Directions for How To Apply Touch Up Paint (2024)

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The MOST important instruction is to PRACTICE OFF the vehicle!! Do ALL the steps before applying any paint to your vehicle!

You can do this! If you are wondering if you can really apply touch up paint to your vehicle, and make it look good, the answer is yes. Just read the instructions first and take your time. You will be able to expertly repair car scratches using these simple touch up paint directions. We show you how to use touch up paint in a spray can, paint pen, or brush bottle to repair car scratches. It is easier than you think.

Warning
Automotive paint is very hazardous. Keep away from children. Do not use any ofthe products until you have read and understand the product directions and warnings. We recommend rubber gloves, chemical respirator, safety goggles and workin a well ventilated area. Please store the materials in a safe place. Interior Paint is a vinyl paint which does not require clearcoat or polishing.

PaintScratch, Inc. is not responsible for your results using our paint products. We recommendall customers consult with a professional auto body repair person before attempting to repair their vehicle. Your resultsmay vary and be completely different from what a trained expert can achieve.

Please note:The spray can nozzle is not shipped attached to the spray can! The nozzle will be either in the cap or the box. Please attach the nozzle to the spray can stem.

Shelf Life
The shelf life of the paint pens and touch up bottles is one year or more. However, if stored in a warm location, it can only take a couple of hoursfor the paint to completely dry up, even if you have not opened the bottle. Don't store the paint in your glove box. Store is a cool, dry place. Thespray cans will last several years. The nozzle will clog if not cleaned properly.

Detailed Touch Up Paint Directions

We have created the following detailed touch up paint directions for specific car paint products like paint pens, auto paint spray cans, and car paint bush bottles. By following these detailed instructions, you will get the best results.

• Detailed Paint Pen Instructions
• Detailed Brush Cap Bottle Instructions
• Detailed Spray Can Instructions
• More Tricoat (base/mid/clearcoat) Information
• Using your own Spray Equipment
• Water Based Paint Information
• Blending the Paint

Touch Up Paint Tips, Suggestions and Tricks

Please read through the following list of touch up paint tips for best car scratch repair results.

• The pints, quarts and gallons of basecoat, midcoat, clear and primer are ready to spray and do not require thinning.
• If you get paint on your skin, remove with paint thinner and wash thoroughly with soap and water.
• Do not try to use the paint pen on areas larger than a pencil eraser. Larger areas must be sprayed.
• Paint can easily leak out of the paint pen if you do not use it correctly!
• Do not try to brush areas larger than a dime. Larger areas must be sprayed.
• Use an approved automotive paintrespirator and WEAR safety goggles and gloves when handling automotive paint toprotect your eyes and skin!! Please read the information below for bestresults.
• When spraying, always test for paint compatibility. Paint an inconspicuouspart of the vehicle, let dry and see if there is any reaction.
• Do not apply our paint over enamel paint or enamel primer.
• Do not spray primer, paint or clearcoat in direct sunlight!
• First time? Did you know you can completely remove any new paint with automotive lacquer thinner and start over without damaging the original finish?
• Make sure you use SEM Adhesion Promoter if you arespraying a plastic, rubber or chrome surface. Failure to do so will result in the paint peeling off within a few months! This goes under the primer, basecoat andclearcoat. If you are spraying over a surface which has already been painted, then you just need to scuff the area down to give the paint a good surface to bond to.

Additional Touch Up Paint Directions and Tips

Testing the Paint Color Match

ALWAYS test the paint before applying it to your vehicle! You are responsible for making sure the paint matches by testing the color BEFORE you apply it to your vehicle! If the color is off, the clearcoat or the primer WILL NOT HELP to make the color match better! If you apply the paint to your vehicle and it doesn't match, you will have to wash it off with automotive lacquer thinner or worse, if you allow it to thoroughly dry, you will have to sand it off."

Practice Applying Touch Up Paint

Take a little time and practice using the touch up paint before you applyit to your car. This will give you a good feel for the paint and you cancheck the color match. Use a surface such as a metal can, a glossy sheetof paper, etc. to practice on. Use several light coats rather than oneheavy coat when brushing or spraying the paint. Make sure you let thepaint dry properly. If you really want an excellent repair, don't skippracticing!

