Removing Stone Chips Yourself

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 10:25 AM

Have been looking at ways of removing stone chips and finally found a way of doing it myself.

Contacted a company called Sylmasta (reccomended by a forum member) who sell sanding pads that range all the way up to 12000 grit. They are called Micro-Mesh pads.

www.sylmasta.com (01444-831459)

I bought a 2400, 3600, 6000, 8000, 12000 grit pads and a bottle of polish. The lot came to £21. The polish is £8 but IMHO not needed as I used the machine polisher.

Each pad is about 1"x2" in size and is re-useable.

The process is straightforward but was a little nerve wracking at first.

1. Touch the chip up with OEM touch up paint. Make sure you apply a blob big enough to cover and fill the chip.

2. Let it dry for as long as needed (24 hours)

3. Start to sand the excess with the 2400 grit. When the surface is smooth repeat the process all the way up to the 12000 grit.

4. The 12,000 grit feels a smooth as paper but when done the paintwork will also be as smooth as glass (although it will be a matt finish and not shiny).

5. I then used the DA polisher for a couple of minutes to bring back the original shine.

6. Coat of polish and thats it job done.

I was a little cautious at first as sanding my paintwork goes against everything I have ever done and was worried when the final finish was matt and dull. However once I used the DA polisher to finish and saw the result I was over the moon.

I never need worry about stone chips again.

KadeSdad · 03-24-2011, 10:39 AM

DaN_BMWE90 · 03-24-2011, 11:02 AM

Great post in my opinion.

ok so no pic but helped me out.

Iv been wondering what to do about mine, especially lately as I was late for a meeting and overtook a gritter (never again), next morning I was really upset with myself wish i just made the tnuc wait abit longer.

when the time comes to do it again, add to this post with some pics? Like you sanding my own paintwork sounds like it could be a daunting task. Thank you tho, for the list of stuff you used and method. where did you get touch up paint? local dealer?

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

I will take pics next time (tomorrow)

KadeSdad · 03-24-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLR1969

I will take pics next time (tomorrow)

suffering big time with stone chips on the Lotus, will try this

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KadeSdad

suffering big time with stone chips on the Lotus, will try this

Its a leap of faith but take your time and use each grit pad in turn and it should work out well.

Em135eye · 03-24-2011, 11:50 AM

Sanding your car is VERY brave!

Just ordered this stuff for a bit of scratch "correction."

http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars...nd-polish-kit/

toxicnerve · 03-24-2011, 01:31 PM

I told you it was good stuff

Glad it worked well for you...

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

I told you it was good stuff

Glad it worked well for you...

I had forgotten who reccomended it but now I know.........

Thanks mate

toxicnerve · 03-24-2011, 02:13 PM

No worries,

I'm just glad it worked well for you. There's a chip on my bonnet that I repaired using the Micro Mesh stuff a while back. However, I don't think I sanded it down enough and there's a definite "bump" (albeit a small one). I'm wondering how best to correct this...

I'm wary of sanding it further as I don't want to risk over-thinning the surrounding lacquer too much...

Any thoughts?

ed335d · 03-24-2011, 02:42 PM

Look forward to seeing the results on Saturday!

Hotcoupe · 03-24-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed335d

Look forward to seeing the results on Saturday!

I'm hoping the polisher is cordless,the battery is fully charged,and in Jon's boot along with all the other necessaries

wayne71 · 03-24-2011, 03:01 PM

Great tip thanks, did you buy the Micro Finish Polish for £7.44 from the same company?

willhollin · 03-24-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

I'm hoping the polisher is cordless,the battery is fully charged,and in Jon's boot along with all the other necessaries

I'll bring the van and generator.

ed335d · 03-24-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willhollin

I'll bring the van and generator.

Can you pick up a Jerez Black paint stick? My bonnet's pitted to fuck.

willhollin · 03-24-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed335d

Can you pick up a Jerez Black paint stick? My bonnet's pitted to fuck.

Black bitumen close enough?

ed335d · 03-24-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willhollin

Black bitumen close enough?

Close enough

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayne71

Great tip thanks, did you buy the Micro Finish Polish for £7.44 from the same company?

I did but don't really need it as the final polish is done with my DA polisher. It's basically a liquid with a fine grit in it.

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

I'm hoping the polisher is cordless,the battery is fully charged,and in Jon's boot along with all the other necessaries

The boot will be full of hairdressing supplies!

JLR1969 · 03-24-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

No worries,

I'm just glad it worked well for you. There's a chip on my bonnet that I repaired using the Micro Mesh stuff a while back. However, I don't think I sanded it down enough and there's a definite "bump" (albeit a small one). I'm wondering how best to correct this...

I'm wary of sanding it further as I don't want to risk over-thinning the surrounding lacquer too much...

Any thoughts?

I think I would just sand as normal.

Falmouthboy · 03-25-2011, 08:48 AM

I took delivery of one of these kits during the week and will attack the car this weekend.

