How to Apply Touch
Up Paint
Using the Brush Cap Bottle
Quick Steps
1) Clean the area (soap and water or wax and grease remover)
2) Apply very thin coats of basecoat.
3) Apply Lacquer over the basecoat.
4) Use Rubbing Compound (apply with clean soft cotton only, paper
products will scratch your paint surface) to smooth and shine the area.
Always test the rubbing compound on your bike in an inconspicuous place to
check for surface compatibility and shine.
5) If this is your first time, try one small chip from start to finish before
repairing other areas.
Clean and Protect the Area
Wash the area with soap and water, then use a wax and grease remover or
equivalent product (some painters have suggested tar and insect remover,
available at Halfords) before starting the project. You may wish to use
masking tape (automotive quality only!) all around the scratch or chipped area
to prevent accidentally marring the surface.
Rust
The first thing to determine is if the scratch has started to rust. We are
talking about a surface scratch and not rust that is bubbling up beneath the
paint, as this is too far-gone for touch-up paint! If the area is rusty, you
should take a little extra effort to remove all traces of rust using 220 grit
sandpaper or a wire brush.
Applying Primer/Paint or Lacquer
with the Brush Cap Bottle
Dip the brush into the paint and wipe away the excess. Apply several thin coats.
For very small areas, you can use the end of a paper matchstick. Do not load up
the brush with paint as it will dry quickly into a blob on the panel.
Primer
If you have an unpainted surface, either bare metal, plastic, rubber, etc.,
APPLY PRIMER! Primer is made to stick to unpainted surfaces and paint is
designed to stick to primer! Primer can also be used to fill small
imperfections in the surface. Also, make sure you are using the correct type of
primer. Rubberized surfaces should use a rubberized primer, metal surfaces a
metal primer, etc. Clean the area of all dust
with a tack rag and apply primer to the unpainted surfaces. Make sure you let
the primer dry for 30 minutes to one hour before applying the colour coat.
Lightly sand the primed area with #220 grit followed by #600 wet and
dry.
Applying the Basecoat
The Basecoat is the actual colour you have ordered. Apply several thin
coats of paint to build up the chip to the same depth as the surrounding
surface. Let it dry for ten to twenty minutes between coats. Let the paint dry
at least 24 hours before applying the Lacquer.
Lacquer
Let the basecoat dry for at least 24 hours. Apply several thin coats of the
Lacquer, drying for ten to twenty minutes between each coat. You may sand the
Lacquer to remove imperfections. Use 1000 grit wet and dry sandpaper and wet
sand the area smooth using plenty of water. Let the area dry and use a good
quality automotive rubbing compound to polish the area. Make sure you use a
clean soft cotton fabric such as a T-Shirt. Wait 30 days before applying
automotive wax.
Using the Rubbing Compound
Rubbing compound is not normally needed when using the paint pen but you can
apply it to the entire area to make the area smoother and shinier. Let the
Lacquer dry for at least 3 days before using the rubbing compound. Use a
clean, very soft cloth like an old tee shirt (for example DO NOT USE PAPER
PRODUCTS as the wood fibres will scratch the paint!). Place a small quantity
of rubbing compound on the bike and use circular strokes and apply even
pressure to the bike. It's almost like waxing a car except the rubbing
compound is like an extremely fine liquid sandpaper. Buff with a clean cloth to
a high gloss. (You may want to spray some paint and Lacquer on a smooth
surface and practice to get the feel of it.) Sometimes lots of pressure is
required to make the clear shine. The rubbing compound can also be applied by
machine, but careful, it's very easy to burn the paint! You can get the same
results by hand, it will just take a bit longer.
The rubbing compound is also good for removing oxidation from your finish. Let
the paint dry for a 30 days and apply a good quality automotive wax.
Drying
Allow the paint to dry for 30 days before waxing.
