How to Apply Touch Up Paint to Your Car

Sometimes when you have an older car and don't need to do a whole paint job you can do a touch up paint job. Painting the spots that are nicked or scratched and really need painting will help your car's exterior look nicer. They say touch up painting is not rocket science. So here we go..

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• spray paint or small can of paint
• soap cleaner
• water
• primer
• wax
• body filler
• gloves
• safety mask
• safety goggles
• soft cloth(diaper or t-shirt)

1. 
    
   washing car

   First of all clean the car's surface and the area that you are working on especially well. Wash it with soap and water with a soft lint free cloth (diaper or t-shirt)thoroughly. Let this dry.

2. After it dries lightly sand the scratch. Get the area nice and smooth. Brush this off well with another clean dry soft cloth. Then prime it. Let the primer dry.

3. If the spot is fairly deep down to the metal you may want to fill it in with the body filler first. Usually when there is a nick body filling may be need to be done. If you use filler let it dry and sand again. Then prime it afterwards. If you have just a scratch you can leave off the body filler.

4. Paint the spot with spray paint that matches your car as closely as possible. Let dry completely. Now wax it and buff it until it shines with a clean soft cloth. There you go your done!

Tips & Warnings

• Wear goggles when sanding to keep dust from eyes
• Wear a mask over mouth for keeping out chemical fumes
• Make sure color matches as closely as possible by trying on an old piece of metal first or a place on the car that is not noticeable

[inwonderland]

on 8/12/2009 I need to do this! Thanks for the great tips. I hope I can match the silver paint on my SUV...

[sunshineandrose]

on 8/8/2009 Im glad to help Thanks for the nice comments!

[mboone84]

on 8/7/2009 I couldn't have read this article at a better time. I have a white car and someone bumped my bumper and now I have black paint and scratches on there. Thought it would be cheaper to do it myself than to send it to a shop now I know how.

[how2lady]

on 8/2/2009 Thanks for the tips

[davida8575]

on 7/11/2009 Some times people don't want to use Primer. They just use paint. But remember: Paint does not stick to bare metal very well, That is why you have to use primer first.