Thread: Touch-up painting

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I have two questions.
1. What's the best way to fix chips in your paint?
2. What do you do with bolt heads when their paint falls off after you tighten them?

Use a brush, and fill just the hole. If you go outside the edge of the chip, it creates a bigger step in the surface. It may not be perfect, but at least it's the same color.

Once you get into spraying, it gets tricky or expensive.

You can wrap the bolt heads with a single wrap of masking tape, and use a 6 point socket or wrench instead of a 12 point.......less chance it will mar the bolts. I think I have seen sockets that are lined with plastic or something to protect the bolts, but I can't remember where. If they do get scratched, a small artists brush with some of the same automotive paint you originally used can be applied to the boogered up areas, and will blend in pretty well.

Don

another thing that works is felt.. hold some felt over the bolt, then find a 6pt socket that fits snug over the bolt and felt, then tighten it up..

On some of the chrome or polished bolts and nuts, a couple wraps of electrical tape, and a metric 6 point socket will work.... ie-if it's a 9/16" bolt head, two wraps of tape and a 15mm socket....

Best way is to not paint the bolts and nuts, use cad plated where strength is required, stainless steel on fenders and other non-critical components....