How to Apply Touch Up Paint Using the Spray Can
- 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. We ship a fan style nozzle.
- The MOST important instruction is to PRACTICE OFF the vehicle! Do ALL the steps before applying any paint to your vehicle.
- Testing the 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 - Use an approved automotive paint respirator and WEAR safety goggles and gloves when handling automotive paint to protect your eyes and skin!! Please read the information below for best results.
- When spraying, always test for paint compatibility. Paint an inconspicuous part of the vehicle, let dry and see if there is any reaction.
- Do not spray our paint over enamel paint or enamel primer.
- Gas tanks require a special catalyzed clearcoat which you can purchase on our site. Our basecoat can be used on your gas tank, but should be followed with the catalyzed clear.
- Do not spray primer, paint or clearcoat in direct sunlight!
- Make sure you use SEM Adhesion Promoter if you are spraying 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 and clearcoat. 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.
Quick Steps-Spray Cans
Note on Single Stage Paint
If you ordered single stage paint, follow the instructions below. You will polish the single stage paint directly as the clearcoat is already mixed into the paint. So just ignore the instructions to spray the clearcoat below.
1) Clean the area (soap and water or wax and grease remover).
2) Scuff the area well with wet and dry sandpaper.
3) Check humidity (below 50%) and temperature (around 70°F) and not over 80°F
4) Spray even wet coats of basecoat. You can Wet sand the final coat with 1000 grit to remove any imperfections, Two wet coats should be sufficient. Allow each coat to dry 20 minutes before recoating. Some colors require more paint.
5) The basecoat should be dry to the touch before applying the clearcoat. Spray the clearcoat beyond the basecoat to a good stopping point such as the edge of the panel. Two wet coats should be sufficient.
6) Let the clearcoat dry for at least three days. Use rubbing compound (cutting creme) (apply with clean soft cotton only, paper products or dirty fabrics will scratch your paint surface) to smooth and shine the area. Always test the rubbing compound (cutting creme) on your vehicle in an inconspicuous place to check for surface compatibility and shine. Without this step, the paint will not shine properly.
7) If this is your first time, try one small area from start to finish before repairing other areas.
Problems:
Paint will not shine.
Important! Temperature Warning
Make sure the temperature is at least 50°F but around 70°F is ideal. If it is too hot, over 80°F the paint can dry before hitting the vehicle, leaving a very rough surface. The whole point behind practicing is to see how quickly the basecoat, (midcoat if you are doing a tricoat) and clearcoat will dry. Normally we recommend letting the paint dry overnight at each step, but often you can do all the steps within an hour. Do not practice on your vehicle!
Spray Nozzles
Do not use spray nozzles from another spray can! Swapping nozzles can puncture the plunger system and cause damage making the can unusable.
Paint Compatibility Warning
If you have had your vehicle painted at Maaco, Earl Schieb or any other inexpensive paint shop within the last two years, our paint will lift your paint. If in doubt, you can paint a small inconspicuous part of the car and check for lifting.
Spray Can Coverage
All spray cans are 12 ounces and cover from three to five square feet (with two wet coats) so you can estimate how many cans you will need by measuring the square footage of the area you are painting. Coverage can really vary depending on what color you are painting and the color of the surface you are painting over. You should order an extra can just to be sure as you don't want to run out in the middle of your project!
Spray Can Information
Blending the paint into adjacent panels will achieve a much nicer and less noticeable repair especially for metallic paints. The most important thing to remember is to not spray heavy coats. Do not apply so little paint that it dries as you apply it as this creates dry spots. Spray in a dust free area. Again, practice AWAY from your vehicle!
Clean and Protect the Area
Wash the area with soap and water, then use a wax and grease remover or equivalent product (some painters have suggested tar and insect remover, available at the supermarket) before starting the project. You may wish to use masking tape (automotive quality only!) all around the scratch or chipped area to prevent accidentally marring the surface.
Paint Spraying-Humidity and Temperature Warning!
Make sure you do not spray in wet or humid conditions! To test the humidity, spray some of the clearcoat and see how it dries. If it dries with a whitish haze or streaks, it's too humid to paint! Spray paint should be applied when the temperature is at least 70°F and the humidity is below 50%. If it is too hot, over 80°F the paint can dry before hitting the vehicle, leaving a very rough surface.
