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Fixing clearcoat damage

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Brax:

Sand down the bubbles using 400 grit paper. Blend the edges of the clear into the paint but not through it. (this is the trick - use very, very light pressure on your paper) Respray your clear over the sanded portions. Sand with 1000 grit paper, repeat this for two or 3 coats. Finish up with polishing compound. Voila.

I restore vintage bicycles as a hobby and do this kind of repair all the time. You can sand and blend paint and clearcoat just like any other material. It's not all that hard, it just takes a little nerve to do it for the first time.

Brax:


--- Quote from: Stingray on September 25, 2006, 11:24:09 am ---Color sanding won't work if the damage is all the way through the clear or if the clear has started to peel. Just FYI.

-S

--- End quote ---

Colour sanding uses the exact same methods you would use to repair your clearcoat. You just have a few added steps of respraying your clear afterwards. It's not exactly a big leap to go from colour sanding to clearcoat repair.

Stingray:


--- Quote from: Brax on September 27, 2006, 12:31:59 pm ---
--- Quote from: Stingray on September 25, 2006, 11:24:09 am ---Color sanding won't work if the damage is all the way through the clear or if the clear has started to peel. Just FYI.

-S

--- End quote ---

Colour sanding uses the exact same methods you would use to repair your clearcoat. You just have a few added steps of respraying your clear afterwards. It's not exactly a big leap to go from colour sanding to clearcoat repair.

--- End quote ---

Yes I'm aware of that. I've been doing auto body work for 20 years. Unless I completely misread, the OP isn't looking to do any paint work. An attempt at color sanding an area where the clear is damaged all the way through would only make the problem worse. In any case if a person doesn't own the needed paint spraying equipment (and let's face it, not a lot of people do), it's a bit more than a few added steps.

-S

ChadTower:


--- Quote from: Stingray on September 27, 2006, 12:55:28 pm ---I've been doing auto body work for 20 years.

--- End quote ---

And boy is he tired.  What a project.

Brax:


--- Quote from: Stingray on September 25, 2006, 11:24:09 am ---Yes I'm aware of that. I've been doing auto body work for 20 years. Unless I completely misread, the OP isn't looking to do any paint work. An attempt at color sanding an area where the clear is damaged all the way through would only make the problem worse. In any case if a person doesn't own the needed paint spraying equipment (and let's face it, not a lot of people do), it's a bit more than a few added steps.

-S

--- End quote ---

It can be done with rattle cans and it won't look any different. (premptive strike: Yes, you're right. It won't be as durable. But if it's like any clearcoat bubbles I've ever seen, it'll be on a horizontal surface. Unless you regularily have  swimsuit models cavorting on your car, it'll be fine. Btw, if you do have said models squirming on your car, call me! In my opinion, it would be fine regardless where the repair is. I've done bike frames and they don't scratch any worse than a factory finish.))

As I said, the method is the same as colour sanding. It's not colour sanding per se. As long as you're careful not to go through the colour as you're blending the edges of the clear into the paint all will be fine.

There are methods the professionals use and then there are hobbyist methods that achieve the same goal. He asked if it could be done. I assure you with 100% certainty that it CAN be done and you'd never know it was repaired.

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