Repairing A Scratched Or Chipped Area On Your Vehicle's Paint Job

If you have had a minor accident where your car's paint becomes scratched or chipped, and there are no other areas of the vehicle that need body work, repair is easy enough to do on your own. The job will take several days, so be sure you are able to find alternate methods in transportation before starting the repair. Here are some instructions for you to follow to repair scratched or chipped paint.

Materials You Will Need

  • Bucket of soapy water
  • Sponge
  • Clean lint-free piece of cloth
  • Auto paint pen matching vehicle's color
  • Paint polish
  • Fine-grit sandpaper
  • Buffing pad
  • Electric drill

Cleaning The Area

Before you start making repair, the area that is affected needs to be completely cleaned so the paint will adhere without having particles of dirt or dust in the way. Dip a sponge into a bucket of soapy water and scrub the surface of your vehicle's body where the chip or scratch is present. Dry the vehicle with a piece of lint-free cloth. Wait a few hours before starting the repair to make sure that all moisture has evaporated from the area.

Adding The Color

A car dealer can match the color of the paint according to the code number in your vehicle's instruction manual. Some vehicles have the code printed on a tag near the driver's side door on the floor, or under the hood.

Use a paint pen to color in the area where the scratch or chip is present. A paint pen has a small paintbrush attached to the applicator, allowing you to brush on the color easily. Overlap some of the color on top of the paint around the affected area so it blends in with the color already on your vehicle. After the paint is applied, allow it to dry for a full 24 hours. Add four to five coats in all, allowing them to dry for a full day between applications.

Finishing The Job

After the paint is applied and is completely dry, put a dab of paint polish on the affected area and sand it into the surface of the paint job using a piece of fine-grit sandpaper. Sand along the edges of the newly added paint to help make it uniform with the existing paint. Add another dab of paint polish and use a buffing pad on the end of an electric drill to buff the sanded area. This will give your vehicle a high-gloss shine, hiding any flaws in the process.

For any big scratches or chips, take your car to a collision repair specialist rather than attempt repairs on your own.


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