Evacuating this before the clear coat dries is essential. Make certain that the clear coat has dried totally before doing whatever else with the auto.
Say Goodbye to Car Paint Chips with These 8 Easy Steps
Paint chips caused by rocks, hail, or other road debris don’t just look ugly, they can spread and lead to further damage to your vehicle. Your vehicle’s paint protects against rust, which can cause significant damage to the body of your car. This also decreases the resale value of your vehicle. The good news is that you might be able to fix car paint chips yourself.
Since 2012, StormWise has used premium paint for flawless dent and hail repair. During that time, we’ve seen and fixed all types of paint chips, so we put together this step-by-step guide so you can avoid a trip to the auto body shop by learning how to fix chips in car paint yourself.
Keep reading to improve the appearance and integrity of your car by assessing paint chips, cleaning and smoothing the area, applying primer when necessary, repainting the damaged surface, and finally buffing and waxing to keep your vehicle looking great for longer.
What’s in this Guide:
- Step 1: Determine Chip Size
- Step 2: Clean the Area
- Step 3: Smooth out the Raised Edges Around the Paint
- Step 4: Apply the Primer (If Necessary)
- Step 5: Apply the Paint
- Step 6: Apply Clear Coat
- Step 7: Polish and Buff the Repaired Area
- Step 8: Wax the Repaired Area
- Protecting Your Car from Paint Chips
- Paint Chip Repair FAQs
Before you start the DIY automotive paint chip repair process, you should determine the size and severity of the chip. Paint chips can vary from tiny to large and, as you might have guessed, it’s easier to fix paint chips when they’re small.
Small chips are often classified as paint chips that are smaller than a dime, medium chips are up to the size of a quarter, and large chips are those that are larger than a quarter. Additionally, you want to identify if the chip is spreading or flaking the surrounding paint. Finally, identify if there is any rust underneath the paint.
While you can fix car paint chips of any size on your own, if there is rust, deep scratches, or significant flaking, especially for large paint chips, we strongly suggest taking your vehicle to a professional paint chip repair service. They will make sure that the rust hasn’t compromised the integrity of your vehicle and ensure a clear, unnoticeable repair for even very large, rusted, and flaking chips and dings.
Step 2: Clean the Area
After you determine the size and severity of the rock chips on the car paint, you need to thoroughly clean the area. Doing so will ensure a smooth, lasting paint job and help you avoid painting over dust or dirt that can impact the appearance and color of the paint .
Rinse the area with water and then use warm soap and water to wash the affected area and nearby areas around the debris or stone chip. Then, make sure that the area is completely dry before moving on to step 3.
Step by step guide on how to spray paint a car
Would you be able to spray paint an auto? We’ve demonstrated to you the appropriate response is yes, yet there are numerous means involved with the painting of your vehicle. Adhere to the guidelines flawlessly in the event that you need to accomplish the best outcomes for the most reduced expense. The better you set up, the better the outcomes will be.
- Wet grit papers
- Dry sandpaper
- Electric sander or air-fueled sander
- Masking tape
- Air Blower
- Spray gun
- Paint thinners
- Safety glasses
- Acrylic or finish paint
- Dust extractor
- Buffer or Polisher
- Face cover
- Undercoat
- Clear coat finish
When you have every one of the materials prepared, you can figure out how to paint an auto with spray paint.
Setting up the paint
Another viewpoint that should be tended to before the painting procedure starts is how much paint you require. You will require more paint than an expert would.
This is on account of you aren’t as experienced and will undoubtedly squander some material. As you hone and learn new aptitudes, the measure of paint you need should diminish marginally.
For medium or littler measured autos, you will require 1-gallon of base coat, 3-gallons of top coat and roughly 2 to 3-gallons of clear coat. For a bigger measured auto, you will require 5-gallons of base coat, 4-gallons of best coat and 3 – 4 gallons of clear coat.
Continuously make sure you have more than you need to finish the activity. It is in every case best to have some additional than insufficient. Make sure you’ve picked the best spray paint for autos to guarantee a quality job.
Matching the color coating
To coordinate the first shading you’ll have to discover the color code of your vehicle.
Most autos will have this data recorded in the driver’s side door jam.
In the event that you can’t find it there, you can likewise look close to the VIN number on the windshield.
For instance, in the event that you have a dark vehicle, you’ll have to coordinate it with a high-quality dark spray paint for autos.
