Touchup paint pens, are they any good?

120_Minutes

Since getting my car last month and working in a shopping centre, having to park in the carpark, my car has already picked up some scratches from ****ing neanderthals hitting their doors into mine.

I was looking at the paint pens (the 3 pack in halfords) to touch up the scratches, but i'm wondering are they any good? right now i cant justify getting it done professionally because where i work it's bound to happen again.


it really pisses me off that people cant open their doors carefully, i'm considerate enough to squeeze in without hitting another car.

we live in a country of animals.

Big Davey

120_Minutes wrote: »

Since getting my car last month and working in a shopping centre, having to park in the carpark, my car has already picked up some scratches from ****ing neanderthals hitting their doors into mine.

I was looking at the paint pens (the 3 pack in halfords) to touch up the scratches, but i'm wondering are they any good? right now i cant justify getting it done professionally because where i work it's bound to happen again.


it really pisses me off that people cant open their doors carefully, i'm considerate enough to squeeze in without hitting another car.

we live in a country of animals.

I think a little can of lacquer and a tiny brush would do the same job ? I think they are a gimmick and just thinned down acrylic lacquer but I stand to be corrected.

larchill

Avoidance is the best way to deal with door bangers. On going into a Tesco, Aldi, Lidl etc carpark, I park in the farthest corner away from door bangers. @ least your less likely to get done there :P

166man

They don't work at all. My new GTV is prime evidence of that. Might try and post pictures later...

dgt

Pens? No

biko

As said: if you can park far away from the entrance it's less likely someone will park close by.

Touch up pens are so-so, depends on brand and colour.

sebastianlieken

I've used the halfords pens a few times on my car (black vw). I got the exact paint code to match and I tend to use it only on stone chips; for stone chips, they're pretty bloody good! Take your time and you can hide a stone chip very effectively, as for scratches though.... not really i'm afraid. I mean, it'll be better than bare metal, but you'll still notice a line of touch up paint rather than a scratch.

If the scratch is down to the metal, yeah i'd use a pen as it will make it better (and protect it from corrosion)

If the scratch is relatively light i'd probably just try scratch-x or something similar.

Curran

Id avoid touch up pens.
Go to your local motor factors and get the paint mixed up from the paint code on your car...usually a sticker on the inside of the drivers door or on the suspension mount under the bonnet...the code will be on that!
Then with a lot of patience and a fine art brush, layer up the paint. May require some polishing to get it looking the best!

thegreatiam

biko wrote: »

As said: if you can park far away from the entrance it's less likely someone will park close by.

.

Not just far away but also look for a spot that will see minimal traffic through out the day, like next to another employee, or someone else who will not be opening their door 100 times a day.

also invest in something like this,
http://www.doordefender.com/dis_index.html
doesn't help your existing scratches but will minimize future ones.

sebastianlieken

Curran wrote: »

Id avoid touch up pens.
Go to your local motor factors and get the paint mixed up from the paint code on your car...usually a sticker on the inside of the drivers door or on the suspension mount under the bonnet...the code will be on that!
Then with a lot of patience and a fine art brush, layer up the paint. May require some polishing to get it looking the best!

the Halfords 3 pen kits that the OP mentioned are per paint code. My paint code is L041 and I found that amoungst 2 or 3 other black VW paints, L041 was in there.

The three pens are all a different layer, a grey primer, the paint itself, and a laquer.

the "pen" itself has a nib end (perfect for stone chips) but also screws out to reveal a very fine brush which you can use.

sean1141

I have used them (Halfords one) with no problems. They wont leave you a factory smooth finish. I usually wet sand them about a week or two of applying and they polish with the DA. Gives great results

120_Minutes

sebastianlieken wrote: »

the Halfords 3 pen kits that the OP mentioned are per paint code. My paint code is L041 and I found that amoungst 2 or 3 other black VW paints, L041 was in there.

The three pens are all a different layer, a grey primer, the paint itself, and a laquer.

the "pen" itself has a nib end (perfect for stone chips) but also screws out to reveal a very fine brush which you can use.

maybe calling it a pen was wrong on my part, as it seems those who know what i mean have had semi decent results. I knew my colour code before going in the other day and they had it. whats your verdict? you sound like you've used one.

sebastianlieken

120_Minutes wrote: »

maybe calling it a pen was wrong on my part, as it seems those who know what i mean have had semi decent results. I knew my colour code before going in the other day and they had it. whats your verdict? you sound like you've used one.

read post #7

120_Minutes wrote: »

maybe calling it a pen was wrong on my part, as it seems those who know what i mean have had semi decent results. I knew my colour code before going in the other day and they had it. whats your verdict? you sound like you've used one.

That sounds like a very good idea actually! good to know, cheers for that!