How do I remove paint edges

[Nick91]

Hello

I'm in the middle of a large rust-removing project on my E30, and one thing has left me clueless.

When I have painted the repaired areas and the masking tape is removed, I will obviously be left with edges due to the new paint, but how will I get rid of these so it blends with the old paint ?

It looks like I've put square patches random places on the car

Thank you in advance

[m_jermyn]

You have to mask at the edges of the panels right on the edge itself, if you do not want to paint the entire panel you have to blend the paint out...

[Nick91]

Blending the paint = ?

I read somewhere that you should "buff" the edges away. Can anyone confirm this ?

[m_jermyn]

yup correct

[iceox]

yeh get some rubbing compound from halfords, when i did mine the lip was that high it went back down to the primer

[DLR1]

hi, depending on where your repairs are depends upon what edges you can mask too, i presume your using areosols? i would recommend. looking at the repaired area noting any contour lines, using your masking tape fold it back on itself to create a curved edge and mask it along the contour lines taking it the full length of the panel. Then when you apply your basecoat(colour) start by covering just the repaired area, then with each coat go further and further away from the repaired area. so the further away fron the repair the paint is thinner and thinner(this is called blending out) then laquer the full prepared area taking care not to over apply on the masked areas, allow to dry remove the masking tape ant then use a compound like g3 to buff any slight edges away.

[pac1982]

You need a proper paint gun that works off a compressor and then you blow the edges in, even doing this a trained eye will be able to spot it, the only way to get a truely good finish is to paint the whole panel