I've noticed several knicks on my truck's paint that are all the way down to the metal. What's the best way to apply touch up paint?

Do I need to dab it on and then wipe it off to smooth it out even with the rest of the paint surface, or just simply dab it on as best I can and let it dry? Thanks guys. Later.

Matt

 

Use a toothpick to just lightly dab it in, filling the knick with a thin layer of paint and then letting it dry before applying another thin layer. You want to do theis several times so that you build the paint back up to the surface before applying either a thin coat of clear or a good wax (or both). Don't use the brush that comes in the paint jar (too big, messy and inacurate) and don't wipe the excess away (can you say big smear?).

Also, make sure that you've cleaned the wax and dirt out of the knick with some soap and water, also using some wax remover; this will help with the pain adhesion to the surface.

 

matt,

there is a product called langka that you can use to flatten down the bubble from touch up paint. ive used it with great success

bob

 

The body shop guy touched up some of the knicks on my truck ... he took a paper towel and rolled into into a cone shape with a flattened tip. He would then let the paint soak into the tip of the papertowel and then very lightly brush it onto the paint in several applications. Came out lookng great.

and like others have said don't use the brush that comes with the bottle

 

I've had great success with a paper matchstick. As said above, multiple applications till you build it up to the level of the surrounding paint. Biggest error is trying to put on too much at a time. Then I gently wetsand the spot with 1500, then hit it with a buffer and some compound.

It will never be perfect, especially with metallics - sprayed paint and brushed/dabbed paint just won't look the same. But it's way better than the chips.

 

Thanks guys!!