Pock marks on cars

[MistressM.]

I don't know what you call these things, but I have a few small indentations on my car door where gravel flew up and hit it. Is there anything that can be done? I know that there is a way the body shop can sand the door, then paint over it, but that sounds very expensive. Has anyone had this done? What is the price range I have vial of car paint, but am afraid that would only make it look worse, covering it up. I'm hoping to trade this machine in in coming years, and it looks good for its age. I'd really like to remove these marks without spending a fortune, if possible.

[starina]

I have no answers for you, but your post reminded me I have to call my insurance agent. A rock spun up off the rode and put a small hole in my windshield and I need to get that fixed. So thanks for posting!

[2happy]

Check the body shops and see if they do paintless dent removal (PDR) and they will need to look at your dents to see if they can be fixed that way. It's its chipped, probably not. Just a dent, possibly.

[MistressM.]

Originally Posted by 2happy

Check the body shops and see if they do paintless dent removal (PDR) and they will need to look at your dents to see if they can be fixed that way. It's its chipped, probably not. Just a dent, possibly.

I don't think they're actual dents. The paint is chipped off is all.

[lauraloo]

My SO fixed a few paint chips on his hood a year or two back... I think he found instructions online somewhere. He ended up getting some automobile paint sand paper (this is a very specific type of sand paper, not just from the hardware store... it is extremely fine) and paint from the dealer (I think you said you already had some). You have to sand down the spot a bit and then paint over it carefully... I'll ask him when he gets home if he remembers where he got the instructions.

[2happy]

Originally Posted by MistressM.

I don't think they're actual dents. The paint is chipped off is all.

You can take fingernail polish (matching) and dab it lightly. Or, you could stop at a body shop and they probably have a little extra paint in a matching color left over. You can get a small bottle of it from them (they probably have 'touch up' bottles on hand). It won't look perfect of course, but it will be much less noticeable to anyone else, and will stop it from rusting.
Getting it repaired the proper way, will be expensive. And unless you know what you are doing (proper color match, and blending technique), doing it yourself would be tricky and still expensive. Paint supplies are pretty darn expensive.

Oops, I totally missed you saying you had some paint. Ok this is gross, but it really is the best way. Find a cigarette (or butt) and just cut the very end of it off. Dab that in your paint and on the vehicle, with very little at a time. Too much is bad. A cigarette butt leaves better looking results than a brush.

[lauraloo]

Found it. Here is the article that SO used to fix the paint chips on his car. The DIY part is about 1/3 of the way down, right after a photograph of a red car.

Good luck!

[MistressM.]

Thanks, guys! Hopefully I'll have the guts to try this myself!