Touching Up Stock Paint

So I am in need of some guidance on how to touch up the paint on my 56 wagon.

My 56 has the factory paint, but as you would imagine, its over 50 years old and has quite a few dings and scratches. My question is how should I proceed with touching up the spots that have slight surface rust? I would like to buff and wax the car, but I don't know that I should simply buff and wax right over the small rust spots.

Any guidance from those who have delt with this situation before would be much appreciated.

-Sh0e

 

I'm not sure wax is going to do much for you. It may prevent water from beading on the rust spots, but it's not going to stop rust from creaping under the paint where it has chipped or been scratched. Obviously, doing some sanding, feathering and primering would put a stop to further rust problems, and then of course painting the affected areas...

 

I was at the Indian Museum in Springfield Ma. about 10 years ago and Inquired about the smell of wintergreen oil that she was rubbing into the paint on a rusted motorcycle. She was evasive but I noticed that other parts of the bike that looked rust free where she had rubbed it. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
When I was in the navy, the snipes in the engine room used it to free rusted bolts. It&#8217;s worth a try!

 

Touching up old lacquer with lacquer is very likely to turn out bad. Short of stripping(or sealing) and repainting, your best option is to have some acrylic enamel mixed to match the car and use that for spot repairs and touch-up.

 

Thanks for the info so far.

At this point I am not even opposed to the paint showing it's age. I am not neccesarily trying to repaint a million spots, it's more the concern of stopping the rust so it doesn't get worse and I would be able to wax the car and help preserve the rest of the paint that is still in good shape.

 

x2 cutaway, I did a 52 chev. a while back, Buff the area around where you want to paint so you can blend out the "new" paint, I used a off brand of Dupont called Ful-thane, single stage urethane (no-clear) They can mix it to your color, Works well! my .02

 

Scratches and small chips can be touched up with an artist brush. Apply something like SEM Rust Seal followed with color. Larger flaws will most likely require spraying paint and an experts touch and techniques. There are guys that detail and prep late model cars for auction that know tricks for improving the appearance of cars without complete refinishing.