It’s not uncommon for a car to pick up a few scratches over its lifetime. If the scratches on your car have impacted it’s paint job, you may be wishing for something that will help return it to its rightful state.
With a touch up paint pen, you will be able to return your car’s paint job to its former glory. When you do go through with this touch-up, though, you’ll want to make sure you’re following all the right steps!
With that being said, here’s how to use a touch up paint pen for your car.
1. The Right Tool
You’ll first need to make sure that you know what you are using the touch up paint pen for. This pen certainly has its limitations. It is mainly used for small chips off the paint.
If your car has larger streaks of paint scratched off, you will not want to use a pen. You will want to go with a mechanic shop or a larger paint tool, so be sure to understand what your car may need.
2. Get the Right Color
Once you determine that a pen is the right way to go, you will want to get the right pen for the job. Unless you’re looking to make your streaks highlight even more, you’ll want to get the same color pen to your car.
Make sure to find the right color based on the make, model, and year of the car. Different makes use different versions of the color “red” for example, so be as specific as you can when buying the pen.
3. Clean the Area
Before doing any type of paint, make sure to clean the area well. There are many home products you can use to clean your car’s exterior. You will want to remove all the residue or the pen will leave nasty streaks on your car.
If your car is especially dirty, you may want to consider wax and grease remover for some tougher action.
4. Apply the Paint
Once the area is clear and you have the right pen color, you’ll need to apply the pen. Make sure to press the pen on somewhere other than the car to start the paint flowing.
Once the paint is flowing, apply several thin coats of paint to the scratch. If the scratch is all the way down to the metal, you may even want to apply primer to the area.
Be sure to allow the paint to properly dry between coats.
5. Buff
Once the final coat has dried, you will need to buff your car to even out the paint. This will give your car a more natural paint finish. This will restore your car close to its former glory before all of the scratches.
Benefits of a Touch Up Paint Pen
Touch up paint pens are a great, cheaper alternative to a professional job. They can be much quicker and are usually simple to do. If the job is larger or complicated, though, you may want to go to a professional for help.