How to Touch Up Car Paint

Your car is your proud possession and you would love to keep it sparkling new. Nevertheless, if you drive around a lot, then there are chances that it tends to get minor scratches that can mar its good looks. However, you don’t need to send your car to the garage to get these little scratches repaired. Touch up car paints are available in most automobile car paint stores that can be used to fix these small problems. In fact, you can take it up as a do-it-yourself project! Car paints are available in two varieties, ‘lacquer’ and ‘enamel’; and the two types cannot be mixed, otherwise they will ruffle. Hence, it is important for you to know your car paint type before you purchase touch up paint. Before you start on the touch up, make sure to rub the area with rubbing alcohol to get rid of grease and dirt. Specially formulated touch up car paint is available in stores to cater to people who always want to maintain the brand new look of their cars. For more information on how to touch up car paint, read on.

Touching Up Car Paint

Things Needed

• Automotive Paint Sandpaper (Nick Sander)
• Automobile Paint

• Take a close look at your car and decide the areas that call for touch ups. Make a list of the areas. You will be surprised to see how many places need paint touch up.
• Once you have decided that you need to touch up your car, you need to find the right automotive paint for your vehicle. There are many automotive paint shops as well as automotive paint websites where you can find matching shades for your car model. Purchase a paint that suits the existing color of your car.
• The paints are available in aerosol cans along with touch up bottles and applicators with a brush.
• Now, start by washing your car thoroughly. Make sure that the car surface is free from dirt and debris. Take special sandpaper and slightly sand the problem areas.
• First add a clear coat layer, especially if you are touching up a large area. The layer helps to make a base for the touch up.
• Read the manufacturer’s instruction carefully as each brand has its own modus operandi.
• A good idea is to do a spot test by applying a small amount of paint in some hidden area of the car to get an idea of how it will look when completely done. Don’t forget to paint the base coat on this testing spot as well to get the exact result.
• Now use straight and even spray patterns to touch up the problem areas. Work in a back and forth motion for a uniform finish.
• Once you have applied the color, allow it to dry completely.
• Finish it off by applying wax on the freshly painted area.

• It is best to do a paint touch up on a warm and overcast day so that the paint gets adequate time to dry completely.
• Make sure that you work on a flat and even surface so that the touch up is smooth.
• It is always advisable to wear hand gloves and eye gears while doing this job as you will be working with different chemicals that can be harmful if they get in touch with your body.