Blending question....

[MT99]

I put lower quarters on a 69 Mach 1 that was just painted before I got it. The last body shop did nice work but made their own lower quarters so the body line was wrong. My work is primed and blocked and ends right under the middle of where a 3 inch wide stripe goes. The paint is Deltron DBC. The primer is K36 on top of DPLF. The color is Silver Jade, which is a light green metallic. I would like to hide the blend under the stripe. What is the best way to do this? The stripe stops about a 1/2 inch short of the end of the quarter panel so the blend can't be too ugly. I guess another way of asking this question is: is it possible to make a decent blend going just an inch or so away from the edge of the primer? Thanks! Martin

[Len]

If it was being done in our shop we would probably mask off the stripe and blend forward and back of the repair area. Blending at the end of the stripe would probably start just below the stripe and feather into the older paint as it passed the stripe. If you could send or post pictures I could probably give you a little more accurate info.

[MT99]

Thanks, I was unable to get my pictures small enough, I will try again tonight. Also, the stripe is not on yet. I am hoping to put the stripe over the blend area. Martin

[MT99]

OK, here are some photos of the car and one of where the stripe goes. Thanks!

[88GT]

with some careful work it can look ok past the end of the stripe where the green is real thin

[Dork]

If it was me, and if the car is really nice, being that the strip isn't on yet, I'd blend the base and reclear the quarters and roof. What your trying to do can be done. But will be a little difficult to get good results on your first try.
Also, do you have the leftover paint from when the car was painted?

[MT99]

Also, do you have the leftover paint from when the car was painted?

I do not have leftover paint. My paint is the same brand and seems to be a good match. This is a hard color to match so I am sure there will be a noticeable difference. That is why I would like to keep it below the stripe. Do I just use the reverse masking technique and overlap the new base onto the old paint? Can I sand the edge of the new base so there is no rough edge and clear to the top of the quarter? Or can I use some of the blending agent available from PPG and clear just beyond the repair? Thank you for your advice.

[Len]

OK, here are some photos of the car and one of where the stripe goes. Thanks!

Martin
If the stripe is now in place I would paint to the bottom of the stripe and blend that small strip in back with base and clear. If the stripe needs to be painted I would spray the stripe color, mask it off, spray my base color then clear everything.

[MT99]

Sorry, I failed to mention that it is an adhesive stripe, not painted on. The third picture above shows what it looks like after it is applied. What is the technique for blending at the end of the quarter where the stripe doesn't cover it?

[MT99]

Can someone give me a summary of the blending process for this situation? Thanks!

[bra]

this is maybe not the correct way but works for me. I would scuff the whole back of the quarter with some were between 600 to 1000. mix your base as instructed. in a second gun have straight 1170 reactive reducer ready to go. lay down your base coat. 2 to 3 coats until covered and feather the ends out a little past the previous. after each coat, lightly mist the 1170 over the dry edges. this will "melt" the edges.Do the same with the clear. I blended dark metalics and even black this way and its always worked well for me. just remember that when you buff the edges to run the pad away from the new paint. you will probably see a blemish where the new clear overlaps the old but by the time you get to the foam pad and glaze you can make it disappear.

[MT99]

bra, that is probably the correct way to do it. I just can't bring myself to paint above the stripe as the paint is too nice. I really just need tips on blending without going more than 1 or 2 inches into the old paint except for maybe some fine scuffing that can be buffed out. Thanks!