Clear coat will soften the previously dried colored touch up paint so be gentle. The final layer is the clear coat. Wiping with a leveling solvent or polishing with a rubbing compound. The point of practicing is to get used to the flow of car paint. Once the primer has dried, spray on the right color auto paint.
If the paint chip is on a vertical surface on your car, it’s especially important to wait until the touch-up paint dries between layers so it doesn't run.
Solvent is a good alternative to rubbing compound. You'll find more detailed help here: You’ll need the right color of touch-up paint, primer for under the paint and a clear top coat, available from auto supplies stores or paint stores stocking car paints. Use isopropyl alcohol or a good degreaser to remove these protective coatings in and around the scratch or chip. It’s ideal for applying a very small amount into a paint scratch or chip. Scratches that expose bare metal or plastic will require a layer of primer before applying touch up paint and clear coat. If I can avoid having portions of my car repainted that is the route I’m going to take. For the best results you’ll want to be sure that you use a touch up kit that includes clear coat. The short answer is it won’t hurt to sand the touch-up paint, however, there are some things that you should consider prior to getting out your sanding tools. Some people swear by this paint chip repair tool. By following this article, you will have the ultimate confidence to excel in this repair and get results comparable, if not better than a professional body shop. You’ll also need a ground sheet in case of drips if using canned paint (a paint pen is not likely to leak). This article has been viewed 381,464 times. I heard using sandpaper can help smooth it out. They’re typically priced a little over $100 for a good one which isn’t too bad considering they’re great for polishing out swirls and scratches when the need arises. Look at the packaging on the touch up paint before buying primer.
The best compounds are from the Chemical Guys. You should be working in a shaded area such as a garage or car port. This can be a very difficult paint to touch up but if you’re willing to practice first you can pull it off. To use it you can apply some to a microfiber polishing pad or microfiber rag and begin applying pressure. If no metal has been exposed you can skip applying primer and apply the touch up paint to the scratch or chip. If you’re nervous about trying to fix these blemishes yourself, don’t. These polishes are made without silicones or fillers, only providing you with the best product to apply to your vehicle. Did you find this article helpful? Leveler solvent for leveling touch up paint. Copyright © 2020 Montford Design | All Rights Reserved, Scratches that only affect the clear coat can usually be polished out and won’t need touch up car paint.
If the scratch or chip has exposed bare metal and rust has started to develop you’ll need to sand that away. Be sure to use minimal pressure when applying clear coat since it can affect the touch up paint beneath. A polisher or power buffer is usually overkill for leveling touch up paint unless you have a lot of chips and scratches over a large area. Help Us & Share it. These small blemishes can really ruin an otherwise pristine looking ride. It isn’t really much better than a paint pen in my opinion but it is great if you have touch up paint in a bottle and need a way to easily control applying paint into small chips and crevices.
What is the best way to smooth out and at what point do I apply the clear coat. This is a perfectly adequate method but it will not do much for blending the touched up area into the original paint. The compounds from this system will ensure that you are getting the best finish possible as you’re figuring out how to smooth out touch up paint on car surfaces. All it will do is knock down the touch up paint and clear coat to even with the factory paint surface. Rubbing compound is basically just a liquid polish that when rubbed will wear away excess paint or clear coat.
Also keep in mind that in most cases it’s going to be almost impossible to conceal the fact that you had a paint job done. Help Us & Share it. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If your scratch or chip has exposed bare metal you’ll want to apply a small amount of primer to the exposed metal.
Copyright © 2020 Montford Design | All Rights Reserved, Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam Car Wash Soap and Cleanser, Ceramic vs Graphene Coating (Which Is Best? By buying from this company, you are supporting a family-owned business that has over 50 years of experience with car paint color.
A sanding pen may work well here but larger chips may require a 250 grit sandpaper. Make sure to use circular motions when buffing out the finish of the paint color, this will make the surface smooth out evenly. You can use it the same way you would use rubbing compound. It allows the colored paint to show through but creates a sacrificial layer above that small scratches and chips will now show as badly. In addition to how the paint is applied, another big difference is how the touch up paint is leveled when applied. The first layer applied to the metal or plastic of the body of your vehicle is primer. Did you apply the touch-up paint evenly? The good news is that touch up paint repair kits have gotten much easier to use and the results have also gotten a lot better.
