How To Patch Small Paint Chips

Auto body repair is something that intimidates many people. Obviously, working on expensive car surfaces, with their shiny finishes and delicate paint jobs, can be a little scary. However, the tools used for most small paint chip repairs are very simple, and you can find them any home improvement or auto parts store. If your car does have some small blemishes, whether they be scratches or paint chips, you want to fix them as soon as possible. When you leave these alone, you run the risk of rust formation and further decay of your car body. This article explains the best supplies to use and the best methods for properly repairing small paint chips.

Fixing With Just Touch Up Paint

First of all, it is important to note that this article doesn't deal with using auto body filler. Auto body filler is usually only necessary for large holes or deep scratches in your cart body. If it is only a paint issue, you want to avoid using auto body filler all together. Replacement paint has some thickness to it, so it fills in small scratches and makes them look uniform and level.

Using the Right Products

You can get replacement paint from any auto parts store. However, for the best results, go directly to your car dealership and buy the brand name product. This way, you're more likely to have the perfect paint match. You also need to pick up some auto body sandpaper. Make sure it is extra fine wet sandpaper. This just means that the paper needs to be wet when you're sanding.

Prepping and Painting

Basically, you just take a small corner of the sandpaper and buff out the area that needs to be painted. Then, wipe it down with a wet rag to remove any dust. Finally, it will be ready to be painted. The small paint cans will even come with a built-in brush. This is kind of like a white-out or make up brush. Delicately paint in the chip or scratch. You don't want to overlap too much of the paint. It is best to put on the small amount at first and wait for it to dry to see how well it matches. Then, you can do a little bit of touch up and make it look perfect. You will then need to use the wet sandpaper again to blend in the new paint.

This simple process will prevent your scratches or chips form getting bigger. If you feel you can't do this yourself, however, it is best to let the professionals take care of your auto body repair problems. Contact an auto body shop in your area, such as High Point Body & Paint, for help.

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