[RMNB]

I tried fixing a scratch on my car and sanded way too far. Looks like I went through all the clear coats, paint and primer??

I have the matching paint via Dr colorchip. Tried applying it and polished but still have the same problem.

Suggestions??

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by RMNB

I tried fixing a scratch on my car and sanded way too far. Looks like I went through all the clear coats, paint and primer??

Sorry, but lousy camera focus makes it difficult to say what's what.

Originally Posted by RMNB

I have the matching paint via Dr colorchip. Tried applying it and polished but still have the same problem.

Either way, you have little choice but to apply the touch-up paint, then try to blend it into the rest of the paint surface through careful sanding.

HTH,
a

[tracer bullet]

Yep, you have certainly gone too far.

It's time for spray paint. You'll have to try and feather the edges, or take it to the end of the panel. Unlikely to look perfect. Might be time for an estimate at a shop.

[RMNB]

Any suggestions on the different grits of sandpaper? I do have 3000 grit and aggressive 120, 220 which is how I originally screwed it up...

[bosstones]

Oh, damn. Any pictures of the original scratch? It feels like you were far too heavy-handed with this but I also don't know what the scratch was like. Beyond the obvious issue, it looks like there are sanding scratches outside the crater as well.

You 'could' fill this in w/ Dr Colorchip (even though it is not intended for large area repair) but you are beyond simple rock chip repair kits at this point and into 'multi-stage repair' territory.

You could DIY it but....you are probably better off going to a body shop (no offense).

On the plus side, you got rid of the scratch.

[whofelt]

Originally Posted by bosstones

On the plus side, you got rid of the scratch.

Agreed, I see this as a successful job, the scratch is definitely gone.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by RMNB

Any suggestions on the different grits of sandpaper?

The trick is to wrap paper over horizontal block that overlaps the repair area. Then hold the block as horizontal to paint plane as possible.
This way you sand only over the touched-up paint spot, and not the healthy paint areas. Start with wet-sanding, and Go Slow!

Originally Posted by RMNB

I do have 3000 grit and aggressive 120, 220 which is how I originally screwed it up...

Anything more coarse then 400 (really more than 800) is way too crude for car paint.
Start with 1500, and see if that does the trick. If not, go one level more coarse, or just go slow!

HTH,
a

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by afadeev

The trick is to wrap paper over horizontal block that overlaps the repair area. Then hold the block as horizontal to paint plane as possible.
This way you sand only over the touched-up paint spot, and not the healthy paint areas. Start with wet-sanding, and Go Slow!



Anything more coarse then 400 (really more than 800) is way too crude for car paint.
Start with 1500, and see if that does the trick. If not, go one level more coarse, or just go slow!

HTH,
a

Thanks afadeev! I'll start over with your suggestions and see what happens. Keep ya posted.

[slilley]

Originally Posted by bosstones

You could DIY it but....you are probably better off going to a body shop (no offense).

This! Fixing a scratch with Dr. Colorchip *should* have been a relatively easy job, but you've created a problem FAR worse now. I'd suggest, with all due respect, that you put down any sandpaper or other tools, and hand the job over to a professional.

[spazzz]

These are the times where you can't break it because it's already broke.
Like afedeev said use 1500. Hell I hate trying to get rid of 1500 because it takes 2000, 2500, 3000 and some compound/polish after. But you have to do what you gotta do.

Definitely use a firm foam sanding backing pad and don't press hard. Make sure you get the colorchip paint above the existing paint level before sanding>

Let the experiment begin

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by slilley

This! Fixing a scratch with Dr. Colorchip *should* have been a relatively easy job, but you've created a problem FAR worse now. I'd suggest, with all due respect, that you put down any sandpaper or other tools, and hand the job over to a professional.

You're probably right however my next attempt was to apply primer after once i buffed it smooth. I will try paint tomorrow after dries thorougly and see where this gets me.

[Tejas1836]

Originally Posted by whofelt

Agreed, I see this as a successful job, the scratch is definitely gone.

[RMNB]

What range should this cost to repair at a body shop?

[Pheonix]

Sorry to see this!
You will most likely won't be able fixed this yourself. Especially after sanded down all the way to primer layer.
Definitely recommend bring it to the shop! They will most likely have to respray the whole bumper. I dont know the cost but won't be cheap but not crazy expensive.

[RMNB]

Might look at a few estimates for a reality check but more than likely diy to the (n)th degree until I cave.

$500 seems like a number I can deal with from a professional paint shop otherwise higher than that just feels like a rip off.

[stbm5]

sorry to say it but you need a pro here. its too big of a spot to be fixed easily. scratch repair, even when minor, is not going to look perfect.

[NickyC]

Wow, I applaud your tenacity in trying to remove that scratch.

[DocL]

Originally Posted by RMNB

Might look at a few estimates for a reality check but more than likely diy to the (n)th degree until I cave.

$500 seems like a number I can deal with from a professional paint shop otherwise higher than that just feels like a rip off.

Ha. You've already caused more than $500 of damage trying to DIY, and you think paying a professional bodyshop more than that is a rip off? You may as well sand the enitre bumper down to the primer so it matches all together.

There's a saying I love to use: Education will never be as expensive as ignorance.

Good luck.

[erickonphoenix]

Paint and body is a fine art, some people have the gift for it some not so much. I do not have the gift for it. Unless it's very minor, I send that work out personally. Even wheel rashes.

[RMNB]

Originally Posted by DocL

Ha. You've already caused more than $500 of damage trying to DIY, and you think paying a professional bodyshop more than that is a rip off? You may as well sand the enitre bumper down to the primer so it matches all together.

There's a saying I love to use: Education will never be as expensive as ignorance.

Good luck.

Thank you

[Littlecoupe]

It may seem obvious now, but when doing scratch removal, it's usually best to call it "good enough." Without a paint thickness gauge, you have not idea how deep into the clear you've gone.

I have a scratch I was dealing with and I personally stopped after a few passes of medium/heavy compound and then a polish. It could probably be better, but I don't know how much clear I removed so far, and I don't want to risk it. Ironically, I need to visit a "pro" because I think the scratch may also be pushed in/dented, I can see some distortion in the damaged area at the right angles. So...need to call in the pros. If for me PDR gets it 90% of perfect with a few residual scratches that you can barely see unless you look, that's probably worth a couple hundred vs me experimenting further.

[RMNB]

[ATTACH]undefined[/ATTACH]Estimate looks reasonable. Thoughts?

$654.48 ( 4.3hrs body labor, 3.5hrs paint labor- $57/hr ), Paint and Body supplies, etc.