Chipex Frequently Asked Questions
The Chipex system has been designed as a high quality cosmetic repair to vehicle paint work that will effectively remove or reduce the visual impact caused by road and traffic damage in addition to making a permanent repair that will prevent rust forming on exposed metal work.
The effectiveness of the Chipex system will depend on the level of damage your vehicle has sustained. Please look at the information provided to gain further knowledge on the products limitations and use.
General Questions
1. What is an OEM Code?
An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) code is the series of letters and or numbers that make up a formulation code. The code is then entered into the formulation computer that brings up the exact paint mix formulation for that particular vehicle.
2. Does it really work?
Yes! The Chipex® product works extremely well at stone chips and small scratches and will also significantly improve scuffs.
The product has been tested and certified by TUV the German testing agency: www.tuv.com
Whilst the product is very good it is not a miracle cure for all damage and it is important that you read the information below on its limitations. If you are at all unsure please contact us by email: info@chipex.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1295-258308 and we will be happy to assist you.
3. What do I need to do prior to painting?
It is important to thoroughly wash and clean the area you are going to repair and remove any residual polish or wax that could be present within the damaged area. You can remove wax/polish by using the blending solution provided or white spirits/alcohol wipes. The paint does not adhere well to polish or wax so this is important.
4. Why is there no Clear Coat / Lacquer required after painting?
The Chipex system has a specially patented and formulated lacquer within the paint that removes the need for this procedure. Furthermore normal hand applied clear coats as used with a conventional touch up paint change the tone of the colour leaving the repair even more visible.
5. Is the repair permanent?Yes the Chipex system has a specially patented and formulated additive that hardens the paint once it has cured. The curing period is in the region of four weeks depending on weather conditions.
6. When can I use a jet washer on the damaged area?
You can use a jet washer to clean your car straight away however we recommend that you try and avoid the repaired area until it has fully cured. Curing takes around two weeks.
7. Can I use Chipex on a car that has just been painted?
No, Not straight away! When a car has just been painted the paintwork is soft and requires time to harden. After one month following painting it is safe to use Chipex.
8. Is each paint already made and held in stock?
No, due to the vast selection of colours available we make each paint to order on a daily basis so it is completely new for the customer and to maximise shelf life.
9. What is the Shelf life of the Chipex paint and blending solution?
The shelf life of the Chipex paint is three plus years and the blending solution is two years.
10. Will the Chipex Blending Solution work with regular touch up paint?No the Chipex Blending Solution will only work with the specially formulated Chipex paint.
11. Will Chipex work on rusted body work?
Yes you can use Chipex on rusted bodywork to cover over the damaged area successfully. The Silver Mercedes Benz in the Examples section was rusty and you can see the difference. Please note that the Chipex paint is NOT a rust inhibitor and the paint could rise after a period of time due to the moisture within the damaged area. Rust inhibitor products can be purchased from car accessory shops and these will help reduce but not totally cure rusted areas.
12. Can you use Chipex on classic cars?
Yes Chipex is suitable for use on classic cars. Cars painted pre 1970 will have been painted in a Cellulose paint that is very soft and whilst the Chipex paint can be used the blending solution can affect the paintwork as this type of paint is very soft and it is not recommended. Most classic / vintage cars have generally been repainted in modern paint so this is not applicable.
13. Can you colour match the paint without a colour code?
Yes we can. If you have a car, light aircraft or boat that you do not have the colour code then if you could supply us with a panel or paint part we can match to it. Please contact us to discuss this.
Scratch Repair
The Chipex system is designed to work predominately on stone chips however it will work well on various types of scratches and less well on others.
1. Deep Scratches
Deep narrow scratches that are down to the paint or primer can be fixed with Chipex. It is important during the blending solution step to apply very light pressure on the cloth so as to not remove excessive paint from the scratch.
2. Light Scratches & Clear Coat Scratches
When cars are painted they are finally sprayed with a clear coat lacquer to create a protective shield to the paint as well as giving it a shine. If the vehicle is lightly scratched in the clear coat it can look far worse than it really is as the clear coat lacquer will go opaque / white in colour. In many cases you can either use a rubbing compound or take the car to a body shop where they will use a buffing machine to remove this damage. In cases where the damage cannot be removed by a rubbing compound you can carefully apply a small quantity of paint into the damaged area and then remove the excess with the Chipex polish which has a mild rubbing compound in it.
3. Large Wide Scratches
The Chipex system will NOT work well on this type of damage due to the amount of paint that has been removed and in this instance the vehicle should be taken to a body shop for the panel to be repaired and sprayed.
4. Scuffs
Whilst the Chipex system will not make an invisible repair on this type of damage it can go a long way in masking it. For an example of a repair on this type of damage please look at the blue BMW on the bottom of the examples page.
5. Key Scratches
Heavily keyed paint work is difficult to repair and where the car has been vandalised down the side with a very long key mark it is recommended that you take the car to a body shop. However if you wish to mask the damage you can use the kit to achieve this, however it will not be an invisible repair and will still be noticeable.
Stone Chip Repair
1. What is road rash?
Road Rash is where the vehicle’s paint work has been peppered by stones causing a large quantity of stone chips.
2. How does Chipex fix road rash?
As road rash is in a concentrated area you can quite simply smear the special paint all over the damaged area and then remove the excess paint with the blending solution.
3. How is it that all the paint is not removed when using the blending solution?
The applied newly applied paint is not removed as the chemicals very gently remove only a very small cross section of paint at a time. However if you were to apply an excessive amount of the solution and apply excessive pressure to the cloth you can remove the paint you have applied making the product very safe and risk free.
4. Will it fix deep stone chips?
Yes the system will work on deep stone chips, however you will have to build up the paint in layers to achieve a good level. This can be done by either building up in layers or applying a large blob of paint and then letting it dry and then blending it down with the solution.
5. Are the chips still visible following painting?
The vast majority of chips are not visible after painting unless you are very close to the bodywork and looking for them. When inspecting the car from a normal distance of over one metre the damage will be very hard to see and in some cases invisible. Please read our testimonials from customers that have written to us to get a good understanding of this. Please do bear in mind that whilst the Chipex product is extremely effective as a cosmetic repair it will not achieve the same result as would be achieved by removing all the paint and re spraying as carried out by a professional body shop.
Colours and Colour Matching
1. Does it work well on all colours and metallic?
Chipex works especially well on dark and solid colours including metallic paint. When using Silver and Gold metallic paint there can be some shade variation due to the metallic particles within the paint which can cause the applied paint to be darker in some light conditions.
2. Does it work on Pearlescent / Tri Coat Finishes?
Yes. Whilst this is the most difficult finish due to the complexity of the paint we have achieved very good results with our paint system. In the case of Tri colours the kit comes with two paints so as achieve the most original finish.
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