Tag: paint scratch

Cost to Repair a Car Bumper

Posted on by ERAPaints

BUMPER REPAIR COST

Assume that your car was crashed, has bumper damage and now it needs to be fixed. How much does it cost to repair a bumper? $200? $400? When the payment bill comes you will surely get surprised.

Subaru Bumper Paint Scratch

This happens because of the outdated understanding of a car bumper. In the past, the bumper was a piece of wood, bolted onto metal at the ends of the car. They provided protection if a car bumped into nearby objects. Furthermore, it was easily replaceable, just unscrewing the bolts allowed it to detach.

Now bumpers are more complex. Today, bumpers are integrated with components of the vehicle and have more functions than just protecting. This causes the bumper repair cost to rise. In order to know the cost, you need to understand a modern bumper’s purpose, and the process of fixing or replacing one.

Today’s system of repairing or replacing is much harder than it was in the past. Before taking out the bumper, professionals need to disconnect it from numerous vehicle systems. It does not only consumes time but it also takes trained skills. You must be wondering what kind of systems are in the bumper, below is the list of all systems:

  1. Lights
  2. Trim
  3. Warning Systems
  4. Airbag Sensors
  5. Air Intakes

Removing all the above parts takes almost 2 – 3 hours and sometimes even more. The average labor cost is $100 per hour.

Paint Labor

After the removal of bumper, it’s time for the paint job. This job starts when the damage to the bumper is repaired. It also includes using body filler(putty), plastic repair material or other materials to repair dents and cracks. The primary objective is to create an exact copy of the original bumper.


After the repair job, sanding is done to the surface of the bumper. Before painting, trim or cutouts are removed. Now it’s time for painting and this includes laying a base coat, coats of colors and clearcoat.


The average time spends in this whole job is around 3 – 4 hours. The paint labor cost almost $100 per hour.

Paint Materials

This includes masking tape, plastic repair material, basecoat paint as well as body filler. You must be thinking that the measuring tape and paint also includes in cost? Yes, auto-body shops charge a flat rate for materials. They charge around $45 per hour on average.

Parts

In any collision, there must some part or component that was damaged. In the worst scenario, because of high damage, a replacement will be made. A replacement of bumper will cost you around $300 – $700. If sensors, lights, cameras or any other component are damaged, then you can expect an increase in overall cost. Even a low-speed collision of a new car could cost up to $1,000.

Overall Bumper Repair Cost

Car bumpers have changed from very simple to complex. Not just tools and parts cost but also time and effort the person whom you hired.


If we sum up all the expenses, you can easily see why car bumper repair costs so much.

  • Labor Time: 2 – 3 hours (rate= $100/hour) will cost= $200 – $300
  • Labor Time: 3 – 4 hours (rate= $100/hour) will cost= $300 – $400
  • Paint Materials: 3 – 4 hours (rate= $45/hour) will cost= $135 – $180
  • Parts: Average cost of parts = $300 – $700

The average bumper repair will cost between $935 and $1,580.


Does this blow your mind? Well, you are not alone. Do you know you can fix a damaged bumper yourself? If you have small scratches or dents then you can easily fix it yourself, but if the bumper is heavily damaged then consider getting it fixed by a professional.


IN THE END, WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF.
 

How to Blend Paint on a Car

Posted on by ERAPaints

How to blend when painting a car

Learning how to blend new paint with old is a crucial part of the touch up paint process and the easiest way to guarantee that you get the most out of your DIY car paint kit. Thankfully, learning how to blend paint isn’t a complicated process and can even be done by people who have no automotive experience.

What is blending?

Figuring out how to blend car paint is the art of making the lines between your vehicles paint and your OEM car touch up paint vanish. You take your car spray paint and apply it to the existing paintwork to give the illusion of them blending into one.

Blending your automotive touch up paint gives the same kind of great finish that you would expect when visiting a professional body shop. Learning how to blend spray can paint will provide you with that ideal color match and is a process that we recommend absolutely everyone follows.

