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How to Apply Touch Up Paint
Check the Match
Always check the paint match BEFORE you apply it to your vehicle. Use a business card, a metal can and brush or spray out a little color and compare it to your vehicle. If there are any problems, please let us know so we can assist you.
Quick and Easy
If you are not too fussy about the repair, simply clean the area with soapy water and apply the touch up paint to fill in the scratch or chip. Dip your brush in the paint, wipe off the excess paint, and simply dab the area. Wait at least one hour but not more than 24 hours and then apply the clearcoat. If you want a really nice repair, read on.
You CAN do this!
If you are wondering if you can really apply touch up paint to your vehicle, and make it look good, the answer is yes! Just read the instructions below and take your time.
Practice!!!
Take a little time and practice using the touch up paint before you apply it to your car. This will give you a good feel for the paint and you can check the color match. Use a surface such as a metal can, a glossy sheet of paper, etc. to practice on. Use several light coats rather than one heavy coat when brushing or spraying the paint. Make sure you let the paint dry properly. If you really want an excellent repair, don't skip practicing!
Important!
Make sure the temperature is at least 50 degrees F.
Clean and Protect the Area
Wash the area with soap and water, then use a wax and grease remover or equivalent product (some painters have suggested tar and insect remover, available at the supermarket) before starting the project. You may wish to use masking tape (automotive quality only!) all around the scratch or chipped area to prevent accidentally marring the surface.
Rust
The first thing to determine is if the scratch has started to rust. We are talking about a surface scratch and not rust that is bubbling up beneath the paint, as this is too far-gone for touch-up paint! If the area is rusty, you should take a little extra effort to remove all traces of rust using 220 grit sandpaper, followed by 600 grit to make the area smooth.
Primer
If you have an unpainted surface, either bare metal, plastic, rubber, etc., APPLY PRIMER! Primer is made to stick to unpainted surfaces and paint is designed to stick to primer! Also, make sure you are using the correct type of primer. Rubberized surfaces should use a rubberized primer, metal surfaces a metal primer, etc. Call us if you have any questions. Clean the area of all dust with a tack rag and apply primer to the unpainted surfaces. Let the primer dry and lightly sand with #600 grit wet and dry sandpaper. Make sure you let the primer dry for 30 minutes to one hour before applying the color coat.
Applying the Color Coat
Apply several thin coats of paint to build up the chip to the same depth as the surrounding surface. Dab at the scratch using light coats of paint. Let it dry for ten to twenty minutes between coats. You may sand lightly with 1000 grit sandpaper between coats. However, DO NOT SAND THE FINAL COAT OF COLOR. Let the paint dry at least one hour and not more than 24 hours before applying the clearcoat.
Clearcoat
All colors require clearcoat to make the color shine. Even if your car was originally single stage paint, all new paint must be produced in a basecoat/clearcoat combination due to environmental regulations. The color match will still be just as good as the original paint. The basecoat contains the color and the clearcoat makes them shine.
Apply several thin coats of the clearcoat, drying for ten to twenty minutes between each coat. You may sand the clearcoat to remove imperfections, but wait at least 24 hours after applying the final coat. Use 1000 grit wet and dry sandpaper and wet sand the area smooth using plenty of water. Let the area dry and use a good quality automotive rubbing compound to polish the area. Wait 30 days before applying automotive wax.
Key Scratches
If your car has been keyed, you have two choices. Try and fix it yourself or take it to a collision repair facility. Key scratches tend to be very long and aren? easy to fix. Follow the same procedures as described above and you can get satisfactory results. Due to the average length of a key scratch, it is going to be time consuming. The bad news is that it is also an expensive repair at a collision shop. Our advice? Try ordering the touch up paint and clearcoat and try a section of the scratch and see how it turns out. You may be pleased with the results. If not, you are out only a few dollars for touch up paint and some time, but you can still have the scratch repaired professionally.
