Wet Sanding

[mis3]

I had a large stone chip on my car (no loss of paint), below the right side mirror. My friend works in a paint shop and he offered to help to "improve" the appearance.

He used 1500 grit sandpaper to level out the surface, then applied touch-up paint, then applied clear coat. He came the next day and used an machine with compound to polish the surface.

The appearance did improve somewhat, now I can see a small bubble on the same spot. However, when I look at it at a certain angle, I can see there is a small, small dent. There was no dent before and the way he did the repair, I know that he did not create a dent. So, this dent is just an illusion of the clear coat in certain lighting.

Not sure if I explained this clearly. Not sure what I can do now. Should I apply SwirlX (the strongest product I have) and rub the heck out of it?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Wet Sanding

It's really hard to say without seeing pictures, but one thing to keep in mind is that touch-up paint work rarely comes out 100%

Although you may see something when you get within a foot or from the paint, sometimes you have to just ask if it is worth chasing the perfection if it looks good from a normal viewing distance/angle.

As a perfectionist, I had a hard time accepting that reality, but sometimes it just is the only option.

As for leveling something with a polish, it generally will not work since it will follow the contours of the paint and equally lower the paint level... which likely will not remove the dent, just precious clear.

[mis3]

Re: Wet Sanding

I tried to take pictures but maybe because of the lighting, the pictures do not show the dent at all.

Besides various waxes, I have only the following: DC1-Clean, DC2-Polish, Swirl-X, Scratch-X (V1.0). Since I know it is not a dent, will any of these products help?

[Murr1525]

Re: Wet Sanding

If the paint there is just lower, no product will bring it up higher. If the paint is lower, or the rock chip caused a ding, it wont matter.

[mis3]

Re: Wet Sanding

If the paint there is just lower, no product will bring it up higher. If the paint is lower, or the rock chip caused a ding, it wont matter.

There was no dent before and what he did definitely did not cause a dent.

I have other rock chips and there are no dent.

I will try DC-2, rub it hard and see what happens!

[Murr1525]

Re: Wet Sanding

I'm not sure that's what I recomended, but ok....

[Chris Thompson]

Re: Wet Sanding

What it sounds like is your repairman may not have done a very good job of fading the new clear coat in with the old clear coat. I think I agree with Murr on this one. I wouldnt just polish the heck out of it. Without seeing pictures I would not know for sure but the first thing that comes to my mind would be to resand that area. I wouldnt even mess with that though unless this is a very special car. (i.e. showcar, collectors', etc.)

[sontakke]

Re: Wet Sanding

I have observed this many times. What is happening is that the clear coat which is buffed off has now created a small valley in the surface. From a particular angle, it will look like paint deformation. For some reason, some paints show this more than others.