Auto collision repair is something that you are bound to invest in over the life of your car. Of course, most serious collision repair needs to be done by auto body professionals at companies like Mach 1 Body Shop Inc. However, there are probably some small paint chips and scratches on your car that you can fix yourself. These are minor repairs that can be done with over-the-counter products. Instead of waiting to take them in to be professionally repaired, you should buy a few simple supplies and prepare them yourself to save money. Usually, car owners wait too long, and the small scratches become problematic. They can lead to rusting if left alone. Even if the paint chip seems insignificant at first, it is bound to become bigger and more expensive to fix down the line. Luckily, the process of repairing small paint chips is easy.
Prepping the Chip
The key to paint chip repair is making sure that you clean and prep the chip before you paint it. It is also important that you have the exact replacement paint. To be sure of this, buy your paint directly from the dealership. Manufacturer colors are bound to match better than third-party products. It might be a little more expensive, but it is worth it if you want your touch-up paint to look good.
The first thing you need is autobody sandpaper. This is extremely smooth sandpaper that usually has rubber backing. You just need to use a small corner of the sandpaper to clean up and prep the chip. You don't want to sand away any of the paint; you just wanna make sure that there is no rust or loose paint within the chip. Also, slightly roughing up the surface is going to make the new paint stick better to it.
Applying the Paint
When it comes to applying the touch-up paint, the job is very simple, especially since most products come with a paintbrush built in to the lid. So, you just need to dab the paint onto the chip at delicately as possible. It is really more like painting a fingernail because you are working in such small spaces and with such a tiny brush. You will get the best results if you paint sparingly. That is, just put a little bit of paint onto the brush and apply it. Let that first coat dry and then apply a second coat. Don't try and get a complete coverage on the first coat.
As you can see, repairing most small paint chips and scratches is easy.