Weird Paint Blemish

[cayenne]

I'm looking at purchasing a new ride, and the owner has sent me this picture of a paint blemish near the edge of the door panel. If i didn't know better this kind of looks like rust venting under the paint, but this is a fiberglass car so that isn't the case.

The spot was there before the current owner purchased the car so he doesn't know the history behind it. I also wonder if it's a paint touch up that was done incorrectly and had discolored and wrinkled a bit.

Has anyone seen anything like this before? My first plan of attack was going to be to wet sand it down with 3000 unigrit and see how it reacted.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Whatever that is, it's not going to get better from sanding it, IMO.

 

[brondondolon]

What do you mean its a glass car? That surface is glass with a layer of paint over it?

 

[cayenne]

What do you mean its a glass car? That surface is glass with a layer of paint over it?

It's fiberglass

 

[Niblick]

it looks to me like it was probably a tiny amount of oil, silicone or similar contaminant that was missed before they sprayed the panel. you'll almost certainly find that it will come away like a blister, leaving a bare spot underneath. only course of action IMO would be to remove the top and touch in the paint afterwards. shouldn't be too much of an issue tbh

 

[cayenne]

it looks to me like it was probably a tiny amount of oil, silicone or similar contaminant that was missed before they sprayed the panel. you'll almost certainly find that it will come away like a blister, leaving a bare spot underneath. only course of action IMO would be to remove the top and touch in the paint afterwards. shouldn't be too much of an issue tbh

I think that's a strong possibility. My concern is that a large portion chips off and I've got a bigger problem on my hands... It's a pearl paint so the hand touch up will never be perfect, but I should be able to get it better than what's there.

 

[swanicyouth]

That looks like the paint is bubbling up from the panel for whatever reason. I guess it's likely not rust - being fiberglass and all. I'm curious, what kind of car is it - a Vette?

I don't think you will be able to fix that 100% perfect without a re spray. That being said, keep in mind a car doesn't have to be 100% perfect to be a nice car. The only flawless cars are in museums, or parked in the garages of those who don't drive them.

If everything else is good on the car and this is a special car, maybe use it as a bargaining tool with the seller to knock the amount off the price it would cost to re spray the area.

 

[Niblick]

I think that's a strong possibility. My concern is that a large portion chips off and I've got a bigger problem on my hands... It's a pearl paint so the hand touch up will never be perfect, but I should be able to get it better than what's there.

by yourself a cheap scalpel (their less than $10 on amazon) and work very carefully around the edges to remove anything thats loose. great for cleaning out stone chips as well :xyxthumbs:

 

[brondondolon]

It's fiberglass

Ohhh lol yeah that makes sense. It could be a number of things. The paint could not have adhered to the surface. Or a piece of debris could have gotten on the paint while it was being painted. Rust is unlikely since its fiberglass but hey stranger things have happened. If it is rust the only way i could imagine it coming about is if a metal shaving from steal mysteriously landed on it during the painting process. Sanding it may make the problem worse.

 

[cayenne]

Ohhh lol yeah that makes sense. It could be a number of things. The paint could not have adhered to the surface. Or a piece of debris could have gotten on the paint while it was being painted. Rust is unlikely since its fiberglass but hey stranger things have happened. If it is rust the only way i could imagine it coming about is if a metal shaving from steal mysteriously landed on it during the painting process. Sanding it may make the problem worse.

I expect you are right. The sanding will likely make it worse, but if it is something caused by a contaminant I would prefer to sand it down and try to do a touch up rather than let it sit and potentially spread or flake off.

That was my thought process at least. Open to suggestions by all means though, that's why I came over here.