subject: Auto Paint Touch-Up [print this page] Auto paint touch-ups can be efficiently and expertly performed by a trained technician. Depending upon the size of the area to be touch-up, various methods can be use to perform the work. Very small paint chips can be repaired using touch-up paint and a very tiny brush. If the area to be repaired is a bit larger it can repaired by spraying paint using an airbrush or a small touch-up spray gun. The paints to be used to perform an auto paint touch-up are purchased from a couple sources. Tiny bottles of touch-up paint for repairing tiny chips using a small touch-up brush can be purchased at a dealership. The small quantities of sprayable paint are obtained at an auto body supply shop. The paints are purchased to match the existing original paint color. Paint color is typically designated as a paint code imprinted on a decal or tag which is located somewhere on the vehicle in an unobtrusive spot such as on the outside firewall or a door jamb. This pant code allows the auto body supply shop to mix a small quantity of paint to exactly match the original color. The spot to be repaired must first be thoroughly cleaned using mild solvents to remove any residual wax, oil or grime. Once cleaned, the area is lightly wet-sanded to prepare the old clearcoat to accept the fresh paint so it will chemically and physically bond to the existing paint. After wet-sanding, the spot is sprayed with a primer paint which is designed to adhere to the bare metal surface. After the primer has cure sufficiently, the area is next sprayed with the color-matched paint. The color is blended out over a somewhat larger area of the existing painted surface so that any color differential is blended out. The auto paint touch-up is completed by spraying clearcoat over the repaired area and further blending it into the surrounding existing paint. When the repair is completed it will not be noticeable.
