Having paint chips is one of the most common problems among vehicle owners. After a long period, the appearance of what was once a nice looking car is reduced significantly. No matter how small, they can still affect the appearance and integrity of automobiles. To help solve this particular kind of problem, it is good to know how to repair paint chips on a vehicle.
Materials Needed
For this moderate task, you need to prepare a few simple materials. First, bring in a filler, wet sanding paper and masking tape. In addition, you must also have repair paint and a small artist brush. Next, prepare a clear coat. If you have these items, this task is a lot easier to do.
Steps
To get the right kind of paint that you need, check out the nearest auto body shop out there or any other suppliers available online. Some of the things to consider include the manufacturing date, original color as well as the make and model of the vehicle. If this is not possible, try to bring your car straight to any specialty restoration shop, which can help you identify the right paint color to buy.
Once you have the right paint, clean your car first and then wash off everything including the wax and other impurities from the surface. For this, you need a sponge and a bucket full of warm water with soap.
Scuff the surface with a wet sandpaper, preferably one with a 1,500-grit, which you can buy from local automotive supply stores. This type is important because it avoids scratching the chips as well as the surrounding areas. If you wish to solve deep chips, you can place significant amounts of filler directly on them. Wait until they dry up and then use sandpaper to make the surface smooth.
Apply touch-up paint on the restored chips. Wait for it to dry, which usually takes 48 hours or more to complete. After this, lightly sand the painted parts once again using the 1,500-grit wet sanding paper. The slight color variations caused by the restoration can be fixed with the use of a clear coat. Wait for it to dry and enjoy your newly restored vehicle.
Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information
In case the vehicle contains a lot of paint chips, you may want to consider repainting the entire vehicle at any local auto-repair shop. This way, not only can you fix the paint chips, but also the dents and dings all throughout the vehicle’s body. At the same time, this process can prevent rust from developing further. Always work in a draft-free area, which can actually stop dust from going into the wet paint.
