Paint Blending On Partial Hood Fix

[1970-1655]

I got a good hood for my Oliver 1650. It only needs patched at one bolt hole. Paint is excellent, looks like it has been repainted at some time. How do you paint that small area and get it to blend in without tape lines? I have painted complete panels or complete engines/tractors, but never tried a 3"x6" spot before. My paint is close enough for a match at this time.
 

[B-maniac]

Am assuming you do not have a complete "body shop"
bench of various supplies so will give you the simplest of instructions with the minimum of products. First repair the spot to your liking. Second use some medium rubbing compound to rub the area at least a foot and a half all directions away from repair. Tjhis will etch it for good adhesion and also true up the color around it. Clean with good wax/grease remover/paint prep solvent and mask up. Mix your color and turn your gun down for low volume and low air. Get the primer covered first and then extend the next coats out further using a "fan-away stroke of the gun to make a gradual feather edge blend. Then clean out the gun and use just clear enamel reducer (assuming that is what type paint you have)and lightly dust over all painted area and out abt 6" farther. Dust it 'till it shines good. After dried for a few days rub it with some fine polish if needed to level up more. It will never be perfect. Even pros when spotting in will clear coat the whole panel. All depends on how fussy one is. Give it a try. Sometimes it's just as quick and better results to do the whole panel.
 

[Stephen Newell]

The biggest problem with fixing a spot without repainting the entire hood is the color. If you think you have paint that matches it should be a lot of work but pretty easy. I don't like filling a hole with bondo, even bondoglass. You could fix the hole and it would look fine and after a couple of months the filler would fall out. I prefer to weld a piece of sheetmetal on the back side of the hole and use a angle grinder and grind the metal thin around the hole before filling. Then block sand the filler level to the finish and prime with epoxy primer followed by a filler primer for sanding. Then I continue wet sanding with the block sanding with 400 grit paper and then topcoat with 2 or 3 coats of paint depending on the paint you use. After thoroughly dry I wet sand the spot with 1200 to 1500 grit paper and buff with rubbing compound.
 

[1970-1655]

Thanks for the suggestions. I cut out the corner that was broken out and butt welded in a piece of metal. After a little grinding and hammer and dolly, it looks straight. I only used very little spot filler and with epoxy primer, it looks good. I tried the suggestion to feather the paint in but that didn't look good so I am just going to paint the entire hood. It is not that much more paint and it will look much better than a hack job.
 

[souNdguy]

if I painted a tractor.. and had that exact same paint on hand.. and it ws still good.. i
d featehr it. if it was new to me.. and a single panel.. I'd just paint the entire hood.. the you know it will match.. no fuss.. and as you say.. not much more paint really.. you'll waste that much filling the gun half way to shoot it...
 

[sflem849]