Paint Pens, Brushing and Spray cans

Do not try to use the paint pen on areas larger than a pencil eraser. Do not try to brush areas larger thana dime. If you do, the area will look very uneven. When you apply metallic paint with a pen or brush, the metallic flakewill not lay down properly. Even with a perfect paint match the paint will look darker. Save yourself lots ofgrief and use a spray can for larger areas!

Paint Spraying-Humidity and Temperature Warning!

Make sure you do not spray in wet or humid conditions! Do not spray in direct sunlight.To test the humidity, spray some of the clearcoat and see how it dries. If it drieswith a whitish haze or streaks, it's too humid to paint!Spray paintshould be applied when the temperature is at least 70°F and the humidityis below 50%. Also, if it is too hot, over 80°F the paint can dry before hittingthe vehicle, leaving a very rough surface.

Drying Times for Touch Up Paint

It is important to let the basecoat dry before applying the clearcoat andletting the clearcoat dry before polishing. Be careful when applying clearcoat. You need to float it over the basecoat. Clearcoat acts like a solvent and any pressure applied will remove the basecoat. Usually letting the paint dryAt least 20 minutes to overnight is sufficient. Drying times can really vary depending on thetemperature. If the temperature is below 70°F, the paint cantake much longer to dry.

Car Paint Compatibility Warning

If you have had your vehicle painted at Maaco, Earl Schieb or any otherinexpensive paint shop within the last two years, our paint will lift yourpaint. If in doubt, you can paint a small inconspicuous part of the carand check for lifting.

Key Scratches in Auto Paint

The paint pens work well on key scratches as you can easily control theamount of paint and apply it to the scratch. Try to follow the scratch asclosely as possible with the basecoat. Apply the clearcoat and use rubbingcompound (cutting creme) to smooth and shine the area. Be careful when applying clearcoat. You need to float it over the basecoat. Clearcoat acts like a solvent and any pressure applied will remove the basecoat.

Primer for Repairing Car Scratches

If you have an unpainted surface, either bare metal, plastic, rubber,etc., APPLY PRIMER! Primer is made to stick to unpainted surfaces andpaint is designed to stick to primer! Primer can also be used tofill small imperfections in the surface.

If you are painting a flexible surface (suchas a rubberized bumper) and you are spraying the paint, you shouldorder the SEM Adhesion Promoter as this is required for properadherence for the primer to the surfaces. Again, this is sprayed BEFORE the primer layer. The adhesion promoter is only required when you are sprayingthe paint and not for the touch up bottles and paint pens.

Clean the area of all dust with a tack rag and applyprimer to the unpainted surfaces. Make sure you let the primer drythoroughly before applying the color coat. Lightly sand theprimed area with #220 grit sandpaper followed by #600 wet and dry.

Obtaining aGlossy Finish with Rubbing Compound (cutting creme)
Our clearcoat requires a final polishing with rubbing compound (cutting creme) (which we sellon our site) to make the finish glossy. Do not use polishing compound,it is not aggressive enough to polish the clearcoat. There is a big differencebetween rubbing and polishing compound. Also, do not use heavy dutyrubbing compound as this is too aggressive and will dull your finish.If you are spraying a large area,we recommend having the area machine polished as trying to polish the areaby hand would be time consuming and require considerable pressure toobtain the proper gloss. You can use polishing pads with your electricdrill, or go to your nearest detail shop and have them polish it for you.Machine polishing takes skill and it's very easy to burn right through thefinish. Our rubbing compound (cutting creme) can be applied by hand or machine.

Bumper Paint and Non-Metal Surface Paint Scratch Repair

If you are painting a flexible surface (suchas a rubberized bumper) and you are spraying the paint, you should orderthe SEM Adhesion Promoter as this is required for properadherence for the primer, basecoat and clearcoat. The adhesions promoter is sprayed BEFOREthe primer layer. The adhesion promoter is only required when you are sprayingthe paint and not for the touch up bottles and paint pens. Theadhesion promoter is used over the surface just before applying theprimer.

Fiberglass Scratch Repair Directions

If you are painting a sturdy, rigid fiberglass part, you can treat itjust like metal. However, it never hurts to use the SEM AdhesionPromoter on any non-metal surface for maximum paint adhesion. Make sure you spray theadhesion promoter BEFORE the primer.

Powder Coatings Scratch Repair Directions

Our paint should be fine but make sure it will not lift or wrinkle theexisting finish. Apply some automotive lacquer thinner by wetting the surface and giving it a couple of rubs with a damp cloth. Ifthe existing finish does not soften or wrinkle, our paint should be okayto use. It wouldn't hurt to also test a small area before recoating theentire piece.

