paint chipping

[akoda]

I have some really tiny chips on the front of my hood. I guess from small pebbles on the interstate. My 4runner is natural white. Have you guys used the touch up paint from Toyota to touch places like this up?

What would you recommend? They are not in a place where the hood protector would have prevented them.

koda

 

[dancojgl]

The Toyota touch-up paint comes in a small bottle with a brush in the cap. Works good, but it's hard to match the thickness of the original paint coat.

Unless you're anal about such things (hey, it's a car, it's gonna get dinged...), the touch-up paint is certainly "good enough"...

 

[<<<<]

Silver here, Toyota touch up works fine. I had to use it few times it is not perfect but if you do not know where it is you can't see it. Besides it's no a show car it's a truck, scars wont weaken it :

 

[qs933]

Have you guys used the touch up paint from Toyota to touch places like this up?

I have used it -- I also have a white one. That's one good thing about solid colors (white, black) -- the touch-up paint blends in pretty well.

Metallic colors are much more difficult to match.

I also use a product called Langka for smoothing out the touch-up blob. Works well and also makes it fairly easy to undo the touch-up if you've made it look worse.

 

[akoda]

It's funny you guys say don't be anal, it's a truck and all that and I agree. It's just that it has 8000 miles and I don't want to allow for any rust getting in.

but

What would the replies have been like if I posted it to the detailing section?? : It would have been a multi step process that noone but a body shop guy could follow. and again :

koda

 

[HuntRunner]

I have some really tiny chips on the front of my hood. I guess from small pebbles on the interstate. My 4runner is natural white. Have you guys used the touch up paint from Toyota to touch places like this up?

What would you recommend? They are not in a place where the hood protector would have prevented them.

koda

I have never used the touch up paint but I have the same problem with chips in the hood and a couple other places. The worst one is the paint that is peeling off the side mirror. I have the dark gray and the mirror piece is a cream colored plastic like material underneath; this is a little more noticeable.
The paint is the one area I have not been too impressed with.

 

[charlier180]

I have used it -- I also have a white one. That's one good thing about solid colors (white, black) -- the touch-up paint blends in pretty well.

Metallic colors are much more difficult to match.

I also use a product called Langka for smoothing out the touch-up blob. Works well and also makes it fairly easy to undo the touch-up if you've made it look worse.

Whenever I touch up paint chips I use a toothpick instead of the touch-up paint brush. For me a good, pointed, wooden toothpick is much more precise than the brush. If you use this method enough you can avoid the touch-up blob problem associated with using the brush once you get the hang of doing it.

The Langka system looks interesting but is too much work for me. Especially on a vehicle that is not a show car.

 

[mason4runner]

I've found that the paint pens work better than the brush type. I got mine from the link below. Like said b4, you can also use a toothpick with your brush type to get the paint into the crack. It is also recommended to use a touch up clear coat over top, to match it closer.
http://www.paintscratch.com/

 

[rivertrek]

Yeah I have a white runner also and the chips as well. The paint doesn't seem to be to good these days. I did get a paint pen at the dealer and it's much easier to apply and match the existing with no blobs then with a brush applicator.

 

[qs933]

The Langka system looks interesting but is too much work for me. Especially on a vehicle that is not a show car.

It's not too bad, really. The hardest part is getting the touch-up paint to "blob" evenly, which makes buffing with the Langka goop easier.

The Langka folks recommend using a cloth-wrapped plastic card, but I've had more success wrapping a cloth around my finger and using it to judge when the surface is even.

 

[BenSD]

I can do a nearly perfect touchup job given the time. I start by taking a toothpick, and cutting the end so it is flat rather than pointed. I then get a tiny strip of super fine grit sandpaper, and lightly sand the edges of the chip. This will help smooth it out so the touchup will match. I then let it dry, and apply a dab of touchup paint also with a toothpick. I apply more than what is needed so there is a litte blister of paint. Finally, I get the same toothpick/sandpaper setup, and gently sand down the blister of touchup paint while being careful not to touch the surrounding area. If you just smooth it down a bit, you won't even see it unless you look real close, or at just the right angle. After that is done, add a bit of wax, and you're good to go.

Within the first week of buying my 4runner last year, my hiking boot caught on the painted plastic rail that runs under the doors. It scraped off about an inch and a half of paint from the edge. Using this technique, I was able to fix the problem. I've also use it for quite a few big rock chips up front. I don't worry about the little ones, but the big ones on the front end get some added attention.