need help... couple paint issues/?'s

[c-lo]

washed both cars this weekend.

 

1. I have my first paint chip on the front nose of my car. Not down to the metal, I see white. How can I repair.

 

2. If I use the claybar and other steps we've learned from OcDetails, will that get rid of the fine scratches on my car from washing it?

 

3. Wifes car has chips on the front nose. They show rust. Whats the best way to fix that problem (correctly)?

 

thanks

[OCDetails]

Clay won't fix any of the scratches on your paint. Its not a polishing product. All clay is designed to do is pull the contamination out of your paint. This will protect the clear coat from failing due to IFO (industrial fallout) contamination. All those little rust dots are tiny pieces of metal in your paint and if you get enough of them then you'll see your clear coat develop hairline cracks and eventually look like this:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v74/Jngrbrdman/DSC00225.jpg

 

In fact, if you don't keep your clay bar clean by continually folding it as you use it and by not dropping it, then you can actually cause all kinds of scratches on the paint. The only way to remove those scratches on your paint is to use a polish. If you are working by hand then you will probably want to try something like Meguiar's #9 Swirl Mark Remover or the 3M product of the same name. Those are both mild products that will probably fill more swirls than they remove. The downside of filling swirls is that after a couple washes they will come back.

 

The chips on your wife's car that are showing rust just need to be cleaned up. Something like Meguiar's ScratchX will clean the rust stains out and then you can touch up the area. Touch up work is not simple, but its also not terribly difficult. It takes practice to do it right and I don't know if a post is the best place to write out instructions on how to do it. If you have enough chips then it might just be worth it to dab paint over them for a quick fix and then wait for an opportunity to have a professional redo it properly for you. Filling the chip will look better than having a chunk of paint missing. Everybody gets rock chips and they aren't going to notice a blob filling a chip most likely. PaintScratch.com is a good source of touch up paint if you are looking for some.

[c-lo]

thanks for the info. for those fine scratches it almost sounds like i should take them to a pro at least once a year to have them polished out??

[OCDetails]

That is probably a good idea. I would do it in the spring after winter has done its thing. Then it should look good right off the bat when everybody else is getting their car in shape. Then just use the proper tools to wash and dry and wax and you should be good.