How To Fix Chipped Paint

Small paint chips are often easy to ignore when they are hardly noticeable. But they can become more noticeable if you leave them alone for too long. For instance, rust can form on the surface and the hole can grow bigger. This is why it is so important to patch and repair small paint chips on your auto body as soon as you notice them. This article explains how to make the simple repairs to small paint chips.

Using Paint and/or Body Filler

First of all, you need to determine whether you are going to use touch-up paint only or use paint and autobody filler. This usually depends on the severity of your paint chip. If there is a deep dent or scrape in your car surface, you will definitely want to fill it. However, if the paint is just chipped off and there is no noticeable indentation, you can probably get away with using just the touch-up paint.

Using Body Filler

Auto body filler is easy to find at most home improvement and auto stores. It is a little difficult to work with because it comes in two separate components. There will be a large tub of putty and a small tube of hardener. You mix the hardener into the putty right before you apply it to your car surface. Once the hardener is mixed in, the putty dries very quickly, so you need to be prepared. It is a good idea to practice spreading your filler onto a random surface to get used to the consistency and drying time.

Once the hardener dries, you will need to sand it down and smooth it out. Auto body sandpaper comes in sponge form and takes a little longer than normal sandpaper because it is so smooth. You definitely need to take your time when sanding down your patched area to make the contours perfect.

Painting the Spot

Adding the touch-up paint is easy if you get your product directly from the dealership. This is the best way to ensure that you get the right color for your year, make, and model of car. These small touch-up paint cans also come with little brush is built into the lid, so they are very convenient. The key to applying your touch-up paint is to do it in thin coats. Your finish will look better if you apply three or four thin coats of paint instead of trying to get complete coverage with the first coat.

As you can see, repairing small paint chips is easy work. The sooner you do it, the smaller and easier the job will be. Contact a company like Florida Truck & Trailer CO to learn more.

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