Ahead of a machine polish next month I'm about to use my Skoda cappucino beige touch up and lacquer sticks.I've decided to use a fine detail artists brush for the paint as i've found in the past it gives a more precise action.Does anybody have any tips on surface prep,drying times,techniques etc ? The machine polish place advised me to build the lacquer up ,slightly proud of the surface,saying they could flat it down to a pro' finish.Any advice from you guys would be appreciated,as I don't want to stuff it up.

I'm starting the paint touch up in a couple of hours,any tips would be helpful.Thanks ,guys

Edited 9 April, 201511 yr by faradaycage

I'd go with what you've been told - if they are suggesting to leave proud then do so.

 

Use a fine detail brush and build up in layers

I'd go with what you've been told - if they are suggesting to leave proud then do so.

 

Use a fine detail brush and build up in layers

Its a warm day here in Dorset,any advice about drying times between coats,Coops ?

15-20 minutes I'd say

Its a warm day here in Dorset,any advice about drying times between coats,Coops ?

 

If the ambient air temp is relatively high perhaps 30 mins between coats, 10-15 mins as an absolute minimum

15-20 minutes I'd say

Cheers,I'll err on the side of caution then,and give it 30 mins.Thanks !

If the ambient air temp is relatively high perhaps 30 mins between coats, 10-15 mins as an absolute minimum

Thanks ,Coops,I'm using a very fine detail tiny brush,so I'm going for maybe three layers and then a laquer coat or two.

I use a cocktail stick and dab a drop of paint and build it up that way

 

leave it proud , leave it a few days and flat back with 3000 grit then machine polish the sanding marks out

I use a cocktail stick and dab a drop of paint and build it up that way

 

leave it proud , leave it a few days and flat back with 3000 grit then machine polish the sanding marks out

Thanks Rich,the detailing people just phoned this morning asking me would I like to bring my appointment forward to next week,so I might say yes and then let them do the flatting down and finishing,I'm a total novice with mettalic paintwork so I don't want to risk buggering it up too much..lol

Its easier having the kit for sure.

 

Pearlescents can be tricky but no real difference between metallics and solid colours really nowadays

Its easier having the kit for sure.

 

Pearlescents can be tricky but no real difference between metallics and solid colours really nowadays

I'm not sure off hand what the cappucino beige is,its an amazing colour when you get up close after a good carnuba waxing session.Just a shame mine left the factory with a few under the surface runs [ thankfully on the lower panels,[ out of sight ,unless you get down on your knees a foot away from them ] and then had two female owners who drove it like a bloody circus bumper car,and never,ever,washed the outside.On the upside its near immaculate on the inside and has a full service history ,the last owner lavished mechanical attention on it ,preferring her local BMW dealer to the Skoda agent..lol

Edited 9 April, 201511 yr by faradaycage

In my experience, machine polishing tends to lift fresh paint out of stone chips.  They will need to take care on the areas you have touched in to avoid this happening.   Especially if paint only a week old.

In my experience, machine polishing tends to lift fresh paint out of stone chips.  They will need to take care on the areas you have touched in to avoid this happening.   Especially if paint only a week old.

Cheers,I just phoned them back to tell them I didn't want to take advantage of the earlier appointment,I mentioned I'd just started the touch up and emailed them some photo's of where the areas were that I was touching up.Top and tail of it...they've agreed on a couple of weeks plus from now to be on the safe side.....Thank god they come highly recommended,I wouldn't want to attempt a machine polish myself twenty years out of that game and with my wobbly hands

Edited 9 April, 201511 yr by faradaycage

It's not that tough, but I have made a bonnet look worse by virtue of making touched in stonechips more obvious.

It's not that tough, but I have made a bonnet look worse by virtue of making touched in stonechips more obvious.

Yep,thats what I was worried about doing with my cack handed,sausage fingered lack of co-ordination...lol.Thankfully ,James,the guy whose firm is doing the polishing for me is a total pro' 15 years in the trade till he set up his own business,and he's used to eveything from 50 year old Ferrari's to Felicias and very nervous and fussy customers.He did offer to do the touch ups proffesionaly,but at £25 each......I decided to give it a go myself...but gently Bentley,just in case..lol :p

Yep,thats what I was worried about doing with my cack handed,sausage fingered lack of co-ordination...lol.Thankfully ,James,the guy whose firm is doing the polishing for me is a total pro' 15 years in the trade till he set up his own business,and he's used to eveything from 50 year old Ferrari's to Felicias and very nervous and fussy customers.He did offer to do the touch ups proffesionaly,but at £25 each......I decided to give it a go myself...but gently Bentley,just in case..lol :p

Cr*p,I think I've made it look worse,don't think I will bother with the laquer coat,I'll just leave it to the pro's when it goes in for its "Tart-ification" appointment.I just don't think I'm brave enough to wade in with the 3000 Grit

As a matter of interest, has anyone tried Chipex.

It's not cheap but looks good and wonder if it's worth a try as I'm hopeless at touching in chips.

http://www.chipex.co.uk

As a matter of interest, has anyone tried Chipex.

It's not cheap but looks good and wonder if it's worth a try as I'm hopeless at touching in chips.

http://www.chipex.co.uk

A friend of mine did and was happy with the result...but he has considerably deeper pockets than me

As a matter of interest, has anyone tried Chipex.

It's not cheap but looks good and wonder if it's worth a try as I'm hopeless at touching in chips.

http://www.chipex.co.uk

Used ChipEx last week on my Race Blue Octavia.

Very easy to use. Great results on a variety of chips on my bonnet, and across the car.

Just follow the videos off YouTube, dab on, finger wipe, wait, use blending solution to remove excess.

Got loads left need to check if it stores well.

Definitely not cheap, but far easier than touch up paint for people like me that are a bit 'kak handed' !

Will definitely use again, and definitely purchase again.

Many thanks for the information Kevin. I hope I won't need it for a while as my Cappuccino Yeti is only two weeks old.

The reason I will go for it is I used the VW touch up on my Titanium Tig (very similar colour to my new Yeti) and the colour was too pale and it looked as if it was done by a three year old!

I might see if they will do a deal on one for my car and another for my wife's car. No harm in asking!

It states 1 to 4 years shelf life depending which one you choose.