We outline the best practices to ensure maximal blending below. But we also have a fantastic YouTube video on how to blend paint on a car panel, which highlights the entire process step-by-step. Check it out here.

Why is blending your touch up car paint important?

Purchasing a car paint repair kit has several benefits. Not only are they significantly cheaper than going to a professional, but you also save yourself a lot of time and can work around your own schedule. However, you shouldn’t have to compromise on a great finish, and this is where blending comes in.

Getting instructions on how to blend paint automotive means that you are more likely to get an original factory finish on the work you do at home. On top of that, even with the perfectly matched OEM touch up paint we provide, color differences can still occur because of the environment you paint in, so blending is crucial to minimizing the disparities.

Overall, you don’t want to apply auto touch up paint to your vehicle to ruin your beautiful car’s look. That is why blending is essential.

When to blend car paint

Many of our customers ask how to blend spray paint and assume there is a magical step or product that does the work. However, blending paint is a technique that needs to be applied while you are spraying on your OEM touch up paint.

You should constantly be blending the entire time you are applying your OEM touch up paint on your vehicle. You can find an outline of these steps here, but we will outline tips and tricks on how to blend paint auto body below.

How to blend paint on a car with a spray can

The steps below only apply to use our spray can repair kits as the scratch or scrape when using a paint jar will be too small to blend. As we said previously, these steps need to be applied throughout the entire process as they are a technique rather than a task in their own right.

Before painting, you must ensure you have sanded and smoother the area down. The damage should be completely smooth and even, without this, blending is very difficult. Aim to complete the work out of direct sunlight as it can cause the paint to dry unevenly, which may leave a patchier finish. Below are the steps on how to blend spray paint:

  1. Shake your paint can for 1-2 minutes to mix the color properly
  2. Depress the spray tip to give it a test run and get an idea of the pattern
  3. Start with the edges of the damaged areas first then work in. Your first coat should try and cover the primer, then taper as you go.
  4. As you spray, track the panel’s contours, you are spraying to ensure even coverage and uniformness.
  5. You should wait 5 minutes between layers. When the paint has an even mat look, it’s time for the next coat.
  6. Aim for three to four coats overall and always aim for an even application with relatively wet coats.
  7. After the first few coats, start to extend the spread of each coat by 3 to 4 inches to help it blend with the surrounding paint.
  8. The final coat should fade out and not be heavy.
  9. Wait 20 minutes before applying the clear coat and aim for 2 to 3 coats.
  10. With a clear coat application, it is vital to keep your movement consistent to prevent it from running.

Please check out our YouTube video on how to blend urethane paint for more information on the entire process. It gives step by step examples of the above.

Let the paint dry completely before you check for the final color match as it can look lighter or darker prior to being completely dry. Discovering how to blend paint on your car will leave you with a superior finish that will make your car shine like it just rolled off the factory floor.

What are you waiting for? Get your car paint repair kit today, and get your vehicle shining again.

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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How to Prevent Clear Coat Peeling off your Car

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Clear Coat Peeling

Nobody likes clear coat to peel off their car, right? The clear coat (car paints) serves two purposes: enhance the look of the car and to protect the color coat from harmful sun rays (mostly UV rays), rainwater, dirt, dust, and grime.

Plymouth Clear Coat Peel

This means that you should take all precautions to prevent clear coat from peeling off car. In other words, clear coat should be protected and kept intact. You must be wondering why could clear coat peel off? It happens because of mistakes made by those around the vehicle or natural causes.

If the peeling occurs, it should be repaired as quickly as possible. Your car body can undergo some heavy damages if it remains undealt with.

There are 5 different simple ways through which you can prevent premature clear coat peeling off.

1.   Stay Away from Automated Car Washes

Did you know that automated car washes are the worst enemy of car’s paint? The reason is that the abrasive nylon brushes rotate at a very high speed which can cause many scratches as well as swirl marks on the clear coat. Their high-pressure jets can also damage the clear coat.

Instead, you can go for an Eco car wash. Eco car washes doesn’t damage the clear coat.

