Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

Having finished repairing the accident damage to the n/s front wing, I have noticed something else.

I don't normally have a problem with repairing the normal mishaps that occur to recently painted panels...but this is different.

What we have here is a ding (as opposed to a dent) in the top of the n/s front wing. I have no idea how it occurred but something must have fallen on the underside of the wing while it was in my painting shed.

The issue I have is; the damage has broken through the paint surface and caused it to crack in a star pattern. One of the hairline cracks extends to almost one inch.

I want to make a localised repair without taking the wing off; with the wheel removed I should have good access.

Obviously, I need to flatten down the high spot and make sure the cracks are either removed or at least stabilised so they don't come back through the new paint ...but I am not sure how best to go about this one!

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[ukdave2002]

Fade-out thinners will dissolve the existing paint, works ok on primer or clear coat, will not work with a base colour or where a solid paint has been used, as it will dissolve the paint and the individual colours used to make the paint separate

[Ray White]

I am more worried about maintaining the consistency of finish. In other words, I want to avoid a "wavy" surface or one which shows a slight "dip". If I remove paint from round the break through point and tap it down, I risk making things worse with a loss of adhesion under the already unstable surrounding paint .

Maybe I should sand down a 1" area; tap down the high spot and feather the edges before building up with fresh paint.

I think something needs to be done as the surface is broken; a potential for rust to get in.

[I saw on Richard Hammond's Workshop this week the painter gouged out the legs of a spider crack. Perhaps that is the best approach.?]

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