2 Problems With Trying To Cover Scratches In Your Car's Paint Yourself Using Touch-Up Paint

About Me
Understanding Auto Service Tasks

Hello, my name is Davey Jerome. Welcome to my site about auto service. When I was a young boy, the first task I learned to perform on my dad’s truck was an oil change. I delighted in letting the old oil flow out into the drain pan and removing the old filter. Adding the new filter and oil seemed to rejuvenate that old truck and ready it for another day of work on the farm. I will use this site to explore the process of performing automotive services on your own. I hope you can use the information on my site to learn about this important task.

2 Problems With Trying To Cover Scratches In Your Car's Paint Yourself Using Touch-Up Paint

13 November 2019
 Categories: , Blog

After discovering that your car's paint has some fairly noticeable scratches on the surface, you may decide to try to conceal them using touch-up paint. However, before you go to the store and buy the paint, consider the potential problems with trying to use the paint to cover up scratches yourself.

1.  You May End up Drawing Attention to the Damaged Area

One problem with trying a do-it-yourself, touch-up paint kit to conceal the scratches on your car is that you may end up doing the exact opposite. Instead of covering up the scratches, you may wind up drawing attention to the areas of damage for a couple of reasons.

First, unless you have access to automotive paint and the exact color numbers, you will be hard-pressed to find the right color to match your car's paint. You may be able to find something close, but the paint's color may be a shade or two darker or lighter, which will stand out.

Second, if you add too much paint or neglect to fully wash the surface before applying it, the texture will be uneven once it dries. You may inadvertently create a lump of paint over the scratches, or if dirt is left underneath, it will show through and give the paint a grainy texture.

2.  You May Leave Areas Where the Body Is Exposed

Another potential issue with trying to touch-up damaged paint on your car is that you may leave areas in and around the scratches that will leave the body underneath exposed. In an attempt to apply an even coat, you may wind up spreading the paint too thin and not fully covering the scratches.

Even if you have fully covered the scratches with a layer of paint, the thin coating will eventually wear off. Any exposed area of the underlying metal of the car's body will be subjected to moisture, salt, and dirt. The moisture can lead to body rust, and the salt and dirt can cause corrosion and rapid deterioration of the body panel.

When you attempt to touch-up the scratches on your car using touch-up paint, you may wind up making the damage more noticeable, and you may not fully cover the damaged area, leaving it exposed to moisture and the potential for body rust. Instead of trying to do it yourself, take your car to an auto body repair service to have them fix the scratches for you.

For more information, contact an auto body repair service.