Sometimes a repair may be just a simple touchup of a small scratch or chip. If paint is going to be applied on top of paint, a slight difference in color may become very noticeable. Paint tends to yellow with age so even with using the same exact paint, there could be a color difference. You always want to mix your paint well to ensure consistency.
Another consideration is just how compatible one type of paint is with another type. If you are using an enamel touch up you can use it over enamel and lacquer with good results, and with so-so results over an acrylic water base paint. Acrylic can be applied over itself and also over enamel and lacquer with good results. However lacquer presents more problems if used over anything but itself. When used over enamel and acrylic it tends to have a solvent type effect on those paints. The touch up area might skin, or wrinkle. Bottom line, know what you are painting over and know what you are painting with.
Also use a primer compatible with whatever top coat you are using.
If you have a paint chip that is not too large, the best way to deal with that is to have the chipped area facing up and with a very fine brush or toothpick, place a drop of paint in the center of the chipped out area. If fluid enough, a drop of paint should transfer from the brush or toothpick to the center of the chipped out area when that area is touched with the toothpick or brush; it should then spread out, filling the chip. You are filling the chip with paint. If the depression is deep, just put in a few drops and come back later to repeat the process. The paint will settle as it dries. It may take a few sessions to fill the hole. You can paint cure in the oven about a day after the final application. Once the paint is cured, you can very lightly sand the edges with very fine sandpaper. Follow this with rubbing compound and then maybe another session in the oven as the rubbing or polishing compound will soften the paint. Sometimes this can be done so well that the repair is very difficult to find.
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Re: Restoring and Repainting Classic Telescopes
Edit
Reply
Quote
