Repairing the paint on your vehicle can be extremely stressful---especially if you received a quote from a professional explaining that the couple of chips on your sedan will cost $500 to fix. Don't worry, however; with a little bit of know-how and the right tools, fixing the paint chips on your vehicle in a seamless and cost-efficient manner can be a breeze.
Starting the Process
Before beginning to repaint the chips on your car, you should assess the situation: has the paint been stripped down to bare metal (worst-case scenario, is the metal scraped or bruised?), or has it merely been scraped down to the primer? If the metal is showing, you'll need to rough up the surface a bit with sandpaper before continuing. In either case, the area should be washed and wiped clean---preferably with lacquer thinner or a citrus degreaser---before continuing with any further step of the process. Should the edges of a chip remain ready to chip even more, they (and a small bit of paint surrounding them) should be roughened very carefully with sandpaper. A light, clean and soft cloth must be used to clean the area from any road grease or dirt buildup. Using the tiny applicator brush that comes along with a tube of primer, carefully prime the area to be painted, making sure that no bubbles, bumps or unevenness occurs. Let this sit for at least a full day. To be careful, wait even longer.
Painting the Area
Covering the bare spot with paint can, and should, be an extremely slow and careful process. You should make certain as you begin to paint that the color is exactly what you want, that the coat is applied evenly and that the new paint you are applying does not touch the edge of the chip. Lacquer will fill this tiny area in. Excess paint must be wiped up immediately using a clean and soft cloth. Don't let this paint dry, since it will be extremely difficult to clean and cost you time and effort in the long term. Moreover, if the paint becomes too thick, you'll need to add thinner to the paint and mix it well before continuing. A steady hand can make up for a multitude of mistakes in these situations. Several coats of paint, applied evenly and in one direction over several days, may be coated before the finish looks similar to the surrounding area.
Finishing the Project
The paint, once it reaches a nearly perfect level of evenness with the surrounding area, must be allowed to dry for at least a week. Many car owners will wait longer to ensure a quality job. A "clear coat" of paint is applied last and, if the previous steps have been followed to the letter, allows for a seamless and entirely unnoticeable paint fix-up. If the topcoat is unnecessary---simply don't use it. While most repairs require this clear coat for blending, the touch-up paint is formulated specifically to not require a topcoat.
A topcoat should be applied very slowly and with the utmost care. If the paint applicator that comes in the tube of clear coat lays the paint on too thick, use a toothpick to even it out layer by layer. A rubbing compound will help the area to shine like the rest of the car and will not attract undue attention to the repair job you've just completed for a fraction of the cost of professional repair.
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