Why is an entire panel repainted for touch-ups?
1 Answers
The principle of touch-up painting is to avoid visible seams. A 'panel' does not refer to the front, rear, left, or right side of the vehicle, but rather to a continuous section. If the damage is on the same component, it constitutes one panel. For example, on the left side of the vehicle body, if the paint damage is on one door, the entire door must be repainted. If the damage spans two doors, both entire doors need repainting—it's impractical to repaint the entire side, and there should be no visible touch-up seams at the joint between two panels. Common issues with automotive paint scratch repair include: 1. Paint oxidation: Under exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, the paint film continuously releases oils into the air to protect itself. Over time, this causes excessive loss of oils, significantly reducing the paint's gloss and depth, leading to a whitish appearance and the formation of an oxidation layer, which shortens the paint's lifespan. This can be observed as dull, whitish, or lackluster paint. Severe oxidation can be treated with compounding and polishing. 2. Traffic film: During driving, friction generates a strong electrostatic layer on the vehicle. This layer strongly attracts dust, grease, and chemical particles, eventually forming a hard traffic film over time. This film can easily cause oxidation and corrosion of the paint, which can be addressed with compounding and polishing.
