There are several ways touch-up paint can be applied. If the scratch is not large, all you may need is a touch up pen.

There are several ways to apply touch up paint. For minor scratches, a paint pen may work to apply the paint. For larger scratches, up to the size of a dime, you can use brush on touch up paint that comes in a bottle with a brush like fingernail polish. For even larger scratches or paint imperfections, you will have to use paint from a spray can. For the spray paint job, you will want to mask off the area you will be painting.

Begin the process by washing the area to be painted using soap and water. Remove any waxes or greases by using an appropriate cleaner for automotive use. Once the area has been cleaned, you may want to mask the area with automotive masking tape.

Sand any surface rust and coat the area with a rust converter. You do not want the rust process to continue under the paint.

Primer needs to be applied to unpainted surfaces. Primer serves a couple of purposes. It adheres the base coat to the metal, but it also can fill minor imperfections in the surface of your vehicle. Primer will have to dry overnight before it is ready to be covered with the base coat. Once cured you can use more fine sandpaper to smooth any rough spots on the vehicle’s surface.

The base coat is next. It needs to be applied in several very thin layers instead of one big blob. This will allow you to have a smoother finish. Let each coat dry for fifteen or twenty minutes before adding the next. Once finished, allow the primer to dry overnight before moving on to the next step. If the temperatures are cool, it may need even longer.

Now, you are ready to put on the base coat. Make sure to apply the base coat in multiple skinny layers as opposed to a large layer. Then, give each coat about 15-20 minutes of drying time before you begin to apply the next coating. And make sure you let the base coat dry thoroughly before adding any top or clear coat. Drying time can take a while; sometimes overnight or longer in cooler temperatures.

If the rest of the car is oxidized, gently rubbing with the compound will remove the oxidized paint. Be careful that you do not rub through the paint with the compound. Do not use towels or wash cloths with rubbing compounds, only t-shirt materials.

After the touch up paint has been applied, give it about thirty days to cure completely and wax your vehicle with a good quality wax. This will prevent the vehicle from showing more signs of oxidation.