Restore car paintwork colour/finish?

[SteveCM]

The previous owner of my black Ford Escape seems to have used something like a plastic scouring pad on part of the bonnet/hood. There are swirls of fine grey/white scratches that really show up a treat now that I've finally given the paintwork a good clean. Re-waxing the paintwork doesn't make them much less obvious.

In the UK, I've successfully used the black T-Cut colour restorer to deal with this but just haven't been able to find it in CM - only the plain variety (i.e. without black stain/dye). Does anyone have an idea of where to find or look for the coloured version? I've checked the usual sections at supermarkets, Central etc.

Last resort would be to get the whole bonnet/hood re-sprayed. In between might be to find a place which has the right stuff/expertise to restore the finish without a full re-spray. Does anyone have any suggestions for that route?

Thanks in advance for any useful suggestions.

[Thetyim]

Quite a few car valeting places do a T-cut service.
Ask them if it is possible to cut it back to concours condition.

Failing that I would have the bonnet vinyl wrapped
Much cheaper than a respray

[taxexile]

try and find a meguires car detailing shop, some higher end car washes have meguires products and trained staff.

http://www.meguiars.co.th/message/in...int=&MIDsub=21

heres the location of the chiang mai one
http://www.meguiars.co.th/message/dl...=0052_map1.jpg

they use polishes and stuff to restore paintwork.

they can work wonders with tired paint.

some ford dealerships have meguire carwashes.

[SteveCM]

^ & ^^

Many thanks to both for the suggestions - and so prompt!

The Meguiars route looks specially attractive. I'm not shy about doing it myself [with the right product(s)], but I've also got the demanding effects of having removed a lot of tree sap droplets to deal with. So, I like the idea of having the experienced (I hope) guys get the finish back to normal and I can maintain it after that.

Many thanks again.

BTW - I posted the same question on ThaiVisa a week ago and got nothing like as good/useful a response. One up to TD.....

[thailazer]

SteveCM.... Here's a bit more info you might use. We just got our Toyota Soluna back from a repaint last week, with a bit of interior work as well. Excellent workmanship and they painted all visible surfaces and even did the wiper arms, grill, etc. Main reason for bringing it in was that the rear bumper was hanging loose due to getting rear-ended, so we figured we might as well get it painted too. Total cost for the two weeks of work was 17,000 baht. The shop is on the Lampoon road and very difficult to find. PM me if you want a phone number. I was kidding my wife that we're not going to get any more 150 baht car washes but instead re-paint it every year!

[Nabeel]

CarLac should be able to do it. Just off Suk Road, opposite the Big C Junction

[BobR]

Are you sure the paint is not a re-paint that was sprayed over a poor bondo job? Usually the swirls are from too coarse sandpaper being used to shape body filler and the failure of the body man to feather the sanded surfaces with a fine high grit sand paper before priming and painting.
Paint does not cover up imperfections in the body panels surface, it highlights them.

I used to paint cars for a hobby in the USA.

[Neo]

Believe me I'm an expert, it either needs polishing with compound and a electric mop or it needs a respray, both professional jobs, and certainly cheap enough to have done in Thailand. If you like I can find out a decent main dealer paint shop that can do it as I know a paint rep in Bangkok, but any paintshop using reputable products should be capable. If it's Ford it's probably Panther Black and it's an easy match.

Wax will only fill the scratches until the next wash, expensive waxes and polishes may last slightly longer, T-cut may do a half decent job, but on black you will always be left with swirls and holograms and the composition is quite aggressive and will cause the paint to dull over time.

[Neo]

BobR does have a point, if the the scratches are fine (like the hair on your arm) and general across the paint thats normal wear, if they are heavier (like an eyelash) it is possibly poor previous preparation and it's been re painted, if they are heavier still (like paintbrush hair) then it would indicate poor previous repairs.

[Neo]

PM me if you want a phone number.

Didn't see this post.
Good advice, Thais are certainly capable of producing good work.

[Ratchaburi]

It sound like some one has used scotch brite.
All you need to go to a Auto paint shop & get some 3M rubbing compound.
You rub the compound on the surface that need treatment you have to rub very hard it will bring the shine back.

My worker washed my pickup & to get the bug of they used scotch brite.
It not bthat hard to fix

[Bung]

I'd just have it resprayed. It will be worth the cost in the end other than having to notice the poor paint everytime you wash it. You sound like a guy who likes a smart looking car with good paint. painting stuff is pretty cheap here.

I'm looking for a place in CM too to get a couple of scratches touched up. I side swiped an electricity pole 2 nights ago, wiped out my wing mirror and layed some good scratches across my wheel arch.....

[Bung]

Hey, Steve, is thatyour black Escape I saw at the detailers near airport plaza this evening? They've taped off the bonnet, are they going to cut and polish it?

[SteveCM]

Interim update:

I tracked down the promising-sounding Meguiars place on Kaeo Nawarat Road (Superhighway end). They were very clear in saying that it wasn't a job for their guys - and would need a re-spray. There being a large place right next door that does exactly that, I got a quote of 3,500 baht to strip/re-spray - and a 3-day turnaround.

So, I'll be taking the Escape in on Monday morning and picking it up late Wednesday afternoon.

BobR - I'm as sure as I can be that the original paintwork had just been worked on with a scouring pad (and only half the area). No sign of any previous re-spray. I think the accumulated polish and general road-dirt build-up just made the affected area relatively inconspicuous. Until recently, I'd just washed the car..... it was the build-up of sap-droplets that led me to be more thorough.

Nabeel - somehow missed your post until just now. Aside from what the Meguiars place said, I also got an eyes-on opinion from another trade contact who also said paint re-spray was the only real answer - it needs the colour not just the shine or a lacquer coat.

Bung - nope that wasn't my Escape you spotted. BTW, I've got some minor stone-chip damage and the odd small deeper scratch here and there which I plan to do myself. At Central, I found something called "Dr. Car Easy Paint" * that looks worth a go (better than my old habit of using a black magic marker!). Depending on what you're dealing with - maybe useful for you? Colours matched to most manufacturers. From the video, looks to be applied like nail varnish. 250 baht.



Thanks to all for the input. I'll post a report of the result I get from the re-spray when I get the car back.

[SteveCM]

Picked up the car this afternoon - immaculately re-sprayed hood/bonnet. Result - happy owner (allowing I'd rather not have had the problem in the first place).

While I guess there's no shortage of re-spray places in CM, I'd certainly go to this one again and can recommend it. Price seems reasonable (though I'm no expert) and they're efficient. BTW, while paying in the office, I noticed they have the entire yard covered with a dozen security cameras - peace of mind for you when you entrust your wheels to them.

Below is a pic of the exterior. The name appears to be "89 something 1992" and it's about 150 metres down from the Superhighway on the left (south) side of Kaeo Nawarat Road - a bit before Thung Hotel Road corner. As mentioned, the big Meguiars detailing place is next door to it - to the right of the pic below.



Phone #'s 053 248513/304854 (next to no English spoken AFAIK)