Small bath tub chip - repair or complete refinish?

[Sam Leon]

In the process of turning over an apartment, and the cast iron tub (previously refinished) has a small size chip on it.

Less than the size of a dime.

Called a few refinish companies and the cost for a complete refinish is $400 but to repair this chip is $300 because it's the same setup.  Understandable.

I wonder if I should just refinish it or try some DIY repair?

If I do it I guess I will apply some bondo, then lightly sand it, then coat it with what?  Do those epoxy refinish kit from home center works or would the patch be really noticeable?

[Roy N.]

We recently repaired two different tubs - one a steel tub similar to yours; the other a fibreglass tub that had significant gouge/chunk out of the bottom.

For the steel tub we approached it like you would a stone chip on the bonnet of your car.  Prepped the site, primed and used an epoxy.    Sure if you get close enough you can find it ... but you cannot see it from across the room.