86NOH2O

Has anyone done this? I have some very small stone chips up front and one tiny door ding. Is there a way to cure and respray this type of small ding? I'm just wondering if any real good paint shops can do this and what it might cost. I'd like some advice from the board before I look like an idiot (but in a very nice Porsche) and drive the car in and ask at the local body shops. Plus, I live in the Monterey Bay area of California, any recommendations for the area or close by?

BTW, the chip wax just does not cut it for me....

Jim Florance

Why don't you use touch-up paint and a very small paint brush? If you dab a bit of paint in the damaged spot, let it dry and carefully slice off the high spot with a razor blade, then smooth it out w/ 1000 or 1500wet/dry sand paper it will be almost impossible to find the repaired chip. If you re-spray it you run into all sorts of expense, the only way to do it properly is to paint the entire panel with both color and clear coats. then you run the risks of pre-mature failure of the new paint and the possibility of a color mis-match. I think the careful application of touch up paint is the way to go, only takes a few minutes and is a much less expensive way to go

86NOH2O

Jim,

Do you know if paint shops will do the above mentioned "touch up" type fix? I have put touch up paint on the dings but I just can't bring myself to go after it with a razor blade and sandpaper. Not in my skill area at all. I'd have a horrible fear of really screwing up the car.

Jim Florance

I'm sure any decent body shop can perform this type of repair. Are you a POC or PCA Member? If so, talk to some of the "Concourse" Guys. I'm sure they will be happy to steer you to a good shop to help you with getting your rock chips repaired. If your not a member of one of these clubs, I strongly suggest you join one or both of them. the cost of joining is probably going to be the best money you will ever spend on your car. the members are for the most part really good guys. Many of the members are a wealth of knowledge. I'd bet you can find a fellow member that would be happy to help you with the repairs. If you learn how to do this simple procedure, If you get over the natural fear of damaging your paint, you won't be looking at a couple hundred dollar repair bill everytime you end up behind a *#@!_$%Gravel truck that didn't have the decency to cover his load, or get hit by a random stone kicked up by the car in front of you next time you run an autox or time trial.
Good luck
Jim

Derrick B.

Perhaps you'll find this helpful.

A local PCA'er had his 912 redone at "Del's Porsche Body Shop" at 1019 W. San Carlos St in San Jose. Phone (408)295-7446. He seems pretty happy with the results, which included rust restoration and paint. See <a href="http://www.hillmanimages.com/912/delsbodyshop.html" target="_blank">Dave's 912 Homepage</a>, perhaps you could talk to Dave and hear more.

No personal experience (yet) or affiliation etc.

Ron_H

Del is a good guy and honest. However, he says he is "retired" and only working on his personal projects. He does excellent work.

There is a great paint shop (and body) in Monterey on Del Monte Avenue, but I am having trouble remembering the name. Ask some of the guys who do Concours and restoration work around Monterey/Pebble Beach or look for a Rolls shop and ask them. Or ask someone in SCRAMP for the name of a good restoration shop there. You may need to wait until they have an opening.

There is also a good shop in San Jose called Erics on Almaden Road; it is in a hot rod shop.
Great body and paint, and a nice guy.

You may do this work yourself by thoroughly cleaning/degreasing the area to be painted. Then sanding the chipped area using a pencil eraser on a pencil; glue a piece of sandpaper on the end of the eraser and hold the pencil as you would to use a stick to start a fire: twirl it in your hands back and forth which will localize the sanding. Do it lightly. Then use a toothpick to place SMALL drops of paint on the spot, one drop at a time. Wait until each drop dries, then place another one, until the spot is built up just above the level of the surrounding paint. Go in and watch Speedvision and go to bed. The next day, begin sanding the spot using 1200 - 1500 wet/dry sandpaper LIGHTLY to cut it down to the level of the surrounding paint. Then use a finer grade of rubbing compound and finally plastic polish to finish off. Then wax or whatever finish you use.
Does it take time? Of course. Will you see it?
If you use a magnifying glass or are a concours judge, probably. But you will be satisfied.

Then it is on to the next chip!!! Fun.

Jim Florance

Ron: The idea of using a pencil to localize the sanding process is a really good suggestion. I knew following this thread would be worth while. Thanks for the tip.
Jim

stiffride

Here is a link to an interesting paint chip repair product. It is easy to use, and the results can be excellent with practice. I used it on my PT Cruiser.
<a href="http://www.ptcruiserclubstore.com/cgi-local/sk_store.cgi?cart_id%3D1048184175.9390%26LP%3Dindex.htm%26P%3Dcarcare%2F paint_chip_repair.html" target="_blank">http://www.ptcruiserclubstore.com/cgi-local/sk_store.cgi?cart_id%3D1048184175.9390%26LP%3Dindex.htm%26P%3Dcarcare%2F paint_chip_repair.html</a>

86NOH2O

OK, I am going to give this a try, but on my truck first and if I get it, then the Porsche.
A few questions:

What type of degreaser?
What type of sandpaper on the end of pencil?
With the wet/dry sandpaper, do I get it wet?

thanks for the good suggestions as usual...

Jgordon

Try carcareonline. Unless I'm mistaken, and I'm never mistaken, Ron was summarizing Gary from Carcareonline's panit chip procedure. It's a good read, but I haven't worked up the ***** yet to try it on my car. Good luck, and let us know how it goes. If possible, take some before and after pictures.

Ron_H

I use denatured alcohol as a degreaser. To make the sandpaper patches, place a sheet of 1200 w/d
sandpaper over a bolt hole in a head or engine block and place a ball bearing on the paper over the hole and whack it with a small hammer to cut a small circular patch out of the sheet of sandpaper. Then glue the patch to eraser of the pencil. When it is dry, moisten the other (sandy) side and sand away. <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

Douglas_T

You might try the paintless dent removal for the ding. (Not sure if it damaged the paint there)
Good luck/skill!

Jgordon

Sorry, just watched the Princess Bride again last night with the woman. The line was "Unless I'm wrong, and I am never wrong"....

A normal hole punch would work as well. If you have a three ring punch, you can make multiple eraser-sized pieces of sandpaper.

Again, good luck. I'm curious to hear/see how it turns out.

Ron_H

The hole punch is a good idea, especially if you don't have a block or some heads sitting around.