Hi. New to this site

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  • August 17, 2013 at 3:30 pm #44098

    Hi Everyone. I’m new to this site and new to repairing cars. My car, a black 2008 Honda Fit, was vandalized and I have scratches on the hood, the driver’s side door panels, the front and rear bumpers and someone took what looks like a screw driver and gouged out holes in the rear bumper. So I could really use some help with all facets of the work I need to do. I am looking forward to learning from everyone’s experience.

    Marty

    August 17, 2013 at 6:31 pm #44105

    Hi Marty, welcome to the site.

    I’m sorry to hear about your car, that must have been very frustrating. As for the repair, if you do not have any autobody experience, the necessary tools and access to a paint booth, then you may be better off having a reputable shop do the repair. If you have a comprehensive plan on your insurance policy, this damage may be covered.

    This would be a very difficult job for a novice to get right. The tools and materials needed would be quite expensive. If you do have some experience, please share with us. Also, if you have photos that would be a great help. I assume the panels will need to be repaired and repainted. However, if the scratches are really minor and not through the clearcoat, you may be able to polish them out. Unfortunately this is rarely the case with vandalism.

    August 18, 2013 at 3:13 pm #44125

    Hi Ben. Thanks very much for your quick reply.

    Unfortunately, I cannot afford to have repairs done by a pro so I thought I’d do the best I can. I painted using aerosol cans with factory-matched paint and clear coat from Express Paint. After painting I wet sanded with 1500, then 3000 grit. I used a rotary polisher-after practicing on a fender-with a wool pad and Meguiar’s 105 followed by a polishing pad and Meguiar’s 205. I turned out ok for a rookie but I still have some orange peel. I was wondering whether the orange peel could be due to using aerosol paint as well as a lack of experience. If it’s use of aerosol cans of paint, will I ever be able to get rid of it? If it’s my technique, I’m a little concerned about using the polisher too often. I made 2 passes with each pad/compound; I could try another 1 or 2 passes. Any advice? I’ll try to post some pictures.

    Thanks again,
    Marty

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