Automotive Touch Up: Common Mistakes and What To Do Instead

Automotive touch ups are the type of car detailing that anyone can do with the right attitude. All you need is patience, time, and the right touch up products to make your car, truck, or motorcycle look as good as new. Still, like any DIY project, there are some common misconceptions that many people believe to be true that can actually mess up the project. Read over this guide on automotive touch-up: common mistakes and what to do instead to learn the proper do’s and don’ts before working on your vehicle. You’ll find that certain key factors like weather, paint quality, proper paint color, car cleaning, proper paint ratios, and practice all affect touch up jobs.

DO NOT Use Old Paint

One of the biggest mistakes many car owners make in performing touch up jobs is using old car paint that’s been sitting in the garage for years. While it may not seem like something to stress over, car paint loses quality over time. Old car paint separates over time, which is why it is imperative to mix it immediately after buying. Paint comes in different grades. Cheaper paints can fade faster, chip, or damage more easily. At TouchUpDirect, we pride ourselves on stocking premium car paints at an affordable price to protect your vehicle’s exterior without needing to constantly repaint it.

DO Choose the Right Color

With that said, take time to pick the right color for your vehicle. With our online car color database, choosing the right vehicle color is simple. First, select your vehicle. Whether it’s a car, pickup truck, or motorcycle, we have car paints for all automotive types. Then, select the make, year, and model. Our vast directory of car makes and models means that you’ll find the exact paint color you’re looking for. Otherwise, browse our paint selection to customize a new color for your vehicle. After you’ve selected the appropriate color option, browse our selection of applicators to see which one best fits your needs. Small touch up jobs may need a paint pen or brush, while larger exterior jobs may require a spray can. Alternatively, select a combination to cover all bases.

DO NOT Touch Up During Bad Weather

Never perform a touch-up job during inclement weather. While this sounds obvious, it must be restated. Naturally, you wouldn’t want to touch up your car during a thunderstorm or snowstorm, but even extreme temperatures can warp car paint. High heat or very cold temperatures can alter the paint, causing it to bubble, discolor, blotch, or look uneven. Suffice it to say, you should pick a cool, sunny day to do it. The more ideal the temperature, the better your touch up job will be.

DO Clean the Exterior Before You Start

You’ve chosen the perfect day to touch up your vehicle, and you’ve selected the best car paint and applicator to do it. Then what? The next logical step is to clean the car.Thoroughly clean your car before applying the paint. Using a microfiber cloth and car cleaning detergent, apply circular strokes to the exterior. Once you’ve covered the entire vehicle, hose it down. Then dry it with another, clean microfiber cloth. From there, you should apply the touch up paint. If you want to give your vehicle that extra oomph, wait 25 to 30 days and apply a small amount of wax and polish. It’s crucial that you wait for the paint to dry, as applying wax or polish too early can mess up the paint job. The chemicals in car wax and polish could thin, warp, or ripple the fresh paint.

DO NOT Add Too Little or Too Much

Part of the basics of avoiding common automotive touch up mistakes is adding the right amount of car paint. This means avoid adding too little or too much. It’s tricky to apply too little paint, as you might think one base coat is enough, but be patient with it. The basics tools for any touch up job include primer, the base coat, and clear coat for a shiny finish. Wait until everything dries, and then assess the spot. Multiple thin base coats are always a key element to perfecting any touch up job. However, given that it’s just as problematic to apply too much, you don’t want to apply car paint too thick. Level the touch up paint to the rest of the vehicle as a guide. Patience is key, but with time and practice, your vehicle will look like it did when it was fresh off the lot.

DO Take Your Time During the Process

As previously mentioned, take your time with this process. There is no race to finishing a touch up paint job. Don’t rush it. As previously mentioned, take your time with this process. There is no race in finishing a touch up paint job. Don’t rush it. Additionally, be patient as you go through the steps. Be cautious with the primer, paint, and clear coat. Take a few steps backward for a long-distance view, then assess the project from up-close. If you feel there are still areas to touch up, do so. If not, let the job speak for itself. It’s okay if it’s not perfect either. You’re not a professional car painter, nor do people expect you to be. Owning a vehicle comes with certain responsibilities, and even small projects like a touch up paint job show you put heart and soul into yours.

After all that, you’re probably ready to tackle your touch up project. At TouchUp Direct, we have the best car paints and applicators for all vehicles at an affordable price. Our touch up kits come stacked with a polishing compound, assorted sandpaper to buff out rust, tack cloth, clear coat, basecoat, primer, and wax and grease remover wipes. Whether it’s a kit for a domestic vehicle, like a Ford paint repair kit, or for an international vehicle, we have it all. Shop now for 10 percent off your next order. If you still can’t find the paint color you’re looking for, contact us, and we’re happy to find you everything you need for an efficient automotive toucAfter all that, you’re probably ready to tackle your touch up project. At TouchUpDirect, we have the best car paints and applicators for all vehicles at an affordable price. Our touch up kits come stacked with a polishing compound, assorted sandpaper to buff out rust, tack cloth, clear coat, basecoat, primer, and wax and grease remover wipes. Whether it’s a kit for a domestic vehicle, like a Ford paint repair kit, or for an international vehicle, we have it all. Shop now for 10 percent off your next order. If you still can’t find the paint color you’re looking for, contact us, and we’ll be happy to find you everything you need for an efficient automotive touch up.