We all have accidents or mishaps every now and then. Luckily, the majority of them are minor and do us no physical harm. What those smaller accidents can do, however, is to put some kind of scratch or abrasion onto the pristine paintwork of our new car.
An additional problem comes when you consider the potential bill of having a professional touch up the paint for you. A trained expert can restore your car’s paint to its former glory, but for some it’s too much to ask. Instead, they are looking for car paint supplies online so that they can do the jobs themselves. Below are our best tips for those who are making this a DIY job, and particularly when using car body touch up pens.
Know Your Car’s Exact Colour
When it comes to your car, knowing the broad-strokes colour isn’t enough. Car paint comes in a huge variety of very specific shades and styles. If you’re unsure as to the exact colour, then look under the bonnet. Pop it open and look to see if it’s there. If it’s not, then check these places: driver’s door sill, the floor under the driver’s seat, in the firewall or in the glovebox. If you still can’t find it, consult the sales receipts, which should stipulate the colour.
Do the Work Indoors, or in Solid Shelter
This kind of job doesn’t stomach a bit of rain, unfortunately. You need to be in your garage, or well sheltered from any sudden weather changes. The paint you apply also needs an ambient drying temperature. The optimum temperature for car paint is about 18-20 degrees Celsius.
Preparation is Key
From the nifty design of the pen and the car touch up paint kit, it’s not just a question of “colouring in” the bad spot. You first need to clean the area with grease remover to get rid of any possible contaminants. After that, you must apply a coat of primer. If you need to smooth the coat of primer, don’t use sand paper. It’s better to use a rubbing compound, instead.
From Basecoat to Clearcoat
After cleaning and priming, you’ll put on the basecoat. It’s important not to leave more than 24 hours drying time before applying each coat. This is why optimum drying conditions are important. After the basecoat is dried, apply the clearcoat, but do so lightly. The clearcoat is a layer of protection that needs to sit atop the basecoat. If you apply too much pressure, then it will actually dissolve the basecoat.
Clean Up After Using
Once you’ve finished with the car touch up paint kit, you should clean the tips of the pens using automotive lacquer thinner. This will help keep them in good condition for a future use, which we should prepare for even if we don’t wish it upon ourselves.
It’s a Buyer’s Market
It’s a great time to get interested in DIY car care. The range of car paint supplies online, as well as other car care gear is incredible. Couple that with great online help platforms and you’ve got viable alternatives to expensive professional rates. Do consult with the pros should something go wrong, though. Sometimes you do just need the help!
