i don't know if this is the right forum to post this, but i figured i would start here. i have this paint scratch at the very bottom of my tailgate about 3-4 inches long and all the paint has been removed (it's yellowish color so i know all the paint is removed). i didn't notice this until last week when i detailed the car and waxed it. i never removed my tailgate before, so i think line-x may have sanded this down a little to much because i noticed they spray all the way down there. ford sent me a bottle of touch up paint, so i figured i would try it. what is the best way to paint this back up? i brushed my finger over it and it is not smooth, but rather bumpy. i was going to contact line-x, but it's been about 3 months since i got it done; so they will just say i removed the tailgate and scratched it or whatever.


a few pictures of it is in my gallery.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=8315

 

Repairing Chips and Scratches

As an added hint...

The most important thing to know when doing this is to BE PATIENT...

The second most important thing to know is to BE PATINENT.

BTW, the third, fourth and fifth elements are the same as #1 and #2.

It takes me DAYS to fix a chip from nasty chip to totally unnoticable using this method. The paint needs to FULLY DRY and set before it will work!

RP

 

Hey RP, no email capability here tonight because of spam, but i now have 300 miles with NO CEL....

 

Very cool!!!

 

thanks rp,
i have read through it. it isn't down to the metal, i can see the yellow part which is hard like bondo. can i just sand this part smooth with a small grit sand paper and then paint it with touch up paint without using primer. any other suggestions?
thank you

 

Yellow? The tailgate is metal I believe? I'm really not sure what the 'yellow' is that you're referring to...

None the less, it can be fixed.

I wouldn't sand it down first but, I would ensure that there is no flakey paint around the scratch... It might not hurt to wet sand 'scuff it' a bit...

Beyond that, I'd fill with t-up paint and then sand the paint 'dome' down to flush with the surrounding paint.

Remember... patience (INTEL486 taught me that several years ago... )

RP

 

Looks like the tail gail is rubbing on the line-x (maybe). I would check this before you start your fix up.

 

nfl has a great point... if it's rubbing, no amount of touchup paint nor sanding will help.

Good luck and let me know if I can help out...

RP

 

thanks again,

i will check this out tomorrow, but i don't think it rubs because i think when you open the tailgate there should be at least a couple inches between the tailgate and the bed. i honestly don't know where it came from but i assume that when line-x was preping the bed and sanding it down (air sander or electric) then sanded the edge of the tailgate and it began peeling. either way, i will check if it rubs tomorrow.

after i paint it, and sand it smooth (1000 or 2000 grit?); do i have to put some clear coat on it? or wax it?

thanks again rp and nfl

 

It certainly wouldn't hurt anything to hit it with clear.

Many types of T-UP paints will have a two step system but, often times, it'll be a single step. Check the paint you use...

RP

 

i checked the rubbing this mourning and it does not rub. i opened the tailgate very slowly and it doesn't even come close to touching the bed, therefore it cannot rub. i'm going to probably be touching it up this friday. which grit of sand paper do you recommend i use? should i sand it smooth before i add the touch up paint?

thanks again

 

The presand step won't hurt anything however, I wouldn't scuff it too much.

More or less, you're only looking to remove any 'flakey' paint that may still be on the surface rather than removing paint that doesn't necessarily need to be worked on...

As for grit, I'd go with 1500 or 2000. It may take a little while with 2000 but, that's what I always use because I feel like I have more control over it.

RP

 

thanks for all the help rp, but i have one last question...
after i get it all sanded down smooth with the factory paint, how long do i wait to put wax on it so it will be all glossy etc.
thanks agian

 

To remove the scuffs that you've introduced with the sandpaper, you're going to have to utilize a product like Meguiar's #9 Swirl Mark Remover (or similar) on a terry applicator. This product, when used correctly and repeatedly, will remove the scuffs that you've introduced and return the high gloss.

Beyond that, I'd wait several weeks to ensure that the paint has properly dried before I put a last step product over the top.

RP