Scratches that go through the clear coat down to the color can possibly get away with simply applying some clear coat touch up but more often than not will need a layer or two of touch up paint applied. The basic steps involve sanding the affected area to remove the top layers of paint, rinsing after sanding, then spraying on primer. There are some particular touch-up paints that don't need primer underneath them and the packaging will state that if it's the case. Touching up chips with spray paint is meant for dealing with anything larger than the size of a dime. The rust must be removed before applying paint otherwise the paint won’t adhere properly and the rust may simply return even if you do manage to paint the surface. Yes, you can. You will have to way a few days for the touch up paint to cure and then you can go over it with a compound to level it out. Wet sanding involves using different very fine grades of sand paper with water sprayed onto the surface to wear away the excess touch up. We’re going to stick with touch up paint that is applied with a touch up pen or brush. Without prepping the spot first, the paint won't adhere well, and it could look 'globby.'. Unless you NEVER drive your car or truck in the real world, you have small chips and scratches on your finish. Polishing compound or a chemical leveler are often used with touch up paint to smooth out the touch up job and blend the touch up paint with the original paint.
Once dried, wax the repaired area. Content on DetailDIY is copyrighted. Once you've prepped the surface, apply a rust arrestor to the chipped area so rust doesn't spread under your touch-up job. You don’t want to rush to put additional coats on top of others without allowing adequate time for drying. Cars and trucks produced since the mid 1980’s have included a clear coat over top of the colored paint layers. Be sure to thoroughly dry the area that is scratched after you wash it. Having a good quality car paint chip repair kit and the patience to do the job right is key to getting the best results. If you feel like any of your touch up paint looks off, sanding is the way to go. This line of products is specifically engineered for a scratch-free finish which will help your polish last longer. This article has been viewed 381,464 times. If you don’t replace this layer your touch up paint will appear different than the surrounding paint and stand out from the rest of the vehicle. Trust me. If you did, then there is no need to sand between the coats which will save you lots of time. Consult an auto paint specialist if you are having difficulty finding the right color.
Tip: Shake the paint well before testing it.
Don’t be afraid to give it a shot. Last Updated: December 5, 2019
One of the most frustrating things a car owner can face is the dreaded door ding. A leveling solvent is a specially formulated paint thinner of sorts. If it is a sealant, then that goes on second and the color goes first. The humidity should be low and the temperature should be at least 50 degrees. Scratches that only affect the clear coat can usually be polished out and won’t need touch up car paint. This article was co-authored by Chad Zani. If this is the case you’ll probably need to purchase a larger quantity of a very fine polish. Make sure the one you use states on the package that it can be used under paint. Visit our partner Detailed Image and use our Coupon Code to save Today! It’s not as difficult as it may seem.
Use car washing soap, water, and a clean, soft cloth to clean the scratched area.
By using our site, you agree to our. Follow the directions that came on your top-coat container. References. For detailed instructions on doing this, see: How do you touch up paint on a car with rust? You can do it that way if you want to, as wet sandpaper is more of a personal choice. If you're looking to paint the whole car, see: I have 2 liquids, one is the color of the paint, the other is a clear liquid, which goes on first? 3 - the touch up paint will be removed [I have seen it remove touch up paint that is up to a year old] 4 - the original factory paint/clear coat will not be effected. It’s best to wipe in straight lines that go from the front of the car to the back of the car.
If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. They aren’t meant to be interchangeable. Scratches and chips that dig through to the primer will need touch up paint and clear coat. The solvent will soften the touched up area and allow you to knock it down to the desired level. If you’re going to be buying detailing products anyway, why not save 10%. These rough spots should be sanded down to ensure there are no bits of paint or plastic that stick up above the surface of the normal finish. Did you find this article helpful? Wax removers are available at most auto parts stores. The reason this is so difficult is that you’ll need to practice determining how much mid coat needs to be applied to get the right final look.