Scratch and Scuff

[egsj]

Just wondering (as a novice) how best to deal with with the results of a minor scrape following an unsuccessful parallel park (!). The very front edge of one front wing now sports a vertical line of about an inch long and a couple of millimetres wide that's been scratched back to the metal. I also have a few white-ish light horizontal scratch marks and a few small black mark scuff marks (presumably picked up from grazing the rubber bumper of the other car).

I've checked relevant threads on this site, but being new not just to Moggies but to the whole world of cars (and car language) I didn't follow that much of it, so if you can help please be patient with my ignorance!

I already own a can of Wessex Autocolours Rose Taupe aerosol: I got this so that I could spray a small bit into the lid and use a tiny brush for touching in chips on my paintwork. Would the best thing be to start by building up the serious scratch with a few layers of this? And then?...

I'm a bit confused about T-Cut. Some people seem to refer to it as something that removes scratches and others as something you use as a kind of polish after a scratch has been painted in. If I use it, at what stage in the process would I do so? And are there any risks from its abrasiveness?

Also, I presume we're talking here about T-Cut Original, not T-Cut Colour Fast Polish?

As you can see, I'm at the base of the learning curve. Any advice very gratefully received...

Jamesy

[MoggyTech]

To get an invisible repair the prep work has to be spot on. This involves sanding back surrounding paintwork with 400 Wet and Dry to feather the edge of the repair. This area then needs to be built up using primer, and flatted back after each layer, until the primed area is level with the surrounding paintwork.

The top coat is then sprayed on, and blended into existing paint (overspray)
After a day or so, the reair can then be either colour sanded using 1200 grit used wet, or if finish good already, overspray is removed using rubbing compound like Farcela G7 or T-Cut which takes longer.

T-Cut will only remove the most minor of scratches or scuff marks.

Local small repairs can be harder than spraying a complete panel, and it's not something you tend to get right first attempt. A decent bodyshop should be able to do the repair you describe for between £60 to £120

[bmcecosse]

Put some paint on the scratch now - to stop it rusting - while you consider the proper repair - which is as MT has detailed above. I suggest you should practice on a scrap bit of metal first before launching into the wing! T cut works by taking off layers of paint - so removing very slight surface abrasions as it does so. Too much rubbing and you will be through to the undercoat before you know it!

[egsj]

Thanks for this: very helpful. What shall I buy as primer and what's the best technique for 'flatting back'? And is it better to actually SPRAY an area one inch long and a millimetre or two wide or to touch it in with a tiny brush?

I've spoken to a chap at my nearest Morris centre and his advice overlaps with that given here, but slightly differs (and doesn't include priming). The method he describes is:

1. to spray some paint in the aerosol lid and touch in the scratches with a tiny brush (one coat per evening until level with surrounding paintwork);

2. to soak 1200 grit wet and dry sandpaper in hot, soapy water and rub this very lightly into the affected area to level out the paint

3. to remove the dull, matt finish by polishing with T-Cut.

4. to apply wax.

Is this a less effective method, do you think, or just another way of achieving the same result?

As an absolute beginner, I'm so grateful for the advice, and for the ressurance and friendliness this messageboard offers.

Jamesy

[PSL184]

Jamesy
It's almost impossible to describe the tech just by writing down here. Painting is a skill that requires years of practice to obtain perfect results. All the hard work is done in the preparation. If this is not correct then the end result will be pants. You need to flat out the scratch with fine wet and dry (used wet) prime the effected area with an etch primer. Then flat back again. Then prime with filler primer. Flat back again. Then mask anywhere you don't want paint to go but leave the whole wing exposed so you can blend it in. Prepare the whole wing with panel prep them wipe over with a tak rag to remove fluff and debris. Then spray over the repair with light coats of colour. After about 3 coats flat back again, panel wipe, tak rag and colour again. Repeat this part until you have an invisible repair. Then leave for about 2 weeks for paint to harden before lightly flatting whole wing and then use T Cut or any other rubbing compund to blend the new paint with the old. If you are anywhere near me I'd be happy to hlep you learn. In reality, by the time you have purchased all the correct materials to do the job properly you would probably find it cheaper to take to a body shop and have a pro job done..... Rich

[egsj]

Hi, Rich. I'm nowhere near Nuneaton, but many thanks for the offer of guidance. I think it would be safer, given my inexperience, to turn this over to the pros. Or there's a local chap at a Morris garage who might be able to shadow and talk me through the process. I'll get on to him - and show him my scratches!

[SteveandWilliam]

After reading all this, no wonder my attempt at a paint job looks so pants!

[Kevin]

no wonder my attempt at a paint job looks so pants!

What did you actually do Steve.