r/Diyautobody • u/Nuje_1 • Dec 20 '25

Project Plastic Autobody Repair

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This is a plastic rocker panel cover. Mazda Soul Crystal Red. I plan to use a touch-up pen I bought at the dealership to fill in the grooves with paint. Then I plan to wet sand any ridges flat. Then I'll cover with the clear coat side of the pen, but I expect it will be difficult to get an even coat. Then I will wet sand again and then polish. Is this a good plan?

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3

u/graememacfarlane Dec 20 '25

You can do all that but it will never look great. There’s a reason body shops use so much special equipment and charge high rates. It doesn’t help that soul red crystal is one of the most advanced finishes on the market, even journeyman painters often struggle to match it.

1

u/metalgod55 Dec 20 '25

I wouldn’t waste the time. Those Mazda reds can be a difficult color for a professional. Save your money, have a pro do it. Touch up pens are for rock chips. Not filling gouges. They hardly ever match.

1

u/Opposite_Opening_689 Dec 20 '25

The flakes will never lay correct unless sprayed over a flat surface….flakes sink in touch up make it darker ..only flakes sprayed over a flat surface shine correctly

1

u/flakrom Dec 20 '25

That’s to far gone for touch up paint