Small paint repairs

[Athame57]

Thanks to bars being set a bit too low the switch gear came into contact with the tank making a hole in the paintwork about the size of a match head, also strip of paint that came away when I took off some masking tape that was supposed to protect the tank when I refitted it.  the effect I reduced by using a fine paint brush to apply some paint first sprayed into a cup, but it isn't very good. Is this the sort of thing a professional can deal with without doing the whole tank again, any tricks among you to share?

[Orcade-Ian]

I never use a paint brush on tiny marks - I never seem to find one fine enough.  I use a piece of copper wire (stripped from 1mm twin&earth) Depending on the size of the fault, I might use the wire with a clean cut end or for something larger, a chisel shaped end after squeezing with side-cutters. 
Like you, I spray into an aerosol can lid and leave for while for some of the accelerant to disappear. I then 'dot' the paint into the defect using the wire dipped into the paint.  This might have to be done over several applications until the defect is filled.  I aim to get a slightly 'proud' surface and when completely dry the excess can be removed with a new body shop type backed razor blade held nearly parallel to the surface.  A quick rub with Farecla compound and then polish - they take some seeing by anyone other than you.

Ian

[Athame57]

 
Like you, I spray into an aerosol can lid and leave for while for some of the accelerant to disappear. Ian

Thanks Ian, I'll see if that helps, I didn't do any waiting.

[Orcade-Ian]

Yes, the waiting bit is very important with aerosol paint - it's far too thin to do the job straight after spraying into the cup.  Sometimes takes a few hours to thicken up to a point where it's useable.  Body shop paint straight from a tin is usually ok to use 'as is'. Hope you get a good result - like many of our jobs, patience is key.  Try to do what sign-writers do too - have something to rest your hand on while applying the paint, rather than aiming in mid-air.

Ian

[Bryanj]

Depends on the colour, if its a candy you are stuffed, if its plain get an exact match and nearly fill the hole, when dry finish with laquer then use 3000 grade paper with soapy water

[Athame57]

Depends on the colour, if its a candy you are stuffed, if its plain get an exact match and nearly fill the hole, when dry finish with laquer then use 3000 grade paper with soapy water

Candy Antares Red maybe I'm stuffed then? 

[Bryanj]

The cadies are a 3 pack paint, usually silver base the a transparent colour( more coats the darker it gets) then a laquer.
If you can find an old school super good paint man he might be able to get close with 2 pack, mine did fantastic with boss marron mettallic mixing 3 different makes of car colours but finding people like that who can think instead of following computers is getting incredibly hard(er)

[Menno]

The cadies are a 3 pack paint, usually silver base the a transparent colour( more coats the darker it gets) then a laquer.
If you can find an old school super good paint man he might be able to get close with 2 pack, mine did fantastic with boss marron mettallic mixing 3 different makes of car colours but finding people like that who can think instead of following computers is getting incredibly hard(er)

Boss maroon metallic is not a candy colour so one can simply put a 'paintreader' on the original paint and scan it.

Antares red is however a candy paint. Really difficult (impossible) to repair without seeing the repair.