"rubbing compound" for touch up paint on boat

[Hoffer]

So I picked up my touch up paint from crestliner. Its the spray can type. I sprayed it on a piece of cardboard and then applied with a small paint brush. From a few feet away it looks just fine. I did have one area near the front that had a lot of specks. Maybe from the trailer tires kicking up gravel? Anyway, I spot touched all those and it looks OK from a few feet away as well. But when you get down close and get the light just right - you can see all the little touch up spots. So, would "rubbing compound" help to blend that in - or would it also "rub away" the good paint around the touch up spots? I dont want to make it worse. I know the boat will never look like new - but just want to try and take care of a few blemishes the best way possible.

Thanks for any advice!

[jentz]

If there little chips fill them again with paint,Then use polishing compound,Its not as course as rubbing.Make sure they fill real close to depth of original paint,Let it dry 3-4 days preferably in some sun,then the compound.When finished you should be the only person who can pick them out.

[Hoffer]

Hey jentz-

I think I may have filled the little holes up so that the new paint is actually "higher" than the old paint.

Will the polishing compound still work?

last, where would you receommend buying polising compound and what kind/brand?

Thanks!!

Hoffer

[Jeremy airjer W]

you could use some very fine sandpaper like 2 to 3 thousand grit and lightly sand the spots. Than use a swirl mark remover. 3M makes a good one. Perfect it is the good stuff but it is expensive and comes in a pretty big bottle. The swirl mark is reasonable and comes in smaller bottles.

They also make sanding sticks just for knocking off the tops of the nubs on the filled areas. Check with a good autobody jobber and they should have what you need. The swirl mark remover can be found at NAPA or any good auto parts supplier.

[walleyemaniac]

If you sand (2000 or 3000 grit) make sure you keep it wet to wash away what is coming off it will give it a smoother finish. Wet sanding avoids adding other little scratches. Polishing compound to finish if needed. The polishing compound is going to give it a gloss finish. If the paint is dulled off I woundn't use it unless your going to buff the whole boat.

[cheesehead]

I also say wet-sand through 2,000 to 3,000 grit then use the white polishing compound if needed.

[Hoffer]

Heres a quick update.

I finally got to the paint spots today. i just worked on a few real quick.

I ended up jusy trying some simple polishing compound. I polished it for just a short time - like maybe 20 seconds. It was definetely enough to smooth out the touch up paint. I then went back and put some wax polish on the spots. They are smooth and you cant really see them from 2 feet away. However, if you get right down close and catch the light right you can see the touch up paint is a little less "glossy" than the factory applied paint -and you can see the spots. I may be too picky - cause like I said you cant really notice them from 2 feet away. however, i was hoping it would all blend right in. The polishing compound was definetely enough. i think if I would have wet sanded it- it would have taken off the whole touch up paint...

[deadeye]

I think your just fine. If someone is inspecting your boat from closer than 10 feet you should give them a solid backhand. Your boat is pretty darn awesome if you got to get that close to see defect in the paint.