Wet Sanding Small Scratch/Nick - 2013 Suburban

[JohnLew]

I've got a black Suburban that is about 5-6 months old and just put a fairly deep but small nick in the driver door, it just lightly catches on a fingernail. Lengthwise it's not very big, about the length of the tip of my pinkie. Definitely into the basecoat. It's near the bottom of the door so not a terribly conspicuous place.

So... not very big, but it will drive me crazy if I don't at least make it better

This would be my first wet sanding job but I think I've got the patience do to it right. It's now December in Minnesota so I can even start the job for several months (garage isn't heated enough) so I have plenty of time to study.

I've read about 15 threads on the topic in the last hour since it happened and here's my plan, please let me know if you see any issues with this approach.

Also, is there anything I should be doing to it now considering the elements it's going to face until March/April when I can start tackling it?

Clean, prep and apply touch up paint - multiple coats with fine artist brush to level above surrounding
Tape off very close to imperfection and wet sand the very small area (thinking of trying to go ultra-fine and using maybe a 3000 and just take extra time)
Let dry for 1-2 weeks
Hand polish with #105 and #205 to remove sanding marks (I could use my GG DA but I figure on this small, precise area I might as well do it by hand)
Reapply sealant and wax (I use BFWD and Collonite #845 combo so I'll just time this to be coincide with my spring application)

Any thoughts/concerns/tips?

I also have a Langka chip repair kit I've had for several years but never used. Would I be better off using that?

Thanks.
-john

 

[allenk4]

I would try Langka and see if you can live with the repair before you attempt wet sanding.

If you go to far with wet sanding the repair is anywhere from $175 for a spot paint repair, up to $400 plus to have the door repainted.

 

[JohnLew]

Thanks, I may go that route. I just figured that with this small an area and being ultra patient I couldn't really screw it up that badly.

On the plus side, it took the wife some effort to find the scratch today when I had her looking (although the truck was a dirty). It's her DD, so that makes me feel a little better about it.

-john

 

[spence]

My prep includes claying and 205 polishing (to remove wax, sealant, etc.) before applying touch up paint.

I use GG touch up applicators but I will try a fine artist brush the next time I apply touch up paint.

Use Megs Unigrit sanding blocks instead of sanding paper

Meguiars Unigrit Sanding Blocks

If you tape off a small area, sand and polish in just the taped area, that area will be noticeably different than the surrounding area. Do not tape and sort of feather in your sanding and polishing.

I do not know about polishing by hand but the GG 3" DA is much better than a 6" DA when you want to work in a small area.