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Rushing a scratch fix after a night shift ruined the blend

My neighbor needed a quick touch-up on his sedan's rear panel last Tuesday. I had just come off a night shift and was feeling groggy, but I agreed to help. Instead of taking time to feather the edges, I just cleaned the spot and sprayed over it. The paint dried with a clear line where the new coat met the old, and it looked awful in the sunlight. He had to bring it to a shop to get it redone, which cost him extra. I felt terrible for letting my fatigue lead to a sloppy job. It’s a reminder that haste really does make waste in our line of work. What’s your go-to method for avoiding rush mistakes, especially when you’re not at your best?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellis.cole5d ago

Look, I did almost the same thing on my buddy's truck last month. Sometimes a quick spray is all the job needs, not a full showroom blend. If your neighbor just wanted the scratch covered to stop rust, you did the job. The shop charge is on him for changing the scope after the fact. We can't always be perfect, and holding ourselves to that standard just means turning down work. A solid quick fix has its place.

mason_martin5d ago

Ellis, 'changing the scope' doesn't cover for a bad paint job.

alicehernandez4d ago

Totally agree with @mason_martin. Had a customer last year who approved a spot repair on a Toyota's quarter panel, then got upset it wasn't a full respray when the sun hit it. That mismatch was in the signed work order, plain as day. Sometimes a decent cover-up is all people are paying for, and it is what it is.