Hi,
Trying to level factory touch up with the technique of polishing down the blob with a DA, or even a Rotary will only leave you with a shiny, smoother blob is all. By the time you would level the blob, you'd probably be burning through the clear coat, and color coat.
Going with factory touch up might be less expensive, but to level, probably the best way will be to use wet sanding with ultra fine papers, like 2000 grit. This can be tricky though, as a high level of care must be excersized, that you don't damage the surrounding clearcoat. I've heard of some gluing a small piece of wet paper onto a wine cork to precisely smooth such small areas. Then there's the Meguiars Uni-Grit Sanding Blocks, and again, care must be excersized, they too can damage surrounding paint if one doesn't know what they're doing, and doesn't use care.
If the touch up is needed on horizontal panels (hood-roof-trunk), then it is easier if using a factory type touch up paint. But with vertical panels, it gets a bit trickier, as factory paint dries much slower, can have a tendency to run-sag.
I've used the Dr C-Chip, and I like the system very much. The Paint sets virtually instantly upon the surface, thus vertical panels are much easier to deal with. The product dries quick enough, that multiple layers can be done in a matter of a few second's time. Just apply, wipe with your finger-thumb with a disposable nitrile glove on.
When you have filled the chip with the paint , the wait to dry for use of the leveling solution is short, 4-7 minutes on average, then one can begin the leveling process with the Sealact Solution, and small towel included in the kit.
If you mess up, or have removed too much of the paint, no harm, no foul, one can either apply additional coats again, and then go back to leveling with the solution, or remove the touch up application entirely with the Sealact Solution, and start over.
The leveling process is quite easy, there is a little bit of learning curve, but not at all bad. As the blob begins to smooth, and level, one then lightens the rubbing pressure, just letting the little towel with a drop or so of solution glide over the touch up. That within a few minute's time per chip, you will have each perfectly leveled.
If doing a good number of chips around the vehicle, I have found that it helps to place a small piece of painter's tape near each chip, so you can quickly return to those chips to level after the paint application.
While the Dr C-Chip paint is dry to the touch within minutes, and can be wetted within a few scant hour's time, they suggest to let the paint dry many days prior to doing any polishing/compounding, or sealing of the paint touch up. This is no different than any other touch up process in this regard.
It's about the simplest system I ever used, and I have tried Langka in the past, did not like it as much as the Dr C-Chip system.
Hope this helps. Mark
