How to Touchup Auto Paint
Your car may often develop small nicks, chips or scratches over time due to small rocks being kicked up into your paint's surface while driving. Shopping carts are often the cause of small scratches as well. If your car has these small surface scratches or chips, do not worry, you can easily remove them yourself in no time.
Items needed:
- Masking tape
- Fine tip sharpie or auto touch-up pen
- Cotton balls
- Car wax or polish
- Buffer
Instructions:
- Inspect your car for any surface scratches or chips that you need to repair. Mark each area with a small piece of masking tape so that you can easily find them later.
- Decide whether you want to use a fine tip sharpie or an auto touch-up pen to repair the damage. If you wish to use an auto touch-up pen you need to contact the dealer who makes your car. They can help you locate the corresponding touch-up pen for your car's color. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, you can visit an office supply store to find a fine tip sharpie that matches the color your car. Most office supply stores have a variety of colors to choose from.
- Apply your fine-tip sharpie marker or touch-up paint directly to the area where your car's paint is damaged. You may want to use a toothpick to apply the paint if the chip is very small. If you are using an auto paint pen you may want to apply the paint with a Q-tip.
- Dab the paint with a dry cotton ball to spread the paint throughout the area that is being repaired.
- Allow adequate time for the paint or sharpie to dry thoroughly, this depends on the temperature in your garage as well as the amount of ventilation that is in the space where your car is stored.
- Apply a thin coat of car wax or polish to the areas that you have treated to seal in the paint and prevent moisture from getting into the area to prevent rust.
- Allow the wax to sit on your repairs for at least 30 minutes. You want the wax to feel dry to the touch before moving on to the next step.
- Buff out the car wax that you have applied until it is smooth and you can no longer tell where it has been applied.