Best Touch Up Paint/scratch Repair Kit?

[2007TBSS]

I have been practicing a lot on the touch up fill/sand/polish process of deep scratch repair. So far so good, but I am looking for a go to touch up paint. At this point, I think I have the process down pretty well, but the super thin and bad matching paints seem to be my biggest issue at this point.



A lot of the ones I have come across are 2 or 3 step type. Is that necessary? Are they all super thin and runny?



I`m looking for something I can order, easy to use and good matches, but also something that is maybe a little thicker, for easier scratch filling without 2-3 applications.



I`ll also take any other thoughts you got on touch up paint!



Thanks!

[Accumulator]

Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



-Ordering is a crapshoot with regard to matching. One company`s stuff will be best one time, another will match closer for some other application. I`d just pick a vendor and see how it turns out.



-Some factory/dealer touchup stuff is surprisingly good (e.g., Audi).



-I`d much rather do multiple applications of thin paint than fewer applications of thick paint. 2-3 applications/coats isn`t many at all IMO, not the way I`d want to do it. IMO/IME the more thin coats the better the chances of things turning out well, most of those will be clear anyhow.



-I`m tempted to say that your preferences make me think of Dr Colorchip.

[2007TBSS]

I guess where I got that idea was from this thread for context.



http://www.autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=129500











I contacted the OP a few days ago in regards to better understanding the process he used and asked if he could go more into detail, or possibly maybe an Autopis Article would be even better.



I haven`t heard back from him yet and wasn`t sure he wanted a thread in his honor (:chuckle, so I thought maybe I could figure out more/other suggestions with a separate thread.



The 2 In 1 he listed shows a 3 step process on their site, but that looked nothing like a 3 step process.



Other than that, I agree that the multi-applications isn`t bad and so far I have had *decent* luck with always buying through a brand related dealership.

[todd@bsaw]

Touch up paint is really hit and miss no matter where you get it from. Even when talking with body shop/paint guys, mixing a color from scratch using a mfg. paint code can result in multiple variances. Like Accumulator said, using multiple thinner coats is going to be better than single thick applications especially when you are dealing with paints that have a flake or pearl in them.

[Accumulator]

.. using multiple thinner coats is going to be better than single thick applications especially when you are dealing with paints that have a flake or pearl in them.

Heh heh, one of the frustrating things about those colors is when you have things sorta-OK and you add just one more layer of basecoat and "oh [expletive]!!" that final coat messes up the metallic/pearl effect somehow

[spartacus_33]

I`ve had good luck with paintscratch.com

[Tru_Shine]

Hey 2007TBSS,



sorry for not replying to you yet. I just got back from Vacation and I`ve been real busy. the touch up I used is from the Duli-color 2in1. and I have been using this touch up for about 7 years now. after working with it so long you start to learn each color and how it reacts to the each vehicle. its just years of trial and error. The reason I used it for so long is back in my old CarMax days we had a whole wall of all the colors they offered. and I got to were I knew exactly what color to grab.



and yes they do show a filler on the website, but it isn`t always used. just on large Deep chips. I layered the paint twice in the write up above letting it cure each time. then wetsanded it smooth and polished to a shine. each car is different. and black is the easiest color to touch up. and white is one of the hardest.



right now I dont have the extra time to do a BLOG about it but I will try to in the future. I hope this answered your question.

-Eric





P.S.



I want to try to buy the applied colors touch up kit.



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[2007TBSS]

So you only used the paint (no clear or filler stages), and just layered it till it`s filled? Would you say in your experience the Duplicolor is thicker than other touch up paints?



I only ask because in a few of those photos, it looked like it pooled better than most of the ones I have tried.



Not a problem on the time frame. I wondered if maybe a lot of people hadn`t temporarily migrated away while the servers were goofy.



Thanks!

[Tru_Shine]

Yep, only the paint, the black is one of the thicker colors, and it dries real fast too. It will become really stringy. each layer when you apply it will settle down, so I blob a little on there. let it settle and dry. then add another coat, and usually by then its filled enough to wet sand smooth, and then buff and polish to a shine.

[Flashtime]

:welcome

[Alfisti]

:welcome

On a whim I recently bought this touch-up pen. I liked the idea of re-applying only clear-coat onto the scratch. After all, most scratches only break the clear-coat with the base-coat still OK.



Haven`t tried it yet. Have you? What do you think about it?

[Tru_Shine]

I also have bought this pen, but have yet to try it, I dont much like the idea of having to let it dry in the sun for long periods of time. but If someone had a UV light that would work too.

[Alexshimshimhae]

is that the one that billy mays did that infomercial one (before his death)

[Alfisti]

This is the one:

[Accumulator]

Non-toxic and odorless touchup paint? Huh, OK.



But... "Water Resistant"? :think:



Simoniz?



Can`t help but think there are better choices, but hey I don`t want to be some knee-jerk product-snob about something I`ve never tried. Won`t *be* trying that one myself though....