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Paint gurus! (Questions about bubbling clearcoat)

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Xx1nuYashaxX

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
OK...on my front drivers fender, rear quarter panel (on top next to the spoiler) and on the roof (right next to the sail panel) there are spots of clear coat bubbling. They aren't very wide (except the circle on the roof). They're long and narrow. Well...4:30 am today, my door was fine. All of a sudden at noon, there's a whole foot long strip of clear bubbled up and blistered right in the flat part along the window. Out of nowhere! The base coat of black paint is in good condition still and unharmed.

Now...what do I do? I don't have the money right now to repaint the rest of the car. Do I poke small holes in the bubbles to prevent them from spreading? Or is that a terrible idea?

I just don't want them to spread further until I have funds to paint the car even if I have to do a temporary maaco paint job on certain panels lol.
 
#2 ·
its too late. The most you can do now is wax the **** out of your car to prevent it from spreading too much more. But besides that there is nothing you can do.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
That's what I assumed. Would poking small holes help prevent it from spreading a tiny bit or would it just be worse because of moisture getting underneath it? I'm assuming the main cause of this in the first place was a bad paint job from the previous owner.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
OK. I really appreciate the input guys! I'm completely clueless with paint, hence I came to you guys. I'll try to upload some pics tomorrow of the problem spots. Hopefully I can just keep it in good enough condition until it gets painted so that it won't rust. I don't want a super cheap job nor a show car finish, just decent paint. So until I can afford it, I'll see what I can do.

The front bumper, rear bumper, spoiler and left quarter are all fresh this year from Ford at least. Lol.

---------- Post added at 09:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------

Oh, as far as the hole poking thing, I read somewhere on a dodge forum about a similar problem. The guy mentioned "pinching" the blisters? Not sure what he meant other than that would probably put a hole in the finish lol.
 
#9 ·
Yikes that sucks, I dont think theres any saving it now. Don't poke any holes because that base coat isnt as strong as the clear coat and it will come up then you'll have a while different issue.

Other than sanding off the clear (maybe with some 1500 grit) and re-clearing I dont see you fixing it. Sorry buddy.

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Discussion starter · #10 ·
Alrighty. One more question. Would it be better to just reshoot all of those affected panels, or would it be cheaper/possible to reshoot new clear? Or is it pretty much not a big different in labor/materials to just redo the paint and have it just look new in general? The paint matches all of the other panels still, including the fresh painted ones.

I've never painted, so I'll probably just have to let it go for a little while or do a Maaco job on those panels for now. I'm trying to get my first house here in the next month or two. =\
 
#11 ·
GHOP said:
Yikes that sucks, I dont think theres any saving it now. Don't poke any holes because that base coat isnt as strong as the clear coat and it will come up then you'll have a while different issue.

Other than sanding off the clear (maybe with some 1500 grit) and re-clearing I dont see you fixing it. Sorry buddy.
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I'd go more aggressive than that, 1000, maybe 800.

Xx1nuYashaxX said:
Alrighty. One more question. Would it be better to just reshoot all of those affected panels, or would it be cheaper/possible to reshoot new clear? Or is it pretty much not a big different in labor/materials to just redo the paint and have it just look new in general? The paint matches all of the other panels still, including the fresh painted ones.

I've never painted, so I'll probably just have to let it go for a little while or do a Maaco job on those panels for now. I'm trying to get my first house here in the next month or two. =\
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For a budget solution, you could sand down the affected panels and hit them with some rattlecan clear, if you're so inclined. Take it down to base with 800 grit, make sure it's smooth and prepped, then hit it with 3-5 good coats of clear. The spots you've got definitely aren't easy to work on though.

Of course take my suggestion with a grain of salt, the sides of my car are nothing but rattlecan. :eek:
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Lmao, thanks Wicked. I really appreciate the advice! Of course, I can't see them up close from your sig (didn't look through your profile), but it looks better than mine! Then again, I guess nobody really notices mine except when they're on it either.

I'ma ask around if any of my car buddies have ANY experience with paint, even if it's just a rattle can job so I don't mess the base up.
 
#13 ·
Xx1nuYashaxX said:
Lmao, thanks Wicked. I really appreciate the advice! Of course, I can't see them up close from your sig (didn't look through your profile), but it looks better than mine! Then again, I guess nobody really notices mine except when they're on it either.

I'ma ask around if any of my car buddies have ANY experience with paint, even if it's just a rattle can job so I don't mess the base up.
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Image


That's all rattlecan, both color and clear. It actually looks better than the factory paint.

Don't be deterred, anyone can do it. The only difference is when you're unskilled it takes you longer. Even if you mess it up, you just sand it and try again. You really have to try to mess it up beyond saving. The alternative is being too cautious and it will just take longer.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Dude, that's awesome! Did you have to pull panels to do it, or did you do it on the car? I'm just going to leave mine on when I get my big boy pants on and try it. May I ask what brand rattlecans you used or where you picked them up?
 
#15 ·
WickedSnake00 said:
Image


That's all rattlecan, both color and clear. It actually looks better than the factory paint.

Don't be deterred, anyone can do it. The only difference is when you're unskilled it takes you longer. Even if you mess it up, you just sand it and try again. You really have to try to mess it up beyond saving. The alternative is being too cautious and it will just take longer.
Click to expand...
That is the best looking rattle can job I have ever seen. Any pics of the process? :thumb:
 
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WickedSnake00
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