Can I use clearcoat pen for this?

[Indre Gordon]

Hi community, I found a 1" x 4" section of clearcoat completely burned off while washing my AS. I contacted the local AS dealership, but they said replacing the entire panel is the only option. I want to fix it myself to prevent corrosion, but I'm worried about making it worse. Can I just use the AS clearcoat pen without any additional sanding (which terrifies me to do myself)? I looked through some other threads on this subject and some indicate using Nyalic but I don't know if that's better. Pen just seems easier for someone who doesn't know what they are really doing...

[glcmranger]

you can also buy clear coat spray.... just sayin!

[Wayne&Sam]

The pen is made for narrow scratches. It would be difficult to fill an area that big evenly with a pen, IMHO.

[Lily&Me]

You can buy clear coat in a little pot like nail polish, with a brush and that is what I would suggest.

The spray would also work, and might give a more even and less noticeable application.

Either way, you will have to reapply periodically.

(Stated by one who has a used vehicle with sun damage).

Get it very clean before putting on anything.

Maggie

[Indre Gordon]

I think the Nyalic is a clearcoat spray so that's the other option. Would I have to sand or anything or just section off the area and spray it? I did exterior car repairs for my dad in highschool and they always looked terrible so I'm really dreading this...

[Indre Gordon]

Any specific brand for the little nail polish-like stuff?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by glcmranger

you can also buy clear coat spray.... just sayin!

^^^^^^
This....

Bob
🇺🇸

I had the same problem...used this.

I've looked at it for 12yrs...every year it gets easier to look at

“Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor. “
Horace

[Silvr_Bullet]

Another option is keep it protected with wax often. You may be unhappy with the alternatives. Do no harm.

[Indre Gordon]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

^^^^^^
This....

Bob
🇺🇸

I had the same problem...used this.

I've looked at it for 12yrs...every year it gets easier to look at

“Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor. “
Horace

Any idea what caused this? Was it just bird poop?

[Indre Gordon]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

^^^^^^
This....

Bob
🇺🇸

I had the same problem...used this.

I've looked at it for 12yrs...every year it gets easier to look at

“Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor. “
Horace

How did you apply the spray? Did you section off the area with tape and paper? Did you sand first (I'm guessing probably not?)? I'm concerned if I section off the area with tape when I peel the tape it will show a straight line.

[millers grg]

no matter what you do, it will show. So use the pen, and get the area covered up so nothing more will happen to it.

It's not perfect, but it will protect it.

Then find a cool sticker to put over it

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by Indre Gordon

Any specific brand for the little nail polish-like stuff?

I think Rustoleum makes it.

Go into an auto supply place like Auto Zone, even WalMart might have it.

It will need to be reapplied periodically, and you will learn to live with a small imperfection.

In the great scheme of things, it is not a big deal, and the accumulating of small imperfections is part of aging with your rig.

Maggie

[ONESICKPUPPY]

You could also do a clear wrap on that panel to keep it from spreading.

[B17drvr]

One other option:
You could strip the clear coat off the entire airstream and then it would all match.
You could even polish it to a nice shine lol.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I used a dental tool to carefully remove any loose clearcoat on the edges. Wiped the area with Brakleen, masked around the area leaving about an inch all around, Sprayed lightly one or two passes, wait 5min repeat 3,4 times, let set 8hrs.

I then used this to finish off.👍


Bob
🇺🇸

[Floatingair]

Regrettably, Airstream doesn’t use Clear Coat, they use PlastiCoat. Please, call Mothership for information on how this can be repaired.

[Tyler2you]

Airstream doesn't recommend spot repairing PlastiCoat, only full panel repairs.

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...ml#post1594721

Any type of spot repair may provide protection for the metal underneath, but is going to be less than appealing from a cosmetic standpoint.

[Rosey Jet]

I would use a piece of 3M ClearBra, it comes in a small size 2” x 8’ roll like duct tape at Amazon.

[first choice]

Any repair to the area will be noticed. Sprays will leave a large halo with over spray. The Nu Finish wax will give a years protection and has been the best I have found. Hope it works and you can learn to live with it.

[Howard L.]

I believe I’ve used, and probably posted, the most about "Nyalic" and it’s use with filiform and other CC problems on post Alclad paneled Airstreams.
It looks like the base of your clear coat is still intact, as the surface is still the matching silver look. (If completely gone that area would be grey—barstock aluminum alloy looking).
In either case, using the spray Nyalic on that area will work well. It feathers into the existing clear coat well when sprayed.
Using 800 grit black sandpaper, get rid of those peeling edges. Go lightly. If you sand completely through the clear coat, you will have to look at the grey Alloy Aluminum underneath. You are going to spray the Nyalic lightly over the problem you sanded and feathered out into the adjacent area (you do not tape off anything). The Nyalic will feather spray nicely with almost the exact same sheen as the clear coat.
The Nyalic is thin and will form RUNS very easily. Practice on a vertical piece of sheet metal first. If you know auto spraying, that’s good. If you are not accomplished, you basically will spray a number of very light coats allowing each coat to get tacky prior to the next. Quit when your last light spray coat looks like it will dry slick and shiny. (3 to 4 light coats will usually do it—with Nyalic, less is better than more and very light peppery spray only.)