Enamel Paint for chips?
 

Hi,

I just noticed that on my three week old black FX there are a couple of small chips in the paint by the rear axle. Can I use Black Enamel paint for touch up or can I get touch up paint from Trek?

Thanks

I use nail polish for touch-ups, black should be relatively easy to match.

Testor's enamel touch-up paint are available in hobby shops. Make sure you buy the enamel and not the acrylic. They are cheap too.

In 45+ years, I've yet to find anything simpler or better then nail polish. Plus there's such a wide choice of colors. Just be sure to clean the area for good adhesion, using acetone, or wood alcohol (not nail polish remover, which leaves an oil residue, or rubbing alcohol)

Hint, black can fool you when matching, and like all colors changes slightly depending on the lighting. So paint outside in daylight so the match is right. (may not match as well indoors)

In my memory there wasn't such a wide choice of colors 45 years ago. Back then you could get any color you wanted as long as it was some shade of red/pink. Black is common nowadays tho...

I'm in New York, and there was always some kind of fashion subculture, punk, goth or whatever, so there's always been a nice selection. Now those colors are mainstream.

Thanks for the responses. I went to CVS and bought Revlon 270 Stiletto (Black) Colorstay nail polish. I haven't had a chance to apply it yet. I will do it this weekend and let you know how it turned out.

You were so right. I always thought my paint job was just a gloss black. I put on my reading glasses and took the bike outside to do the paint and realized (after 3 weeks) that it actually has some metallic and is slightly lighter than your typical black. Thankfully, the chips were down low on the rear axle and is almost impossible to notice the touch up. Next time tough, I will have to find some black "metallic" paint. I might have to go to an auto parts store for that. All the nail polish and Testors just comes in a gloss or flat black. Thanks

I touched up my old Raleigh frame with black gloss enamel and it worked well, lasted years.

Yes, but how's it look on your nails!

you could head down to the local pep boys and ask for a touch-up
stick. small bottle (about 5-15ml) of automotive paint in all the
popular colors for covering up scratches.

they'll have color-matching cards, or you can just cruise the parking
lot comparing your bike to the hondas and toyotas and fords for
the correct color.

I'll let you know after Halloween! :)

Sounds like an idea, thanks.