Just picked up an Integra for cheap from my cousin and I'm buffing out the small scratches and stuff...

My big concern are one door where it's been keyed and some peeling clearcoat..

http://mattblehm.com/integra/100_0276.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/integra/100_0275.JPG

anything I can do to fix the clear? I know there's nothing to fix on the key scratches other than to repaint the door, but there's a few places on the car where the clear is peeling and I'd like to fix that..

can I just feather off the edges around it with some 1000 grit wet and then re-clear that area, or do I need to sand it all down until the clear is gone and respray the whole panel? I'm hoping to do a spot repair and not the whole panel, if I can get away with it.

thoughts?

 

You should be able to re-clear it using the process you outlined above.

 

Im not sure if reclearing over the existing clear will work. It's "clear" hehe that this car had some work done on it. And not very good work. If you paint over the bad clear, it might still lift. but it might be okay until you sell it. Another thing is if you sand the metallic coat, it might dull it and show up under the clear? I know you can wetsand flat colors and clear it to get the shine back but I don't know if that's true with metallics.

 

nah, this is original paint.. she just didn't take good care of it. The car is original.. they bought it new and she never wrecked it..

I tried to feather the edges, and as soon as I hit the basecoat with 2000 grit, it went through to primer- so no sanding possible.. DOH!

I shot a bit of clear on it and it looks okay so far.. we'll see what happens.

 

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF RUBBING COMPOUND!!!!


Before:
http://mattblehm.com/integra/100_0276.JPG

after:
http://mattblehm.com/Integra/100_0300.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/Integra/100_0299.JPG

quick little squirt of some clear lacquer and some compounding:
(too bad I buffed through the very top edge on the base coat, but it still looks a million times better!)

before:
http://mattblehm.com/integra/100_0274.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/integra/100_0275.JPG

After:
http://mattblehm.com/Integra/100_0297.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/Integra/100_0298.JPG

 

What kind of buffer did you use?

 

1/2" DeWalt high speed drill and a foam pad I picked up at the parts store.
did the rough cut w/ a 7" wool pad and finished up with a 6" foam.

All Meguiar's products- rubbing compound, meduim cut cleaner, then yellow wax to finish it off..

 

good job Matt. And yes, rubbing compound is the shiz..... that, duck tape, and electrical tape...... Must for any garage. :-)