I do a fair amount of highway driving with my Z. Subsequently, I get a good number of stone chips on the bumper and hood. I'd love to get a clear-bra, but it's just not in the budget right now. So I've had to apply touch-up paint to all the chips and gouges. I think I'm doing a decent job, but I still can notice where the damage was done. The chips that show the most even after applying the touch-up paint are the ones that are indented slightly. Is there a way to apply the touch-up paint so the damage to the car isn't still noticable? Or is this just the way life is? If any folks out there have found a way to apply the touch-up paint with greater success than me, please explain how you do it! Also, if you have a way to fill in the gouges made by the stone using the paint as filler, I'd love to hear your secrets. I'm about to fix a stone chip right now. I'll post a before and after picture when I'm done.

I hope this topic wasn't already covered. If so, my apologies.

 

Yes, I'd love to hear the answer to this as well!

I do a lot of highway driving myself, and unfortunately have several small nicks, which really show on the aluminum hood with dark Brickyard Red.

 

I have Lemans Sunset Touring and I do a bunch of highway driving also. I get a chip a day, this is ridiculous.

Any solutions, I'm not a bra guy, so that's not an option.

 

This is what I do. If you have a chip that leaves a "crater" like indentation on your paint, put some masking tapes or scotch tapes around the edges of the chip. Now, start dabbing the chip with multiple coats of the paint until it evens out with the tape. Allow it to dry, and peel the tapes away. You should now have a smooth and even paint chip repair. You can probably still notice the chip, but not as obvious.

 

I have heard that Lanka is good for smoothing out the "blob"

http://www.langka.com/

 

fdao,

Great idea! I'm going to try it with my next gouge. Thanks!

danotto,

I went to the website you suggested. It looks like this stuff is exactly what I need. Thanks for the link!

Has anyone out there tried this "langka" stuff? If so, what are your thoughts?

 

I used it on a rock chip. There is a learning curve to using Langka, but the great thing is the product cleans up your mistakes and you can start over.

Take your time and use several coats of touch up paint to fill the "crater"...don't just "blob it on". Then follow the directions for using the Langka. Quit before you think it is "as good as you can get it"; wipe off the area and check it. The biggest mistake is to keep going over the paint AFTER you should have quit.

 

go to the auto paint supply store
ask them for touchup sticks- these are little plastic sticks with white nylon fuzz ***** on the end.
get the color match paint for your car, then shake the bottle really well- a BB helps to stir the paint and mix it well.
wipe the area around the spot to repair.
take a really really small amount of paint on the fuzz ball- this is where patience comes in....
lightly touch the fuzz ball in the repair area and allow the paint to transfer to the body- dont push the ball.
repeat until the hole in the paint is JUST SLIGHTLY above the level of the paint- it will shrink when it dries.
Now, wait for a few days to let the paint harden.
Then, get a popsicle stick and a soft cotton cloth.
Get some FinesseIt or Swirl remover at the paint supply store.
Put two layers of the cloth on the stick, then a dab of swirl remover or finesseIt, and gently rub over the repaired spot- gently.
do not polish in a back and forth pattern or the paint could be damaged- kind of random pattern is best- check the surface every 10 seconds until you cannot or feel the bump.
Look along the panel to see if there is any bump, then if the damage is still there, repeat until gone, then polish the panel with 3M glaze, and you are done- NO WAX!!!

 

I am an owner of a new Infiniti G35 Coupe, and am very aware of the problems we all face on a daily basis avoiding stone chips destroying the beautiful front of our cars.

My Company Car Crafters is a Distributor, and Installer for a product that will totally eliminate the possibility of getting chips, and scratches all over your baby.

The product is called Invinca-Shield which is manufactured by 3M.
http://www.invinca-shield.com/index.htm

I can't say enough about this incredible breakthrough. It's totally transparent, and you car will look like brand new for many years to come. You just spent alot of money on your Z, now protect your investment.

We have mobile units in the NY, NJ, Conn areas, as well as the entire state of Florida. Feel free to e-mail or phone me at the numbers and e-mail address below, and happy motoring.

Phone: 732-778-2895
carcrafters@comcast.net