Hi

My wifes 500 got a stone chip on the bonnet last week.

Im having a problem with the touch in paint actually staying in the repair !

I always tend to use either a needle or a fine brush to build up layers of touch in paint until it looks pretty much level - I then usually use autoglymn polish to "cut" it in.

Tried this on Saturday and the paint came out - the last coat was about 12 hours old. Re did this again on Sunday - 4 or 5 coats and left it overnight - did not try to polish it in.

When my wife got back from work on Monday night - the paint had gone again !

So is it a duff paint pen? I tend not to bother with the clear coat but now im wondering if the actual paint is only properly protected with the clear coat?

Any ideas - the chip had only been there a maximum of a week - I wash the car every week. It is about the size of a third of your little finger nail - so its fairly big. Its also down to the metal - I assume the galvanised layer is okay but there is no way of knowing !

Ive touched it in again, and will put a clear coat on tomorrow - but any thoughts or ideas would be great !

If I can't get it to stick, im going to have to pay the "Paint" man at my local FIAT dealer a visit.

Many thanks
Simon

Membership Number: 11325

Hi Simon,

I have previously been told that modern water based touch up's can have a problem with not sticking easily. I don't know how true it is, but I was told the best method is to apply the base, use a hairdryer to dry it & force out any water, then later apply the clearcoat to protect it. If you aren't using the clearcoat I guess that's why you are having problems.

Regards, Gavin

Membership Number: 5260

Thanks Gavin.

I do suspect is a combination of water based paint and me not using the top coat. Or a duff paint pen - i did shake it for several minutes and i could hear the aggitator rattling around in it - but perhaps water based does not last as well as solvent based?

I have tried it with the top coat but it seems to go a different colour (than white) - so i immediatly wiped it off - perhaps i should let it dry and it will show no colour change?

I touched the chip in again last night, put about 4 or 5 layers onto it - seemed to have gone hard today but car is left parked up in garage. Will see if i can try and cut it in a bit tonight.

Does the application of the top coat give the impression the colour is changed - looked like the touched in paint had a brown tinge to it - may give it a go on a part of the paint work that cant be seen - to see if the touch in white stays white with the top coat?

Many thanks

Membership Number: 11325

Sounds like crap paint to me, I regular touch up stone chips on all 3 of my cars and this has never happened and I never use the clear coat.
Is the paint from a Fiat Delaer or made up from a paint suppliers - not that it should matter, what colour is your car Simon just out of interest?

Hi

Its a genuine FIAT pain stick from my dealer - I got it the day we got the car, which is Bossanova White.

I have ordered a new (FIAT) paint pen, to see if it makes any difference.

I have had FIATs for 15 years and have been a mix of base colours or metallic - I have never had any problems like this - my "method" of repairing a stone chip always worked okay and I have never bothered with the clear coat.

I will let you know if the replacement paint is any better!

Regards

Membership Number: 11325

Hi

My wife got home from work and the paint had pretty much gone again !

It must be duff paint - I had put 5 or 6 layers on, leaving a gap between each one, and then left it for 24 hours - then lightly polished the area with Auto Glymn - first day out its gone.

Went to Halfords to try and get some white primer - could only buy white primer as a scratch/chip repair kit - which includes a top coat - they don't do Bossanova, but got a set to try the primer.

Just put two layers on and it looks much more "solid" - will leave it to harden, smooth it off and then try a coat of the Bossanova colour - ordered a new one from FIAT, which I hope comes tomorrow.

If none of that works im giving up and letting the "Chips Away" man have a go !

Coincidently, I have a Panda which had a couple of very minor chips on yesterday - used the paint pen for that, and they are fine - it is metallic though - but Im guessing still water based?

Simon

Membership Number: 11325

Hi

Aghhhhhhhhh - i let the white primer harden, and then tried the top coat - a brand new paint stick (FIAT) - put about 3 or 4 coats on and left it overnight (about 18 hours in totoal) - went to put the clearcoat on and it looked blue/grey ! So i wiped the clear coat off and the paint came out too :>{ but not the primer.

I think its water based paint - it does nto seem to dry hard enough? or am i not leaving it long enough? And do i just have to leave it if it looks blue/grey and let the clearcoat dry - i think it will dry clear, but when i see what it looks like wet, i wiped it off !

And can you still get (from?) touch in pens that are NOT water based paint - i know Halfords will mix any coliur, and as its thier primer i have used, i wondering if i should give their paint a go?

Any suggestions?

Membership Number: 11325