How2Day: Paint Chip Repair Secrets

With these paint chip repair tips and secrets, you will be able make your car look brand new. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Chipping paint can happen to your beloved vehicle regardless of precautions you may have taken. Often the result of something beyond your control, such as a stray pebble on the highway or a hail storm, with time and practice you can regain a semblance of control by repairing paint chips yourself with some helpful tips and secrets.

It is essential to get the correct matching paint, otherwise your paint chip will remain visible and the car's paint job will no longer look seamless. Check your car's manual to find out where you can find the data plate on your car. Find the data plate and write down the manufacturer's color code. If you changed your car paint since you bought the car, then matching the correct color might be more difficult, unless you can contact the paint company and have them check the invoice. Regardless, finding out the correct paint color before you go to an auto parts store will save a lot of hassle and money. You can also ask your dealership to match your car's paint color, for future reference.

Proper preparation is critical to properly fixing a paint chip and is often overlooked. Before you begin your repair, it is essential that you wash your car thoroughly and allow it to fully dry. Clean the chip area with soap and water and then dry it with a soft cloth. If the area has become rusty, use a fiber glass pencil, available at any hardware store, to remove the rust. Use 800-grit sandpaper to remove any rust from the edges of the chip. If the rust cannot be removed with these methods, there is a good chance you have waited too long to repair the paint chip and it might be best to take the car to a body shop. Go over the chip and chip area with an alcohol swab to clean any remaining residue.

Always apply a coat of general purpose primer before painting. If the paint chip is really small, use the cardboard end of a cardboard match to spread the primer and paint into the chip crater. Allow the primer to dry for half an hour before you apply the first coat of paint. Fill in paint one coat at a time, allowing it to dry at least an hour in between coats, until the paint level in the chip crater is higher than the surface paint of the rest of the car. Allow the paint to dry and cure 24 hours before you blend the newly painted surface to match the rest of the car's paint job.

Using a small 1,500-grit wet/dry sanding block, lightly sand down the raised paint in the chip crater. Dip the sanding block in water frequently to wash away any removed paint. Take your time sanding, doing your best not to sand anything but the raised fresh paint. Switch to a 2,000-grit wet/dry sanding block once you are close to matching the raised fresh paint to the level of the regular paint job. Once the paint is even, apply a small amount of rubbing compound on a clean cloth to give the painted chip a glossy, finished look. To finish, protect the newly painted chip with your choice of auto wax or polish.

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