What to Use When Using Touch Up Paint on Cars

Accidents happen when you are driving your car, especially small ones that require touch-up paint to help conceal minor damage. This can be from bumping the wall when pulling into the driveway, a shopping cart nudging the bumper at the grocery store or someone thoughtlessly opening his door, only to strike your car while it is parked.

Paint Pens

These are handy devices to keep on hand in your glove compartment or any place else in your car. These paint pens are exactly what the name says: pens, about the size of a Sharpie marker, with a specific color inside used to correct paint scratches. To use it, shake thoroughly, the same as you would for a can of spray paint, then remove the cap and trace over the scratched area. Put slight pressure on the pen and the paint will come out, following your movements (it works similar to a white out pen). Allow the paint to dry (driving the car will help this). You may need to repeat the process and add a second coat.

Touch-Up Spray Paint

The touch-up spray paint cans are larger in size (although only about half the size of a typical can of spray paint) than the paint pens. These are better for larger paint scratches because the spray of the paint covers a larger area. Shake the can for a moment or two before removing the cap. Aim the nozzle toward the scratch, but make sure you are not too close. Six inches is recommended, but you can adjust accordingly as your paint. If you are too close when you spray the paint, the air from the can will blow the paint away from the desired location onto spots around where you are aiming. If you are near lights or other fixtures, this can result in an undesirable effect.

Touch-Up Kit

The touch-up kits are for precise scratches, and you will normally only use them when the scratch is small and if your color cannot be found in a paint pen. It also takes extra work to do this as well. Paint kits normally come with a large variety of colors and a small brush. You can either pour a small amount of paint into a container or dip your brush into the pain directly. Slowly paint over the scratch using smooth strokes. Once you have completed the task, rinse off the brush so the paint does not dry. Also, if you need to, dab away excess paint with a paper towel. This will ensure the paint does not dry thick in one location.

References

• Paint Scratch Pens
• Touch-Up Spray Paint
• Paint Kit