When it comes to keeping your car looking its best, the reality is that maintaining a flawless paint job can be extremely difficult. Over time, no matter how careful you may be, it’s highly likely that weather, grit, road debris, and other careless drivers will eventually cause some form of damage. In the case of small defects like minor scratches, automotive paint pens serve as an effective way to cover up damage without breaking the bank.
At Central Alberta Paint Supplies (CAPS), we know just how beneficial it is to have easy access to solutions like paint pens that help put you back in control of the overall quality and protection of your car. With countless colours available, savvy car owners can use paint pens to hide small flaws confidently and restore their vehicle to its former glory quickly and efficiently.
Below, we’ll take a quick look at how to use touch-up pens on your vehicle. Read on to learn more.
Prepare Your Surface
Just like any kind of painting, the success of your final product largely depends on how well you prepare the surface ahead of time. Cars are prime targets for dirt, oil, grease and plenty of other environmental factors that can prevent paint from properly adhering to the frame. Gently remove any dirt, wax or debris using a mild detergent or dedicated automotive cleaner (hint: always make sure it’s safe to use on vehicles first), and then allow the surface to dry completely.
For the best results, you’ll likely want to use fine-grit sandpaper to even out the surface and smooth rough edges. This helps to ensure the paint can properly adhere where it needs to, and that you won’t have any odd patches or debris that gets caught underneath the paint once it dries.
Practice and Precision
Touch-up pens are pretty straightforward to use, but there is some finesse involved. Before you get right to painting your car, you may want to familiarize yourself with the flow of your pen (each unit can be a little different), and practice on a piece of cardboard in order to get a feel for the pressure needed, how quickly paint comes out, how precise the tip is, and more. Work in controlled, steady movements that allow you to carefully guide the pen over the surface of your vehicle, and go slow to avoid sloppy lines that blend poorly in the end.
Mix it Right
In order for your paint to adhere properly and to get the best colour match and consistency possible, it’s important to make sure your touch-up pen (or spray, depending on your chosen product), is properly shaken and mixed. Mixing helps all pigments combine properly, and it’s worth being aware that different types of pens will often be mixed in a slightly different way. For example, while some pens may have a built-in agitator ball, others may not and may require a different way of ensuring everything mixes properly. As with above, always test the pen once you’ve mixed it to ensure everything is actually ready to go, and always follow manufacturer instructions for the best results.
Allow for Proper Drying
Waiting is the hardest part of seeing any project through, but rushing things is a surefire way to ruin your touch-up job – and potentially even cause moe damage. Once you’ve applied your new paint, give your handiwork ample time to dry, cure and bond with the existing paint. The exact time needed varies from model to model, but in general, the time frame can range from hours to overnight for optimal results. Be mindful of weather conditions during this period, including rain, snow, and even excessive sunlight exposure, all of which can ruin your touch-up work and potentially cause even more damage in the long run.
Paint Touch Up Supplies and More at CAPS
For all of your car touch-up paint needs, any of our Canadian stores will have what you need to get the job done. Contact our expert team today with any questions you have, or visit us at one of our locations.