Good evening, all. Mrs came to me this afternoon, pointing out a rather large chip in the paint on her fender. It's a good one, as it has begun to show rust already. (The one next to it is showing primer, but no bare metal.) The bare spot is about half the size of a dime. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it.

Short of taking the car to a pro (body shop), I'm thinking a judicious coating of touch-up paint will do the job. But I'm worried about this surface rust that shows already.

I remember seeing -- a long time ago -- some kind of "abrasive on a pen" that could be used for spot-sanding places like this. I can't remember what it was called or where I saw it. Am I remembering incorrectly?

She's headed to the beach soon, so for the short term she dropped some candle wax on it to keep the salt air from attacking it harder, but I know I can always get good advice here.

What's the SF recommendation for preparing that small area for touch-up paint?

Newer touch up paint bottles have a applicator in the shape of a triangle and a ball point pen applicator. If you need a smaller applicator for the chip take a paper match and cut the tip off and make it into a point, use that to dab the paint into the chip.

Fiberglass eraser pen. Available at any auto parts store. Caution, the fibers can be a pain. Works like a ball point pen to "erase" the rust.

I use a small pick to scrape away the rust, the small sharp tip allows me more precision along the edges.

To show you how old I am, I remember when a small container of touch-up paint was included with a new car.

dab of clover compound on a pencil eraser for an area the size of a dime,
or a small piece of 0000 steel wool, and some oil,



however, when in doubt, there is always the belt sander

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:
Newer touch up paint bottles have a applicator in the shape of a triangle and a ball point pen applicator. If you need a smaller applicator for the chip take a paper match and cut the tip off and make it into a point, use that to dab the paint into the chip.

Or a toothpick

Gotta get the rust out or it will be right back in no time. Silicone remover so that the repair will stick. Fine sand paper to feather the edge and a dab of filler to level the surface.

Try Dr. Colorchip

Here is the spot sanding pen

^^^^

That's the gadget I was remembering! Thank you!