Borris
Super Poster
VIP Member
Having just returned from a jolly to Yorkshire, I have discovered several large chips in the sharp end of our Cali. It's not really surprising given the current state of our road network. Years ago you could drive with your eyes on the distant road ahead but these days I find myself constantly scanning the road suface for the next huge crater. Surely this must be having an effect on road safety especially for those on two wheels. This problem is even worse at night in the rain when these deep holes are often full of water and impossible to spot. Manufacturers and dealers must be doing very nicely from a supplying replacement alloy wheels, tyres and doing steering realinements!
Anyway rant over and back to the said paint chips. My question is, Has anyone tackled chip repairs beyond just applying a touch up pen to the divot? Another way to put it would be, Do any of you fine Cali owners have any experience of doing this sort of thing properly?
Yes, I could and may still get one of those companies that do this sort of thing to sort them out for me but I would like to explore doing it myself first.
My understanding and limited experience to date is that the process is as follows:
1. Thoroughly clean the effected area.
2. Using the appropriate VW touch up kit and a very fine clean brush (not the one included in the kit), apply the paint into the chip but not on to the surrounding area. Use a magnifying glass if necessary.
3. Finish filling the hole to slightly above the surronding paint layer by applying the laquer coat, again with a fine clean brush.
4. Allow to dry for several days then examine the repair closely to ensure that after any paint shrinkage, the paint and laquer repair is still slightly above the surrounding paint layer.
5. Then using very very very fine wet and dry paper wrapped around a small block with soapy water to lubricate, gently rub down the raised chip repair until its flush with the surrounding paint surface.
6. Then use a fine cutting compound to polish the surface until the paint/laquered surface is restored to its original shine.
7. Then apply a liberal coating of quality wax and buff to a high gloss finish.
Would this be the correct way to go about these reairs?
Our van has an Acapulco Blue metallic paint finish which being metallic will always be much more difficult to match-repair. Our next Cali will probably be plain glorious cooking Candy White which in my experience is much easier to repair.
Anyway rant over and back to the said paint chips. My question is, Has anyone tackled chip repairs beyond just applying a touch up pen to the divot? Another way to put it would be, Do any of you fine Cali owners have any experience of doing this sort of thing properly?
Yes, I could and may still get one of those companies that do this sort of thing to sort them out for me but I would like to explore doing it myself first.
My understanding and limited experience to date is that the process is as follows:
1. Thoroughly clean the effected area.
2. Using the appropriate VW touch up kit and a very fine clean brush (not the one included in the kit), apply the paint into the chip but not on to the surrounding area. Use a magnifying glass if necessary.
3. Finish filling the hole to slightly above the surronding paint layer by applying the laquer coat, again with a fine clean brush.
4. Allow to dry for several days then examine the repair closely to ensure that after any paint shrinkage, the paint and laquer repair is still slightly above the surrounding paint layer.
5. Then using very very very fine wet and dry paper wrapped around a small block with soapy water to lubricate, gently rub down the raised chip repair until its flush with the surrounding paint surface.
6. Then use a fine cutting compound to polish the surface until the paint/laquered surface is restored to its original shine.
7. Then apply a liberal coating of quality wax and buff to a high gloss finish.
Would this be the correct way to go about these reairs?
Our van has an Acapulco Blue metallic paint finish which being metallic will always be much more difficult to match-repair. Our next Cali will probably be plain glorious cooking Candy White which in my experience is much easier to repair.
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