Spray Cans
All spray cans are 12.5 ounces and cover from four to six square feet so you can estimate how many cans you will need by measuring the square footage of the area you are painting. You can achieve good results by following the directions on the spray can. Blending the paint into adjacent panels will achieve a much nicer and less noticeable repair especially for metallic paints. The most important thing to remember is to not spray heavy coats. Do not apply so little paint that it dries as you apply it as this creates dry spots. Spray in a dust free area. Again, practice AWAY from your vehicle!
Paint Spraying-Humidity Warning!
Make sure you do not spray in wet or humid conditions! To test the humidity, spray some of the clearcoat and see how it dries. If it dries milky, it is too humid to paint!
Paint Spraying-Technique
Clean the area as described above then sand the area you wish to spray with #600 grit sandpaper. Tape surrounding areas to protect against over spray. Use a tack rag to pick up any foreign matter on the vehicle. Spray even, overlapping coats. The painted area should be evenly wet with no dry spots. You can sand out imperfections later. Let the paint dry for approximately 15 to 30 minutes then apply a second coat. Let the paint dry overnight and wet sand the area using 1000 wet and dry sandpaper to sand out imperfections, dust, etc. Spray a final coat of paint over the area but do not sand it. Let the paint dry at least one hour but not more than 24 hours before applying clearcoat. For best results, metallic paints should be blended into the surrounding area.
Spraying the Clearcoat
Spray the clear over the paint. Do not spray the clearcoat in the sun. Do not spray a part that has been heated by the sun. Let it cool down first, as otherwise the clearcoat will dry with a dull finish. Let the clear dry overnight. If necessary, wet sand out any imperfections with 1000 grit, then apply a final coat of clear. Use our automotive rubbing compound to smooth and shine the area.
Using the Rubbing Compound
Let the clearcoat dry for at least 24 hours before using the rubbing compound. Use a very soft cloth like an old tee shirt (for example DO NOT USE PAPER NAPKINS, the wood fibers will scratch the paint!). Place a small quantity of rubbing compound on the vehicle and use circular strokes and apply even pressure to the vehicle. It's almost like waxing a vehicle except the rubbing compound is like an extremely fine liquid sandpaper. Buff with a clean cloth to a high gloss. (You may want to spray some paint and clearcoat on a smooth surface and practice to get the feel of it.) Sometimes lots of pressure is required to make the clear shine. The rubbing compound can also be applied by machine, but careful, it's very easy to burn the paint! You can get the same results by hand, it will just take a bit longer.
The rubbing compound is also good for removing oxidation from your finish. Let the paint dry for a 30 days and apply a good quality automotive wax.
Bumpers
If you are using a spray can to paint your bumper, please indicate on the order form by checking the appropriate box. We will add a bumper flex additive so the paint will hold up properly but make sure you only use it on rubberized/ flexible surfaces. We also sell special primer for rubberize surfaces. Please indicate this on the order form.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place. Do not leave the bottle in your vehicle, as heat will dry up the paint.
Hazards and Safety-VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!!
Automotive touch-up paint including primer and clearcoats are EXTREMELY hazardous. Keep away from children! Call a physician IMMEDIATELY if swallowed. Keep out of direct sunlight and heat over 120F. DO NOT STORE IN CAR and avoid freezing. Contains HAZARDOUS Waste. EPA requires proper disposal. Use with adequate ventilation. If you experience any dizziness, discontinue product use immediately and call physician. This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer and other health problems. The main thing here is to use the product with adequate ventilation. Use an approved automotive paint respirator and WEAR safety goggles when handling automotive paint to protect your eyes!! This includes the primer, paint and clearcoat.
Tri-Coats
Any color that has the word "Tri-coat" in the color description will need three different steps to achieve the correct color. Make sure you practice before applying this touch-up paint to you vehicle.
Drying
Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before washing/waxing.
Using Your Own Spray Gun
You can use your own spray gun or purchase a Preval Spray Gun. If you choose to use the spray gun, you will need a small container of automotive lacquer thinner to thin the paint. Thin the paint with one part lacquer thinner to one part paint. If the paint is too thin, add additional paint. Too thick, add more thinner.
Please email us any comments you have or any additional tips that worked for you!
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