Rust
The first thing to determine is if the scratch has started to rust. We are talking about a surface scratch and not rust that is bubbling up beneath the paint, as this is too far-gone for touch-up paint! If the area is rusty, you should take a little extra effort to remove all traces of rust using 220 grit sandpaper or a wire brush. Follow this with One Step Rust Converter (spray)(sold on our site) and apply this to the bare metal. After applying the rust converter, you may need to use body filler or lacquer putty (both sold on our site) to smooth the area. Apply primer over the area. Be careful you do not sand off the rust converter.
Sanding
Clean the area as described above then sand the area you wish to spray with #600 grit sandpaper. If you are spraying a panel such as a door, you must decide how far you are going to paint and scuff the entire area. See below for additional information.
SEM Adhesion Promoter
Make sure you use SEM Adhesion Promoter if you are spraying a non-metal surface. Failure to do so will result in the paint peeling off within a few months! After the area has been sanded smooth, apply a layer of SEM Adhesion Promoter to the entire surface you will be painting (including where you will be applying clearcoat). Apply one light coat and let dry 5 minutes. Next apply one wet coat and let dry 15 minutes. Allow to flash dry (until it no longer looks wet) 15 minutes but no longer than 30 minutes before topcoating. Follow this layer with primer, basecoat and clearcoat. The SEM will promote proper adhesion of the paint layers. Again, it must be sprayed BEFORE you apply primer. For more information visit: SEM Adhesion Promoter.
Primer
If you have an unpainted surface, either bare metal, plastic, rubber, etc., APPLY PRIMER! Primer is made to stick to unpainted surfaces and paint is designed to stick to primer!Professional automotive painters use lots of primer. Never use enamel primer, it is not compatible with our paint! You can spray primer over unpainted surfaces, existing paint (as long as you have sanded the paint) and over body filler. Use primer to cover small imperfections and to build up scratched areas to a smooth surface. For deeper scratches, we recommend a product called lacquer putty available at most auto parts stores. The putty is applied in several thin coats to slowly build up the surface. Use a final coat of primer over the putty. Primer has a tendency to shrink so let it dry according to the manufacturers instructions and apply several coats to achieve a smooth surface. You can let it dry overnight.
Paint Spraying-Technique
Tape surrounding areas to protect against over spray. Use a tack rag to pick up any foreign matter on the vehicle. Spray even, overlapping coats. The painted area should be evenly wet with no dry spots. You can sand out imperfections later. Let the basecoat dry for approximately 20 minutes and then apply a second coat. Let the basecoat dry overnight and wet sand the area using 1000 wet and dry sandpaper to sand out imperfections, dust, etc. Spray a final coat of paint over the area but do not sand it. Let the paint dry thoroughly before applying clearcoat. Usually if you let the paint dry overnight, it will be dry. However, in temperatures less than 70°F and not over 80°F. it can take much longer. For best results, metallic paints should be blended into the surrounding area.
Paint Spraying-Paint to an edge
After you have painted the repaired area, slowly feather the paint out on either side of the repaired area. Professional shops will often paint to a boundary such as the edge of a door, a panel line on your car, a molding, etc. The idea is not to leave a paint line right in the middle of a panel.
Watch for Drips!
You are spraying the final coat and suddenly a big drip falls from the can right in the center of your work! Don't try to wipe it off, you will make the situation worse. The best thing to do is just let it dry and wet sand the drip away and re-coat the area. Some of our customers have reported wrapping the spray can with a rag to catch any unforeseen drips. This even happens to professional painters so just be aware of it and check the nozzle and can for excess paint build up.
Note on Spraying Metallic Paints
If you apply too much paint to the surface or do not wait long enough between coats, the metallic flake in the paint will become uneven. The final coat of metallic paint should be sprayed farther away from the surface to let the metallic flakes go on as evenly as possible. This distance will depend on your paint color, temperature, humidity, etc. so be sure to practice off the vehicle first!
