How To Apply Touch Up Paint

Over time, the finish of a car can be undermined with prolonged usage – dents, chips and even rust can result in a car finish which is no longer smooth, shiny and seamless. This is where touch up paint comes in – applying touch up paint over these surfaces helps to conceal these spots, restoring the car’s finish to its original state. This article shall briefly discuss the various steps which go into a car paint touch up service, as well as the various pointers which owners should take note of should they want to touch up the paint of their car on their own. 

Preparing the Surface

There are a few steps which should be observed before the touch up paint is eventually applied onto the damaged or worn out surface. These following steps help to prepare the surface for the additional layer to be applied, and it is important to adhere strictly to these steps to ensure that the final finish is seamless and blends in well with the rest of the vehicle’s paintwork.

Some of the various steps to be observed beforehand are as follows:

• Washing the surface thoroughly
• Using sandpaper to sand down the affected surface
• Applying a primer after sanding down the surface

The first step in the paint touching up process is to wash the surface of the affected area. This is extremely important as doing so will help to get rid of any unwanted foreign objects such as dust or grease, which can affect the overall quality of the paint touch up and leave a noticeable mark on the vehicle’s surface. 

After ensuring that the surface is free of any unwanted particles, sandpaper is usually used to create a smoother surface on which the touch up paint can be eventually applied. This will help to facilitate a more seamless application of the touch up paint afterwards.

Last but not least, most individuals will also apply a primer immediately after sanding down the surface of the affected area. As a preparatory coating which is generally used to increase paint adhesion and ensure a more even finish, applying a primer beforehand can also help to strengthen the durability of the touch up paint, helping to protect against external elements such as corrosion. 

Choosing tools: Touch up pen versus aerosol spray paint can

One extremely important point to take note of is the size of the area which needs touching up – as a general rule of thumb, smaller areas which would require more detail and care into touching up would usually be touched up by a specialised touch up pen which is generally purpose-built. On the other hand, if the surface in question is much larger in nature, then a touch up pen might not be as appropriate as it would take a much longer period of time to effectively fill in all the spots on the surface. In this situation, it is recommended to use an aerosol spray paint can instead, largely because of its increased surface coverage – in this way, the surfaces will generally be filled up faster and in a more efficient manner as well. 

The table below illustrates some of the various differences between the smaller touch up pen and the larger aerosol spray paint can:

The touch up paint application process

After preparing the affected surface and choosing the right tool for the job, it is finally time to apply the paint onto the surface itself. However, the method of application will be different based on the tool being used. 

For the touch up pen, it is advisable to first shake the pen to mix the contents of the paint within, and then subsequently prime the pen by pressing it onto another surface (not the car) to ensure that the paint within the pen is flowing smoothly and seamlessly. Thereafter, the touch up pen can be used to cover the affected surface – this is best done in smooth, unidirectional strokes so as to ensure a smoother and more seamless finish which will be virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the surface. 

As for the aerosol spray paint can, an additional step has to be made beforehand, which is the blocking off of the other regions which do not require touching up. Since the aerosol spray paint can has increased coverage but less precision, it is important that the unaffected surface areas are covered with tape so that the touch up paint is only applied onto the affected areas. Other than that, the subsequent steps are all fairly standard – similar to the touch up pen, users are encouraged to shake the spray can to ensure that all the paint has been evenly mixed together before applying a thin coat of paint onto the affected area in clean, seamless sprays.

Afterwards, some owners may wish to finish off the paint application process with a clear coat to protect the paint, and subsequently polish the surface for a shinier, more seamless finish. 

Additional Pointers

There are some additional pointers which car owners may wish to take note of before starting the entire paint touching up process on their own cars:

When it comes to colour, it is important to make sure that the paint that is being applied is virtually identical in colour to the surface of the rest of the car, else the colour of the area which is being touched up will not match the rest of the car, creating an uneven and unsightly look. To ensure that the touch up paint is of the right colour, owners should first test the touch up paint on an inconspicuous part of the vehicle, so as to confirm that the colour is indeed correct. Fortunately when it comes to car touch-up paint Singapore stores generally offer a wide variety of colours, so it should not be too difficult to find the right paint colour to apply. 

Additionally, car owners should perform the car spray paint work repair in a suitable environment, such as indoor locations with a lower humidity and moderate temperature. When it comes to car paint restoration Singapore does not exactly have very favourable environmental conditions, and temperature and humidity are two factors which can affect the overall finish of the area which is being touched up. Therefore, performing the repair under the right environmental conditions can help to reduce the likelihood of an uneven finish. 

Conclusion

To sum up, there are many steps which should be observed during the entire car paint touching up process – from ensuring that the surface is free of any unwanted foreign particles, to choosing the right tools for the job and using the right technique to apply the touch up paint, owners should be diligent in ensuring that all these steps are being correctly followed, so as to minimise the risks of an uneven finish which does not match the rest of the car. 

If car owners are not confident with performing the paint touch up by themselves, it is always a good idea to consult a reputable autoworks company which has a wealth of experience in offering and carrying out the car paint touch up service. Leaving the work to a trusted professional also reduces the risk of uneven finishes in the process and is also relatively fuss free. However, it ultimately depends on the individual themselves, who will have a better understanding of which option is better for them.