How To Touch Up Car Paint

You can purchase formulated automotive repair paint online and from stores designed to service people who want to keep their car in good exterior condition.  A small scratch can take away from a great paint job just as much as a large scratch.  That’s why knowing how to touch up car paint is very important to maintain the car's beauty.

Things you will need to touch up car paint:

• Sandpaper                


• Automotive paint

1. Check out the exterior of the automobile for areas that need to be repaired.  Write down any thoughts as you are examining the car.  Once you are done looking over the car, you may be surprised by how many places need a touch up.


2. Look for the proper automotive paint.  You can search for paint at a car dealership, websites, and paint companies to find the perfect color.  Usually, the paint comes in touch up bottles, aerosol cans, and applicators with a brush on the end. 


3. Pick the correct size of paint for the project.  You can choose between a pint and a quart that is specific to the automaker’s shade chart, and retailers who sell automotive paint have it in those sizes.


4. Get the car ready by washing and letting it dry.  Then be sure to sand the problem area lightly with sandpaper made for automotive paint.  You can get pen holder sandpaper that is called nick sander.


5. Apply a clear coat layer that will allow the repair to have a base.  In particular, a larger repair will require this.  You should focus on the directions of the paint because they vary from brand to brand.  Touching up automotive paint can be difficult and each brand has certain tips to follow.


6. Do a spot test on a hidden area to test how the paint will look, making sure to use the base coat in the test so you can gauge the level of gloss.


7. Be sure to use straight and even spray patterns with a back and forth motion.  You will need to overlap the first spray and the edge with the second spray about half of the original width.


8. Finish the project by putting on wax to the newly painted area.  Buff the repaired area and you will be all done.