Powder coatings are urethane, cured and baked at high temperatures. Clean thearea with wax and grease remover then wetsand the area with first 220,then 600 grit sandpaper. Use primer if the area has scratches you want tofill and then apply the basecoat.

Using Your Own Spray Equipment to Repair Car Paint

Our pints, quarts and gallons of primer, clearcoat,basecoat and midcoat are all ready to spray and do not need thinner.
The container may give directions for thinning but we have ALREADY added the thinner!

Reducer
We use a medium (mid-temp) universal urethane reducer in the pints, quarts and gallons. Normally we will usePPG paints unless the formula is not available and then we will try another paint brand.

Thinning the 2oz. size
If you purchased the 2 oz. size to use in your own spray gun or are using a PrevalSpray Gun make sure you follow the directions. The tip size for air brush should be 1.0mm and for a spray gun from 1.2mm to 1.3mm.

You will need a small container of automotive lacquer thinner to thin the paint (unless you have a waterbased paintwhich will need special water based thinner). Do not use regular lacquer thinner sold at Home Depot, etc. as it is thewrong kind. It must be automotive lacquer thinner. Do not use old thinner!If it is more than a couple of months old, use it to clean or prep, but donot use it to thin your paint. It will create a disaster on yourvehicle!

Only the 2oz. basecoat, midcoat, clearcoat and primer need tobe thinned. Thin with one part lacquer thinner to one part basecoat, midcoat, clearcoat or primer. If the paint is too thin,add additional paint. Too thick, add more thinner. Our paint does not need a catalyst oractivator as it air dries.

Cleaning your Equipment

Clean up your equipment with either automotive lacquer thinner for solvent based paint or soap and water for waterbased paint. Nearly all of the paintwe sell is solvent based so you will typically use thinner to clean up with. If you are unsure if the formula is water based, see if the paint will mix with water. Ifit does, you have a water based paint and you would use soap and water to clean your equipment.

Tri-Coat Car Paint Repair Directions

Any color that has the word "Tri-coat" in the colordescription will need three different steps to achieve the correct color.First the basecoat is applied, followed by the midcoat and finally aclearcoat is applied. Make sure you practice before applying this touch-up paint to your vehicle.

Lightening/Darkening Car Paint when Spraying Clearcoat

By adjusting the distance you spray from the surface, you can make the clearcoat lighten or darken the paint.To lighten the paint, hold the spray can (or spray gun) farther away. Holding the can or spray gun closer will darkenthe paint. This will take a bit of practice and does not always work with some paint colors. Practicespraying OFF your car first to see how the technique works.

Waxing After Applying Touch Up Paint

Allow the car paint to dry for 30 days before waxing for best results.

Storing Car Paint - How to Store Touch Up Paint

Store in a cool, dry place. Do not leave the bottle in your vehicle, asheat will dry up the paint. To make the paint last as long as possible, you can store the paint in yourrefrigerator. (If your spouse will let you!). Don't freeze the paint!

Hazards and Safety-VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!!

Automotive touch-up paint including primer and clearcoats are EXTREMELYhazardous. Keep away from children! Call a physician IMMEDIATELY ifswallowed. Keep out of direct sunlight and heat over 120F. DO NOT STORE INCAR and avoid freezing. Contains HAZARDOUS Waste. EPA requires properdisposal. Use with adequate ventilation. If you experience any dizziness,discontinue product use immediately and call physician. This productcontains chemicals known to the state of California to cause birthdefects, cancer and other health problems. The main thing here is to usethe product with adequate ventilation. Use an approved automotive paintrespirator and WEAR safety goggles when handling automotive paint toprotect your eyes!! This includes the primer, paint and clearcoat

SDS Information

10 oz. rust converter spray can
4 oz. rust converter
Adhesion Promoter
Automotive Lacquer Thinner Warning! This is a Very dangerous/toxic product, but no substitues at this time.
Basecoat and Tricoat
Body Filler
Catalyzed Basecoat
Clearcoat (paint pen, 1 and 2 oz. bottles and larger sizes)
Catalyzed Clearcoat
Clearcoat
20 oz. Clear Coat Blender
Flat Black Spray Can
Glazing Compound
Primer
Rubbing Compound (Cutting Creme)
Sand Paper
SEM Bumper Repair
Spot Putty
Wax and Grease Remover