Author Topic: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)  (Read 6549 times)

Paul der Krake

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Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« on: December 30, 2013, 04:26:30 PM »
Calling all shade tree mechanics, paint heads and other DIY aficionados!

My better half has a new hobby: hitting various inanimate objects while pulling out of parking spots. Unfortunately, said objects have decided to imortalize the occasion(s) by leaving their mark on her new-ish (2010) corolla.

How would you go about fixing the following 3 spots?

Front bumper


Side panel


unrelated random spot that actually exposes the bare metal from what I can tell


The front bumper was actually hit a year ago, back then the shop wanted $800 to replace the entire bumper and said they wouldn't just paint it. With the new yellow hit, we kind of need to do something about it, so we might as well DIY the whole thing.

The car is white and from 2010. We don't really care about it looking perfect or the resale value, and would rather have a cost effective solution that doesn't look too ugly.


sc281

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2013, 07:50:23 PM »
Alot of that looks like paint transfer. Hit it with a mr clean magic eraser and see how much of that gets off. You'd be surprised. ;)

A replacement bumper should be around $175. A paint shop can spray it for another$150. It would take you an hour or two to put on.

Or call around to junk yards for a white bumper to save that $150.

But really, the bumper looks to be in good shape structurally from the pics you are presenting and let's be honest, this won't be the last time this happens.

If it were me:
Hit it with the magic eraser, then go to your local autozone and get the duplicolor paint touch up pen and fill in the blanks. $7 and a little elbow grease and you're ready for her next kerfuffle.
« Last Edit: December 30, 2013, 07:57:27 PM by sc281 »

2Saving4Life

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2013, 07:19:59 PM »
Just put a little laquer thinner on a clean towel and wipe off the paint transfer. I do this all the time for customers and then ask if they want to have it fixed. If you know someone with a buffer and some buffing compound, try to borrow it.  You should be able to buff any scratches that are under the paint transfer. This might not get rid of all the scratches but it will look better. I agree on calling around to junk yards and trying to find a white bumper, this would be the cheapest option. That could take time to find, have patience.  If you can find someone who works at a body shop, they have lots of leftover paint sitting around. You just need to find the right person. I touch up and buff scratches for customers for free all the time. Hope it helps...

Greg

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2014, 11:05:31 AM »
As has been pointed out, you can probably just clean off those spots.  If the eraser, or laquer thinner doesn't work, some polishing compound and elbow grease might.  Be sure to re-wax the areas when done.

thurston howell iv

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2014, 07:44:40 AM »
Get some 3m Rubbing compound. Much of the stuff should come off rubbing by hand. If not, a cheap buffer should do the trick for you.  If won't get it all off but it will make it look much better than it does now.

theSchmett

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2014, 12:27:13 PM »
Never used it, but some stuff called plastidip exists.

Sprays on, lasts a few year, and PEELS OFF. Way cool. Look it up.

There is also properly matched spray paints available, ask at your local/giant auto store.

Paul der Krake

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2014, 01:00:14 PM »
Partial update: I used a Mr Clean magic eraser in a hurry and ZOMG most of it went away. Couldn't believe my eyes. Just wow, incredible product.

Some of it is still there, I'm waiting for the weekend to do a trip to the auto store and try what y'all have suggested.

MrMoneyPinch

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2014, 11:47:08 AM »
The body shop wanted to replace the crumpled bumper because itwill stay that way.   A junkyard will be the cheapest option for it.

I am surprised the magic eraser trick works, good for you!  Don't forget to wax the panels or they will become visibly dull.

The last scratch needs to be primed and painted, or it will rust.  If you want to know how to do a great looking job, I suggest reading the Haynes auto body repair and painting manual first.  It's cheap and available at auto supply stores.  This should be a two half-days job, with overnight curing time.

fodder69

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2014, 12:43:55 PM »
 Magic Eraser is roughly equal to rubbing compound so you don't need to redo that step. Get some primer and hit the spot that is down to metal, and then touch it up with either touch up paint or even model car paint.

Exflyboy

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2014, 06:14:08 PM »
Indication of my little repaint project.. anything can be done.. this is as good as any body shop

Frank

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2014, 06:15:36 PM »
And after

Paul der Krake

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2014, 03:54:47 PM »
Frank, wow! That is a quite a transformation. How many hours have you put into it to get to this result?

BTW, if anybody was wondering, the touchup paint worked great. Can barely see anything. Woohoo!

Exflyboy

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Re: Car paint job (various spots, different sizes)
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2014, 04:19:45 PM »
Well this stuff is never fast but I think I did it over a couple of weekends. The point was not to boast about my DIY prowess, just to point out that really nothing is beyond the scope of DIYers if you have some basic tools. My spray guns came from Harbor freight, but my oil free air compressor came from Sears.

The rest of it is simply sandpaper, bondo and a buffer (really a large angle grinder) also from HF.

Frank