So I injured my baby this morning. My ring hit the inside middle panel area. It's the tiniest nick. What do you guys think of touch up paint? I didn't have a good experience with my very first car, but could've been lack of know how at 16.

 

+1
touch up paint sometimes makes it look worst.

 

btw, i just had the hood and pax A pillar and rear quarter panel repainted due to rock chips.

 

Buffing should get rid of it. Get a good polish (e.g. Meguiar) and rub it in gently. The tiny scratch should go away. Then wax it nice and presto, its good as new.

 

try scratch x 2.0

if all else fails, Dr. Colourchip is a good system to try

 

it depends what kind of chip we are looking at. If its smooth to the touch as in no indentation, then a good scratch remover like those above are good. Mothers makes a good one too.

However, if its an actual chip like a rock chip, then touch up paint will be the way to go (from a lexus dealer). If will look worse if you dont know how to apply it. I usually use a toothpick and slowly apply it to the area. DO NOT USE THE BRUSH IT COMES WITH. These are usually the size of nail polish brushes and it will just come out as a huge blob.

 

I bumped my wife's rearview mirror on one of my side doors and have a very small white scratch/knick. Will the polish work for that too?

 

^^ the rule of thumb is whether or not you feel it with your nail if you drag your nail through the scratch. If you can feel an indent, then it wont polish away. If you cant, that its a scratch in the clear coat and can be polished away.

 

My hood looks like it's been traveling down a gravel road behind a semi, is there a point where touch up paint will not work?

 

This is true. If the scratch is deep, you need to apply paint. After applying paint, let it dry thoroughly and then polish to smooth the paint from the surface. I once read an article from the internet on how this is done. A deep scratch is when it goes through the clearcoat, paint and metal.

For example, http://classic-motoring.stores.yahoo.net/byhand.html

 

It won't harm to try to polish it away. Just don't polish too much that you polish the clearcoat away.

 

Dr. Colourchip gives way better results than Langka, especially on dark cars. Even works on road rash.

check out this link if you only have a few chips to do. If it's more like road rash, then buff out what you can then use Dr. Colourchip on the rest.

http://guidetodetailing.com/damage-r...repair-clinic/

 

had my dealer install 3M Scotchgard™ Paint Protection Film ( http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3..._the_Consumer/ ). Guaranteed for long as I own the RX not to fade, crack, yellow, or haze. I was snow blowing this past weekend, inadvertently picked up a rock. the blower hurled the rock at front bumper from 3' away. my heart sank. stopped the snow blower, looked at bumper, and nada. Could not see a dent or scratch. I highly recommend.