom Age: 45 Posts: 6,288 Drives: your sister Rep Power: 237	^^^ lol and you next rock chip will be 1" beyond that. I know it happens to me. __________________ Originally Posted by SAM@GTM Engine detonation is not normal and it should never never happen, and whoever told that need to do something else for living . Sam

04-05-2011, 12:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Junkman2008 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,048 Drives: 2001 Corvette Coupe Rep Power: 10260	The clear coat on the Z is way to fragile for 1500 unless you are going to repaint. Plus, I bet you didn't use a sanding b;ock. That was mistake #2. You should have used a product like Dr, Colorchip or Langka. Doing it the way that you did requires 24 hours between each application of paint. You rushed the job big time. This is why I tell guys to stay away from touch up paint and sandpaper unless they either know what they are doing or they are using one of the kits that I mentioned above. The paint on these cars is very unforgiving when doing anything with sandpaper, especially 1500-2000 grits. __________________ "Marines - Making the other guy die for his country for over 200 years."

04-06-2011, 01:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
Junkman2008 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,048 Drives: 2001 Corvette Coupe Rep Power: 10260	I feel you on the rental car. If I had to drive something like that everyday, I'd probably never wash it! __________________ "Marines - Making the other guy die for his country for over 200 years."

04-04-2011, 09:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 15	thanks for the advice. I just took it into the body shop though. I've used 2000 grit on other cars before, but I guess the paint on the Z is a bit too thin for it. sucks. get stuck behind 1 gravel truck and get hit with 700 in paint repairs lol. I'm going straight to the dealer when it's done in 2 days, and getting a clear bra.

04-05-2011, 12:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
omgZ Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: California Posts: 144 Drives: 10 370z 40th M6 Rep Power: 15	Langka definitely helps because it allows you to remove excess, but never again will it be never be perfect. Nissan's crappy paint job is to blame.

04-06-2011, 12:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 15	hahahha. I get the Z back today. Thank God, If I have to drive this rental Chevy HHR 1 more day I think i'd end up driving off a cliff. I just hope the clear bra installation can be done quickly.

04-06-2011, 06:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
AdobePhil Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Palm Harbor FL Posts: 211 Drives: 2010 370z Sport Trim Rep Power: 15	hahaha my thoughts exactly. I just got her home. She's not leaving the garage until the paint cures in 2 weeks, then I'm taking back roads to get the clear bra installed.

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