Spraying the Clearcoat
The basecoat should be dry to the touch before applying the clearcoat. Shake the clearcoat before spraying for two minutes. (This clear has no metal ball in the can.) Spray the clear over the paint. Do not spray the clearcoat in the sun. Do not spray a part that has been heated by the sun. Let it cool down first, as otherwise the clearcoat will dry with a dull finish. Let the clearcoat dry thoroughly. If you let the clearcoat dry overnight, it will be dry. However, in temperatures less than 70 degrees, it can take much longer. If necessary, wet sand out any imperfections with 1000 grit, then apply a final coat of clear. Let the clearcoat dry for at least three days and then use our automotive rubbing compound (cutting creme) to smooth and shine the area.
Spraying the Clearcoat-Technique
You would typically spray the clearcoat farther out than the paint to a boundary line on your vehicle. Again, you don't want to spray the clearcoat in the middle of a panel without going out to the edges as you will leave a noticeable clearcoat line.
Using the Catalyzed Basecoat Spray Cans
Note! ==> This product REQUIRES activation by using the red activator button! Do not spray without activating the product first!
When you select your color, you may see:
Color Code: L0006EB
White (Catalyzed Spray Only)
Note! ==> This product REQUIRES activation by using the red activator button! Do not spray without activating the product first!
in the color description. This means the paint is ONLY available in a catalyzed spray can.
Do NOT use the catalyzed Spray Cans unless you are a professional auto body repair person. This is a very tricky product to use. It is not forgiving of mistakes. Also, please read the safety directions carefully on this product. Again, this product should only be used by experienced professionals as it is quite toxic and requires a full respirator, skin protection and a paint booth. Do not apply clearcoat over the catalyzed Spray can as it may react with the paint.
This product needs to dry thoroughly before recoating. We recommend at least two days before recoating once it dries, This gives enough time for all the solvents to evaporate. To recoat, let the paint dry for at least two days, wetsand with 1000 grit and then apply more paint.
Using the Catalyzed Clearcoat Spray Cans (2K Clearcoat)
Note! ==> This product REQUIRES activation by using the red activator button! Do not spray without activating the product first!
The catalyzed clearcoat dries shiny and does not need to be polished. Please follow the warnings above about using this product. Again, you should be a professional to spray the catalyzed clearcoat. Please see the Technical Data Sheet / Instructions.
Lightening/Darkening the 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 farther away. Holding the can closer will darken the paint. This will take a bit of practice and does not always work with some paint colors. Practice spraying OFF your car first to see how the technique works. The catalyzed clearcoat will set up very quickly depending on temperature as the catalyst will speed the drying time. Please read the instructions on the can before using!
Using the rubbing compound (cutting creme)
The application of rubbing compound (cutting creme) creates the deep gloss in the clearcoat so don't skip this step!
Let the clearcoat dry for at least three days before using the rubbing compound (cutting creme). Do not use a heavy duty rubbing compound (cutting creme) as it will dull the surface. Also, do not use polishing compound as this is not the same as rubbing compound (cutting creme). Use a medium duty rubbing compound (cutting creme) like we sell on our site.
Use a clean, very soft cloth like an old tee shirt (for example DO NOT USE PAPER PRODUCTS as the wood fibers will scratch the paint!). Place a small quantity of rubbing compound (cutting creme) on the vehicle and use circular strokes and apply even pressure to the vehicle. It's almost like waxing a vehicle except the rubbing compound (cutting creme) is like an extremely fine liquid sandpaper. Buff with a clean cloth to a high gloss. (You may want to spray some paint and clearcoat on a smooth surface and practice to get the feel of it.) Sometimes lots of pressure is required to make the clearcoat shine. The rubbing compound (cutting creme) can also be applied by machine, but careful, it's very easy to burn the finish! You can get the same results by hand, it will just take a bit longer.
Shine problems
Sometimes, especially on dark colored paints, the repaired area will look hazy and/or scratched and not match the surrounding paint. If you experience this. you have two options. Purchase some automotive polishing compound locally and use this until the shine matches your original paint. You can also go to a local detail shop and have them power polish the area.
This problem can be caused by using too much pressure on the rubbing compound (cutting creme). The rubbing compound (cutting creme) is equivalent to using 1500 grit sandpaper and with enough pressure, it will scratch the original paint.
This is why we recommend going through ALL the steps before applying to your vehicle. Or practice on an inconspicuous area of your vehicle.
