What is the method for car touch-up painting?
4 Answers
Car touch-up painting method is: 1. Clean the scratched area thoroughly, prepare a touch-up paint kit, soak the sandpaper in water and wrap it around a hard cotton block; 2. Use the wrapped sandpaper to smooth the scratched area until you can't feel any unevenness compared to the surrounding paint surface by hand; 3. Use tape and cloth to cover areas that don't need touch-up painting; 4. Prepare the touch-up pen and spray can, assemble them together, and start spraying paint from a certain distance from the scratch, moving back and forth until the color covers the black area; 5. After the paint dries, prepare blending clear coat, which helps make the touched-up paint color closer to the car's original color and protects the repaired paint; 6. Assemble the blending clear coat on the spray can, spray it back and forth over the touched-up area from a certain distance, wait for a while, and the touch-up painting is completed.
I've done car touch-up painting myself a few times. The process is quite simple but requires patience. First, thoroughly clean the scratched area with car wash soap to ensure no dust or grease, otherwise the paint won't adhere. Then lightly sand the rough surface with sandpaper, being careful not to damage the surrounding area too much. Next, use filler putty to level the dent, wait for it to dry, then sand it smooth. When spraying paint, choose a spray can or pen that matches your car's color, apply thin coats multiple times, letting each layer dry for a few minutes. Finally, apply clear coat and polish to finish. DIY saves time and money, but for major damage like deep rust or large areas of paint loss, it's better to have a professional shop handle it to avoid rework. Regular precautions like parking carefully to avoid scratches and periodic waxing can also reduce the need for touch-ups. Small scratches can be fixed in half an hour by yourself, saving money and relieving stress.
Good car touch-up painting emphasizes attention to detail—don't rush. Cleaning is crucial: remove grease and lightly sand the scratched area with fine-grit sandpaper, applying moderate pressure to avoid damaging the primer. Apply filler putty to fill dents completely, let it dry thoroughly, then sand it smooth. Next, use a spray gun or aerosol paint for even application, maintaining a distance of about 20 cm to prevent overspray. Apply 2-3 thin layers for better coverage, allowing drying time between coats. Finally, spray clear coat to protect the paint and polish for enhanced gloss. Tools like sandpaper, putty, and matching paint are affordable online, but color matching requires checking the car's paint code—avoid random choices to prevent noticeable mismatches. For safety, wear gloves and a mask, work in a ventilated area, and avoid painting in humid conditions, which affects results. While cost-effective, DIY repairs are less durable than professional work and best suited for minor fixes.
As a beginner, I chose the simple method for touch-up painting: clean the scratch, then buy a touch-up pen and apply it directly, wait for it to dry, and it's done—quick and easy. Suitable for small dots or thin line scratches, the tools can be bought on Taobao for just a few dozen yuan. However, for larger dents, you need to sand them flat first, apply filler, let it dry, and then touch up the paint to avoid unevenness. Spray paint cans cover a wider area and are easier to use, but remember to apply thin layers and avoid spraying too thickly at once to prevent runs. Before starting, test the old paint's tolerance to prevent accidental damage. Although the results may not be as perfect as professional repairs, they are sufficient for minor daily fixes. I encourage everyone to try learning some basic skills to prevent small issues from worsening.
