I did a good one yesterday. After fixing a problem with my headlight harness, I decided to remove and clean up my headlight buckets. Upon reinstalling the buckets, I was using a set of vise grips to slip the retainer springs back in place. The 1st spring was no problem, but the 2nd one the vise grips slipped. Now I have a 3" long scratch. And it's deep! I about puked. I'm still very sick about it. $6000 paint job ruined.

So should I try to fill in the scratch and sand/buff out. Or just pay the big bucks to have it done? What would you guy's do? I'm at a loss thinking about it.

Sarge

Sarge, you know, I would try it myself, there's always the expensive route left to take.

Dave

[QUOTE=Pumps]

Sarge, you know, I would try it myself, there's always the expensive route left to take.

Dave

[/QUOTE]

What Dave said first then ask a paint professional about this problem.   Or ask Mequire's and the others about too.  Just to see their point of view.

Good Luck.   Hope you don't have to repaint. 

I agree with Pumps. I would try to spot it myself first. I just did my RH front fender( the gate swung closed on it). Fortunately there was no glass damage. I used a very low viscosity fiberglass filler( almost the consistency of toothpaste) to build up the scratch. Then sanded with 400 grit then 600. Finally primed with an airbrush then block sanded with 800 grit and water. The hardest part was matching the 15 year old paint. But it turned out really nice and I am very pleased with it.
If it doesn't turn out right you can always have a professional repair it.
Scott

Don't feel bad, Sarge. After the second or third time I had the '74 (re)painted, I let the driver side outer door handle skid down the side of the door about 3 inches while I was puttin the thing back together.
Luckily, I had a can of paint left over. I just filled in the gouge with the paint, and then when they re-painted it the FOURTH time, the clear-coat made my repair blend in fairly well.
Ranger3's deal sounds like a good option.


oh, btw.....just how far will a pair of vise-grips fly? Adams' Apple38588.7848263889

Ya know, I would love to have a 4,5 or 6 k paint job on my Vette. But, I drive it every day, and it's like the commercial I see on tv, if I was the only one in the parking lot, some smoke puking ford or whatever would park next to me and ding the door. It happens now, even when I park away from the store and walk, some ahoe is parked next to me. I should do what these guys do that have the oversized pickups and suv's and take up two parking spots, but then I always have the urge to key the door. I want to get mine repainted, it's original now, but just am at a perplexing point as which way to go. I know if I did spend mega on it and some one dinged it, I'm too old for fists, but have guns here in Nv and can carry them in the cars loaded. Such a tempation. There, I feel better now, and the pills are starting to work. Medicated for your safety and protection.