Problems
Poor or no shine
1) You may have not applied enough clearcoat. If you have gone through the clearcoat, you will end up polishing the basecoat which will not shine! Solution-apply more clearcoat and compound the area again.
2) You are using polishing compound or heavy duty rubbing compound (cutting creme). The polishing compound will do nothing for the paint and the heavy duty compound will dull the finish. Solution-use a medium duty rubbing compound (cutting creme). You may have to apply more clearcoat.
3) You may have such a large area that trying to compound by hand is just too difficult. Solution-use a power buffer or hire a detail shop to compound the area. See the warning above about using a power buffer.
4) You have used paper cloth, have a dirty cloth, are using a terry cloth towel or a cloth with grit in it. Solution-use an old clean T-shirt.
5) You didn't apply any clearcoat! Don't laugh, but this has been a common problem. The basecoat will not shine no matter how much rubbing compound (cutting creme) you apply. Solution-Apply clearcoat!
6) You have a whitish haze or white streaks through the clear. This is caused by high humidity conditions. Solution-Wait until the humidity is under 50%. Scuff down the clearcoat, apply more color coat and reapply the clear.
7) You have spider veins through the paint. This is caused by either spraying the paint too far away or the temperature is too hot and the paint is drying before it hits the surface. Solution-Apply the paint closer to the surface and do not paint when the temperature is above 80°F.
The rubbing compound (cutting creme) is also good for removing oxidation from your finish. Let the paint dry for a 30 days and apply a good quality automotive wax.
Hazards and Safety-VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!!
Automotive touch-up paint including primer and clearcoats are EXTREMELY hazardous. Keep away from children! Call a physician IMMEDIATELY if swallowed. Keep out of direct sunlight and heat over 120F. DO NOT STORE IN CAR and avoid freezing. Contains HAZARDOUS Waste. EPA requires proper disposal. Use with adequate ventilation. If you experience any dizziness, discontinue product use immediately and call physician. This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer and other health problems. The main thing here is to use the product with adequate ventilation. Use an approved automotive paint respirator and WEAR safety goggles when handling automotive paint to protect your eyes!! This includes the primer, paint and clearcoat.
Tri-Coats
Any color that has the word "Tri-coat" in the color description will need three different steps to achieve the correct color.
Application
First apply the basecoat. This is the main color coat. Make sure this has thoroughly dried for at least a few hours. Next, apply the midcoat layer. This bottle (or spray can) will have a check by the word Tricoat (or Midcoat) or a #2 on the label to identify it. This color goes on very thinly and you must practice a bit to get it right. Finally, you apply the clearcoat to achieve the correct color.
When spraying tricoats, apply the basecoat first. Spray the midcoat out even farther than the basecoat or you will create a paint layer line. The best was to spray tricoats is to spray the entire panel to the edge so there are no paint layer lines. Again, practice, practice, practice off the vehicle first before applying a tricoat to your vehicle!
Waxing
Allow the paint to dry for 30 days before waxing.
Washing Your Vehicle
You can wash your vehicle after the paint is dry.
Using Your Own Spray Gun
If you are using your own equipment, you should have professional knowledge. Our pints, quarts and gallons of primer, clearcoat, basecoats and midcoats are all ready to spray and do not need thinner.
Spray Equipment for Water Based Paints
There are spray guns designed for water based paints but you can use a solvent spray gun.
2 oz. size
If you purchased the 2 oz. size to use in your own spray gun or are using a Preval Spray Gun, you will need a small container of automotive lacquer thinner to thin the paint. Do not use regular lacquer thinner sold at Home Depot, etc. as it is the wrong 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 do not use it to thin your paint. It will create a disaster on your vehicle! Only the 2oz. basecoat, midcoat, clearcoat and primer need to be 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.
Lightening/Darkening the 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 gun farther away. Holding the gun closer will darken the paint. This will take a bit of practice and does not always work with some paint colors. Practice spraying OFF your car first to see how the technique works.
Electro Deposit Primer (EDP) EDP Stands for Electro Deposit Primer, Original paint jobs from the 1960 era did not do an adequate job of coating the metal surface and protecting against corrosion. EDP is electrically applied similar to a plating process. This provides excellent rust resistance and completely covers all the metal. To prepare this primer for paint, just lightly scuff the surface.
Please contact us with any comments you have or any additional tips that worked for you!
