I have a couple spots on my car where the paint is flaking. The spot is like 1.5in by 1.5in square. How can something like this be repaired to look half way decent? I've tried touch up paint but on a big area like that, its doesn't match good, can I wetsand that with 2000 grit sand paper and put clear coat and wet sand that to make it match better? I am afraid to wet sand my car, I don't want to dull the paint around the flake. Somebody enlighten me on this subject. A complete paint job is in the works for next winter but I just want something for the time being. The flakes are down to the metal, I don't need it starting to rust. thanks
Kyle

 

I just realized i posted this in the body and interior section, my bad, for some reason i thought I was in appearance and detailing. I need a mod to move this. thanks

 

if its down to the metal the why would u clearcoat it? did u mean like touchup the clear over it? when u clear u hafta do the whole panel or u will have lines from where u tape it off and the texture wont match right, the simplest thing to make it look right would be wetsand the whole thing with 400 then spot paint the color over the spot and try to blend it, then clear the whole panel

 

Actually, you -did- put it in the right message forum.

Wet sanding won't dull the finish, as long as you follow up with a polishing compound, and then a wax compound. Especially if you use 2000 grit paper, you'll be fine!

Is the paint flaking anywhere else? Be careful. Two years ago I painted a buddy's roof; the paint had flaked off. I only had to paint the front. I laid down my masking tape line- and oops, wrong spot, let me lift up the tape and move it. The tape took the paint off!! A light pass with my fingernail ripped the paint off the roof. I had to sand the whole roof down to the factory primer and repaint it.

Before you sand, use a painting prep on the spot first. You don't want any road tar/wax/bird crud/oil/etc on the area you use sandpaper on. Otherwise, you'll sand that stuff into the paint, and the new paint won't adhere properly.

You might need to wetsand the "missing paint" area with 320 first. 2000 won't give a good tooth for the paint; the paint will probably just flake off because it can't adhere properly. Clean the dust off the area using a tack rag (super sticky cheesecloth sold near paint at auto body stores), mask the area off, and spray your new paint, following the can's instructions for drying time and # of coats.

When the paint's dry, remove the masking tape. Now you'll have to use 2000 grit (or try 600 grit wetsand!) to blend the two levels of paint together. You'll work on it a while with 2000 grit. Back the 600 grit up with a FLAT chunk of wood as you wet sand- don't sand your fingerprints into the paint. When you're done, if the paint still looks funny, you'll have to re-spray by overshooting the original repair to blend the new area in.