I'll report how it goes. Similar product to the Dr Colorchip but a UK based firm.

http://www.chipex.co.uk/

Bob S · 03-26-2011, 04:05 PM

Had a tip from the local guy I use occasionally for stonechips and he would mix a wee bit of the colour with some of the lacquer and then apply to tiny chips as the OP suggested, then sand as advised. Cheers

03-24-2011, 10:25 AM	#1
JLR1969 Major General 1881 Rep 7,000 Posts Drives: Kubota GR1600 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England iTrader: (1)	Removing Stone Chips Yourself Have been looking at ways of removing stone chips and finally found a way of doing it myself. Contacted a company called Sylmasta (reccomended by a forum member) who sell sanding pads that range all the way up to 12000 grit. They are called Micro-Mesh pads. www.sylmasta.com (01444-831459) I bought a 2400, 3600, 6000, 8000, 12000 grit pads and a bottle of polish. The lot came to £21. The polish is £8 but IMHO not needed as I used the machine polisher. Each pad is about 1"x2" in size and is re-useable. The process is straightforward but was a little nerve wracking at first. 1. Touch the chip up with OEM touch up paint. Make sure you apply a blob big enough to cover and fill the chip. 2. Let it dry for as long as needed (24 hours) 3. Start to sand the excess with the 2400 grit. When the surface is smooth repeat the process all the way up to the 12000 grit. 4. The 12,000 grit feels a smooth as paper but when done the paintwork will also be as smooth as glass (although it will be a matt finish and not shiny). 5. I then used the DA polisher for a couple of minutes to bring back the original shine. 6. Coat of polish and thats it job done. I was a little cautious at first as sanding my paintwork goes against everything I have ever done and was worried when the final finish was matt and dull. However once I used the DA polisher to finish and saw the result I was over the moon. I never need worry about stone chips again.
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03-24-2011, 10:39 AM	#2
KadeSdad Colonel 128 Rep 2,070 Posts Drives: E350 CDI Sport Cabriolet Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (3)
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03-24-2011, 11:02 AM	#3
DaN_BMWE90 New Member 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: E90 320d 2007 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wales, UK iTrader: (0)	Great post in my opinion. ok so no pic but helped me out. Iv been wondering what to do about mine, especially lately as I was late for a meeting and overtook a gritter (never again), next morning I was really upset with myself wish i just made the tnuc wait abit longer. when the time comes to do it again, add to this post with some pics? Like you sanding my own paintwork sounds like it could be a daunting task. Thank you tho, for the list of stuff you used and method. where did you get touch up paint? local dealer?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-24-2011, 11:50 AM	#7
Em135eye Banned 175 Rep 4,302 Posts Drives: M135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South West iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M135i 5 door [0.00]	Sanding your car is VERY brave! Just ordered this stuff for a bit of scratch "correction." http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars...nd-polish-kit/
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03-24-2011, 01:31 PM	#8
toxicnerve Colonel 97 Rep 2,834 Posts Drives: E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	I told you it was good stuff Glad it worked well for you...
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03-24-2011, 02:13 PM	#10
toxicnerve Colonel 97 Rep 2,834 Posts Drives: E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	No worries, I'm just glad it worked well for you. There's a chip on my bonnet that I repaired using the Micro Mesh stuff a while back. However, I don't think I sanded it down enough and there's a definite "bump" (albeit a small one). I'm wondering how best to correct this... I'm wary of sanding it further as I don't want to risk over-thinning the surrounding lacquer too much... Any thoughts?
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03-24-2011, 02:42 PM	#11
ed335d Major General 138 Rep 6,912 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (3)	Look forward to seeing the results on Saturday! __________________ E92 M3, Jerez Black, Fox Red Novillo, 19'' M Double Spoke, folding mirrors, lumbar support, front seat heating, PDC, USB, DAB, EDC, Bluetooth, Logic 7, High Gloss Shadowline, big smile
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03-24-2011, 03:01 PM	#13
wayne71 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 382 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: May 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Great tip thanks, did you buy the Micro Finish Polish for £7.44 from the same company? Last edited by wayne71; 03-24-2011 at 03:10 PM..
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03-25-2011, 08:48 AM	#21
Falmouthboy Squadron Leader (Ret'd) 25 Rep 627 Posts Drives: E91 330d SE & Mini Coupe JCW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cornwall iTrader: (0)	I took delivery of one of these kits during the week and will attack the car this weekend. I'll report how it goes. Similar product to the Dr Colorchip but a UK based firm. http://www.chipex.co.uk/
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03-26-2011, 04:05 PM	#22
Bob S Enlisted Member 0 Rep 45 Posts Drives: 325d SE Touring Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	Had a tip from the local guy I use occasionally for stonechips and he would mix a wee bit of the colour with some of the lacquer and then apply to tiny chips as the OP suggested, then sand as advised. Cheers
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