Page 1 of Anybody Used A Car Scratch Repair Kit From Halfords?

I am thinking of having a go at using one over the weekend. It is the 3 paint/primer/laquer kit. Just wondered if anybody has any tips or advice I should know on using these as although very eager to help, the poor kid in halfords didn`t have a clue what they were for!

Some very nice person decided to run their keys down the side of Sarah`s new car the other night >:( . it is a new Fiesta in Panther Black scratch is full length of door and the front wing.

Havn`t got the money at the moment to get it sprayed by a pro so thought I would have a go myself as it looks terrible and she is completely devistated. Saturday is supposed to be a nice sunny day, the kids are going to be at the outlaws, so looks like I`ll be busy. I know It`s not going to look brilliant but it couldn`t possibly look any worse, and it may just cheer her up a bit.

Any advice greatly appreciated, as always. (Especially a step by step idiot proof guide ;) )

All the best

Ger.

Quote:
I know It`s not going to look brilliant but it couldn`t possibly look any worse, and it may just cheer her up a bit.

they only really work on small light scratches, by the sound of it this is down to bare metal?

I would suggest a local dent/scratch master type person to come and have a look at it first, they will tell you if it can be done without respray... if they cant do it (i appreciate it will cost) to make it look perfect then i guess it cannot be done on the cheap?

My suggestion would be some flowers and a nice bottle of wine, and see if the outlaws can keep the kids for the weekend? :D



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

This item was edited on Tuesday, 12th April 2005, 21:49

aye m8 id defo give scratchmaster dent master chips away a bell i had a nice key mark down my car it was a pearl black metalic first say 2 month you could tell it had been touched but after i t cutted it etc sweet as a nut sold car last week too they have some very good airbrush gear these guys

I have Diamond Black Pearlescent paint on my car and you only have to look at the bloody car to get a scratch on it (VW thin water based paint)
I also have a scooter for commuting which is black with scratches and i bought the Halfords kit to try to repair scratches,The brush is really really thin and you have to have absolute rock steady hand when applying primer then the paint, Glad i tried it out on the scooter first as i made a balls up of it.
I agree with the above advise get a pro to repair it when you have some dosh to spare.

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I am a part time car-modder and do my own spraying. i would not attemp to do a perfect job with the halfords kit if the scratch is the full length of the car. Dont get me wrong the kits are brilliant. I just touched in a 1" nick on my cosworth and you can not see it. The best solution in my opinion is the same as above (get quote on side respary) but it will not hurt to cover the scratch to stopo the body rusting under the elements.

The kits are brill but doing a whole "key scratch" will stick out a mile if the scratch is deep. Can you post a pic of the scratch?????

Any way hope all the above helps and your other half gets the car back looking the bollocks

dvdhouse

I got a fantastic colour match from their paint matching service, yes they make you up a batch based on your vin number.

I washed the area that need painting and dried it.

using lo tac masking tape I masked off the area of the scratch in a continuous run if possible.

then with a fresh stanley knife blade I followed the scartch to give the paint a key

so you should now have a masked off scratch ready to paint, after your hands have stopped shaking and with a fresh set of undies (Northen slang for pants)

The devil is in the detail make a brew or pop a can and for the next 5 - 10 mins shake the touch up paint. When you can no longer feel your wrists its ready.

The biggist mistake that most people make now is rushing and appling to much paint

Take your time make sure that you brush of the excess paint from the brush and apply thin even strokes, it does not matter if you get paint on the masking tape.

Remember to shake the touch up paint every 5 - 10 mins to ensure and even colour.

When you have finished the first coat pat urself smile and give it 15mins and repeat now leave do not remove the tape yet.

leave it you should remove the tape 30mins after the second coat, ?is the scratch darker or lighter?

if its darker it may lighten slightly when you apply the claer top coat

if its lighter allow 2hrs mask and repeat one layer and allow to dry

if the colour is OK leave it for a few days then buy some clear laqeur from Halfords when you get your touch up paint allow to dry and gently t cut also be well.

It worked wonders on my Astra estate that some muppet had keyed from the front wind to my rear stop light. Just took a long weekend.

Goodluck matey :D

mmm chocolate

the above is ok if your confident but even I wouldnt do a full key legnth scratch as you dont get that purfect finish. With you saying it was a new fiesta (should have got a RS focus but anyway) you really want a professional finish. Wouldnt hurt to have a go to cover the scratch to protect the body like I said previously. If you are going to have a go let me know and I will post the "using the halfords kit guide to getting best results"

As the above post stated any body/paint repair finish depends on the time and preparation to achieve results. ie: leaving primer to harded, use grey abrasive tool in between coats, do you use nib or brush etc etc. If you do have a go you want to give yourself like above said a long weekend to prep prime paint and laqeur. be careful with the dreaded "t`cut" though.

dvdhouse

the above is ok if your confident but even I wouldnt do a full key legnth scratch as you dont get that purfect finish. With you saying it was a new fiesta (should have got a RS focus but anyway) you really want a professional finish. Wouldnt hurt to have a go to cover the scratch to protect the body like I said previously. If you are going to have a go let me know and I will post the "using the halfords kit guide to getting best results"

As the above post stated any body/paint repair finish depends on the time and preparation to achieve results. ie: leaving primer to harded, use grey abrasive tool in between coats, do you use nib or brush etc etc. If you do have a go you want to give yourself like above said a long weekend to prep prime paint and laqeur. be careful with the dreaded "t`cut" though.

dvdhouse

Those Halfords kits are ok - you will never get a perfect job tho`

The touch up pens have a small metal nib and it is possible to use this and only get small amounts of paint actually in the scratch instead of using the brush ( pull the clear plastic lid off and you will see it)

Another tip - boil a kettle, fill a small cup or glass up with the water and stand the pen you will be using in it for 5 minutes. This makes the paint flow a lot easier and you won`t have to shake it for any where near as long!

Oh, and see if you can get a small amount of cellulose thinners - have a rag handy with a little bit of this on so if you make an error you can wipe it off - the cellulose thinner should not affect the 2 pack paint on the car.

Hope this helps.


why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

Wouldnt this be something for your insurance company to sort it out? Its been vandalised and needs a proper respray.