Paint touch up help

[Olly]

Hi all!
As I got such great help on my tyre question, here's another...

My 1980 holdsworth special ( in matalic red ) has a few scratches on the frame
This is obviously understandable for a 28 year old thourabred

Has anyone got any ideas about re touching the scratches?

I have hunted the Internet for info on holdsworth paint colours but to not avail!

I don't really want to do the sand blast and respray route (yet)!
But would like to make it look super speedy and sexy for the summer
Looking forward to your input!!!
Cheers
Olly

 

[Mr Pig]

How bad are they?

It's virtually impossible to touch up scratches without your efforts ending up looking worse than the scratch was to begin with. It really all depends on how bad they are.

If they are very light and disappear when you wet the surface you might have half a chance. Assuming the paint has a lacquer on it, you can take the edge off the scratches with a rubbing compound, like Farecla, then a lick of clear lacquer over it.

If they're big bad, down to the metal type, scratches forget it. The only way you're going to see much of an improvment is repainting the thing. Paint brush is too clumsy. You could try an air brush but it's not easy and on metalic paint any touch up can end up really sticking out.

 

[threefingerjoe]

If you're satisfied with it not being seen from a galloping horse...you can do minor touchups with fingernail polish. It's enamel, lasts a long time, and you can get just about any colour you need.

 

[tyred]

It would be tricky to blend it in without being seen. If you want the exact colour, present the bike, (or some easily removeable part in the frame colour) at a decent motor factors and they should be able to mix up paint to match. It could take them a while but it's possible.

 

[Olly]

hmmm,
it looks like i'm a bit stuck then

most of the scratches are down to metal.
i may try a little of the nail varnish idea though!

thanks for your help!

ps.
if i do go for sand blast and re-spray...

any ideas??

cheers
olly

 

[Mr Pig]

It could take them a while but it's possible.

Don't go to a motor factors. They don't mix the paint, they send out for it. Instead, find an automotive paint suppliers and they'll mix you a tin or spray can while you wait. Takes minutes and a spray can'll cost about £16.

 

[tyred]

Don't go to a motor factors. They don't mix the paint, they send out for it. Instead, find an automotive paint suppliers and they'll mix you a tin or spray can while you wait. Takes minutes and a spray can'll cost about £16.

Maybe I'm lucky but my local motorfactors mix paint on the premises. It usually only takes minutes but there was once when I replaced a damaged wing and bonnet on an Escort van for a mate, I stood around for about 2 hours while they tried to match it and couldn't get it exactly. It was an ex AA van and the usual AA yellow didn't match, the paint suggested by the paint code on the van didn't match, it was shade of yellow they had never come across before.

 

[Aperitif]

Maybe I'm lucky but my local motorfactors mix paint on the premises. It usually only takes minutes but there was once when I replaced a damaged wing and bonnet on an Escort van for a mate, I stood around for about 2 hours while they tried to match it and couldn't get it exactly. It was an ex AA van and the usual AA yellow didn't match, the paint suggested by the paint code on the van didn't match, it was shade of yellow they had never come across before.

Probably RAC yellow...

 

[Aperitif]

To be serious... Olly, have you looked for a similar colour among the motor factors supplies of paint - talking Halfords here - for example?
If something gets near, the way to fill scratches is by applying many thin coats of paint. You may want to try this by purchasing a good quality sable brush and applying the paint into the scratches. To get some paint - particularly if it is in an aerosol, spray into the plastic top cap and use it from there, little by little.
T-Cut the result after a week or so and it should be a reasonable retouch, and cheaper than a total respray.
To darken or lighten the colour, use a paint shade from another aerosol that will make this happen.
Or maybe the touch-up pens which are available can help you out? (Doubt it - brush too thick...)

 

[Olly]

cheers!
I'll give that a go.

thanks for the help!!