I've noticed that I've had a bump on the edge of one of my wheel arches, probably caused by a door or shopping trolley.
There is a slight vertical dent on the outside of the arch but worst of all, the paint has flaked off on top of the dent.
It's only about 5mm across, but the paint loss is only going to get worse now its exposed. Can anyone suggest or recommend a solution in Sydney. I've been told about mobile repair companies. Are these guys any good and if so, could someone give me a recommendation?
Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 03:45 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
Any chance of a pic of the offending chip?
Most of the mobile guys that Ive seen will basically do a 'spot repair' on a chip, sanding the area back till smooth while keeping the rubbed area as small as possible. Puff enough basecoat on to hide the exposed primer then clear over the patch. A quick bake with a heat gun, a light rub, some polish and they're away.
On a dark coloured car theres a good chance that the repair wont be noticable (also flat white is ok. Pearl - dont bother). Silver not so good.
Per PPG recommendation, spot repairs should not be done above the top of the door and not on flat panels (boot, roof, hood), as the clear thickness is below 40 microns and simply wont last in our hot summers for very long at all in them areas.
Soooo, if you have a dark car and the chip is down low AND you dont feel like shelling out for a full panel repair, go your hardest.
I'll get some photos of the chip, and should have them on by the weekend.
I only spotted it in the car park this morning and this is the only real mark on the paintwork on the whole car so I'm not keen on a full panel repair. I can accept one small mark as long as it's not going to get any worse.
Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 06:23 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
sort of Jeff, just been a sprayer with Holden (acrylic, enamel and 2pac) for 12 years. PPG are our main supplier and to keep them liable for any problems with paintwork we have to stick by their guidelines (at least roughly haha).
Here is a photo of the chip. The dent is not really visible given the paint colour and the light, but you can see how the reflected light is distorted above the chip. The dent is just to the left and about 1cm long. I'm not hopeful of this just popping out given that it's next to the edge of the guard.
Monday, August 01, 2005 - 05:57 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
That should be spot repairable without to many problems Steve.
If the dent is actually across the crown of the guard (hard to see in the pic) it will take a bit of fiddling to pop it back out. If its not actually the crown thats dented, the strength of the crown will actually make it easier to push the dent out.
Jeff, what's the best way of popping the dent out? The dent is on the flat bit just above where the guard curls underneath, within the red line on this photo?
Will the touch up guy push the dent out, or should I fiddle around and try to push it out from behind?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 03:55 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
Its probably best left to somebody that knows what theyre doing Steve (no offence intended, I obviously have no idea in regard to your metal finishing experience). The dent looks to me like it should push out pretty well with a nice round headed twist bar but if you start pushing up in the wrong spot youll end up with a mess that is nightmare to get straight without resorting to filing.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 10:20 am, by: Steve Millward
Thanks Jeff, no offence taken. When it comes to bodywork repairs I'm on a par with my country's batsmen. I'd be willing to have a go but almost certainly make a complete mess of it.
Someone has since said that the paint might crack if I try to get the dent out. I'm now a bit concerned that I'd then need to have the whole panel resprayed.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 - 04:37 pm, by: Jeff Wilkins
If the dent is 'spiked' out instead of pushed or levered there is a chance of cracking (hell on old paint theres a chance of cracking regardless) but Id not be too concerned about that. The crack would only be small, the area needs to be sanded back with or without the (possible) crack so it makes no difference whatsoever.
Providing your repairer can match the paint then nobody will ever know it was there.
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