How to Repair Chipped Automobile Paint in 4 Uncomplicated Steps

Repair your automobile'south paint chip now before it mushrooms into a much bigger expense.

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Time

A full 24-hour interval

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

Here's how to take care of chips and dings in your machine or truck before it's too belatedly. Quick activeness volition mean paint chips only crave a simple fix, simply let it go and they'll turn to rust before your eyes.

Tools Required

Project step-by-stride (7)

Pace 1

Set Minor Fries

This is a typical stone bit that you lot can prepare with this procedure. In fact, fifty-fifty if the car paint chip is about i-quaternary the size of a dime, y'all tin can still repair it.

Fix small car paint chips

Step 2

As well Far Gone

This is a car pigment flake that should have been repaired long agone.

  • The metal inside the chip has rusted and started to elevator the paint at the edges. The fix we bear witness here is for fresh fries that haven't started to rust however.
  • If you run into a rust spot, or have a dent along with your chip, you'll need to practice a more challenging fix than we show here.

rusted metal

Step iii

Make clean the Paint Fries

  • Clean the pigment chip with soap and water and so dry it with a soft cotton fabric.
  • Rub a dab of automotive polishing compound over the paint chip to gently soften any ragged edges.
    • Pro tip: Simply a dozen swirls or then will do the job. Too much rubbing could impairment the clearcoat over the paint and make a cloudy mess.

Clean the car paint chips

Stride 4

Clean the Cease

Clean the terminate with denatured booze.

  • The alcohol will remove any wax or remaining grime.
    • Pro tip: Don't alluvion the surface with alcohol. But a few wipes with a soft, clammy textile will do.

Clean car paint with alcohol

Step 5

Apply the Primer

Apply a spot of primer with the barrel end of a paper match.

  • Fill up the area within the automobile paint flake, just touching the edges of the surrounding paint.
  • Let the primer dry out for at least a half hour.

Apply primer to car paint diagram

Step 6

Get Your Touch-Up Paint and Primer

If you don't know the color number for your car, you'll have to notice it on your vehicle identification plate.

  • One time yous detect the number, purchase a small canteen of bear upon-up pigment. If you tin't find the correct colour online, cheque with the dealer. Dealers oft carry colors for the cars they sell.
    • Pro tip: If you can only notice spray paint with the right color number, you tin can utilize it by spraying a bit of paint into the cap and applying information technology with a fine artist's brush.
  • Also buy a small can of auto primer.

Step 7

Pigment the Chip

Put a small amount of paint over the primer coat.

  • Always test the colour on a piece of newspaper to brand sure it matches. The examination will also give you a feel for how much paint to load onto the applicator brush.
  • Utilize a second glaze about 1 hour after. Allow the paint cure for several days and rub it out once more gently with polishing compound to feather the edges of the repair.
    • Pro tip: Don't do this repair in the direct sun or if the temperature is below 50 degrees F.

Paint the chip on car