Your car paint can chip very easily. Such an accident can happen at any time, for example debris on the roadway could splash and chip the side of your car or adverse weather conditions could ruin the hood. Normally using a car it is easy to find some chips on the bodywork. These dents are too small to require a complete painting of the car or to require the intervention of an expert body builder. If the area to be treated is very small, say smaller than a penny, you can repair the damage yourself using touch-up paint in the same color as your car's body. Follow the steps in this guide to find out how to effectively touch up your car's bodywork.
Steps
Step 1. Purchase a paint that perfectly matches the color of your car
- Check the vertical bulkhead that separates the engine compartment from the cockpit to find the code that identifies exactly the color used to paint your car. To do this you will need to open the hood and access the engine compartment.
- Buy a primer paint, called a primer, along with the paint of the right color for your car, unless the paint you are going to use for the touch up has instructions for use that advise against the use of a primer. You can purchase both products at any auto parts store.
Step 2. Check the area to be retouched for rust
Before retouching the chipped part of the paint, apply a small amount of rust inhibitor to prevent rust from building up between the bodywork and the layer of paint you are going to apply
Step 3. Wash the car, focusing your attention on the spot where the chip to be repaired is
Step 4. Prepare the chip for painting
- Apply a product that removes protective car wax from the area to be treated.
- Use a sander to remove any paint residue from the area to be touched up.
- Sand the surface again, using a 220 grit sandpaper. This way the primer layer will adhere better to the car body.
- Wash the surface again using water to remove the car wax and any residue created by surface sanding. Wait until the area to be painted is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.
Step 5. If necessary apply a coat of primer
- Apply a light coat of primer if the chip is so deep that it has reached the metal of the body. If, on the other hand, the chip is only superficial, you can proceed to the next step. The primer is only necessary in case of very deep chipping, as normal paint does not adhere to the bare metal of the bodywork.
- Apply primer to the small chip, using a small brush. Use a very small amount of primer, enough for a very thin layer. Wait for the primer layer to dry completely.
Step 6. Check the paint color
Apply a small amount of paint to an area of the body that is not visible. For example the lower inner part of one of the doors. It is very important to be sure that the paint color you have purchased matches the color of your car perfectly. Also you will be sure that the new paint does not react negatively in contact with the original one
Step 7. Paint the area where you applied the primer
- Mix the colored paint carefully, then pour a small amount into a shallow dish.
- Apply 2-3 coats of paint to the area to be touched up. The spot where you applied the paint will protrude from the rest of the surface. Don't worry, everything is normal.
- Wait at least 24 hours before proceeding further.
Step 8. Refine the treated surface
- Sand the surface with slow, gentle movements, using a 1000 grit sandpaper. Continue using a 2000 grit sandpaper and finally 3000 grit paper, until the touched up paint area is perfectly equal to the rest of the bodywork.
- Polish the car body and apply a layer of protective car wax.
Advice
- If the peeling paint is on a vertical surface of the car, do the touch-up by applying one coat of paint at a time and waiting for it to dry completely. This way you will avoid annoying dripping.
- If you don't have much experience touching up paint on a car's body, you can practice applying the paint to a piece of metal.
- A matchstick works very well as a primer and color paint applicator.
Warnings
- Paints with light colors are much more difficult to find. If you have difficulty finding the right paint color for your car, ask for advice at your trusted auto parts store.
- When applying primer paint and colored paint, always wear safety glasses, gloves and a mask to protect your face.
- Avoid applying undercoat paint directly to your car paint. It would ruin the final finish.