FURTHERMORE, IT ALSO PROVIDES THE BEST CLEANING RESULTS WITHOUT ANY SCRATCH ON A CLEAR COAT.

The best method is steam cleaning. You don’t need to worry that the steam will damage the paint because the professional detailers know the temperature limits as well as the exact duration that the cleaning should take place.

You can also check our article on cleaning your car without peeling the clear coat by clicking here.

2.   Don’t Use Abrasive/Generic Car Wash Products

Some chemicals such as Windex can damage your clear coat. Not only Windex, but other detergents such as harsh soaps which you might use instead of designated cleaning products for the paint will definitely damage the clear coat. If you want to know how Windex can damage the clear coat then click here.

3.   Wax Your Car Regularly

Many people think that clear coat doesn’t require waxing, if you want to prevent clear coat peeling off car then you need to wax your car. When you wax your car, it forms a layer that helps shield from airborne contaminants such as acid rain and bugs.

Waxing can also protect your paint from weather conditions, UV rays from the sun and also elements such as road salt and snow (during winter).

4.   Wash Your Car Before It’s Too Late

The agglomeration of dust, grime and dirt can damage clear coat which results in it peeling. The ideal way to deal with these pollutants is by getting rid of them as soon as possible. If you leave them for a long time then it will lead to paint and body damage.

5.   Apply Paint Protection Film

This chemical will help the clear coat by giving it additional protection from the elements such as rocks, sand, chips, and stones. Have you ever heard of screen protectors of a cell phone? If yes, then the paint protection film works the exact the same way. It should be applied carefully because a small mistake can cause heavy damage to the paint.

Conclusion

Preventing clear coat peeling off car is important for both cosmetic reasons and allows the car last longer as well. If you provide care for your car now, it means you will avoid heavy expenses in the future as well as time. Do you know how to apply clear coat? No? We can help you out, check out our blog post about how to apply clear coat.

If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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How To Apply Clearcoat

Posted on by ERAPaints

What’s the hardest coat to apply, primer, basecoat, or clearcoat?

If you guessed clearcoat, you would be right! Most people think it’s very easy, but if you don’t apply it correctly you can expect early peeling or even orange peel! Let us show you how to apply clearcoat properly!

How To Apply Clearcoat

First of all, why do you need clearcoat?

Maintaining the exterior of your vehicle is extremely important to extend the life of your cars paint. Without this extra layer of protection you’re opening up your basecoat to all the elements that can peel the paint away or wear it down. This can lead to rust and other damage you really don’t want to see on your car!

Clearcoat also helps create that shiny look you want on your car! Without clearcoat the paint rarely matches up perfectly when doing touch up paint, if the rest of your car has clearcoat how could you expect your touch up paint to match without it?

Assess the area and the basecoat

If you’re using clearcoat you’re either redoing the clearcoat and hopefully the basecoat looks fine. If not, the basecoat is probably in really bad shape. Make sure to redo the primer, basecoat and clearcoat at the same time. If you don’t your touch up is going to look poor in the end result.

If you’re redoing the clearcoat a lone, never go over the existing clearcoat and expect a good result. To quickly remove the old clearcoat you’ll want to take very fine sandpaper around 2000 grit. Soak the 2000 grit sandpaper in water for an hour. This will be considered a wet sanding. Lightly but firmly sand the damaged clearcoat until the peeling clearcoat is gone, be careful to not damage the base coat. Make sure to wash the area so no bits get stuck onto the car when you reapply clearcoat.

Special Note: Make sure the can of clearcoat is the right temperature! We recommend getting the can to a temperature of 80 degrees. Doing this prevents orange peel months down the road. Take the can of clearcoat and submerge it in water around 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 20 minutes before spraying!

Practice!

Touch up paint/clearcoat is all about preparation. Part of that is practicing applying the clearcoat! We send a test card with each order, if you’d like to practice more use a large piece of cardboard to practice on! Get a feel for how it sprays and comes out of the aerosol can!

Cover the area around the peeling clearcoat

Use masking tape, newspaper, or another item to cover the surrounding area. This is fairly straight forward, but we’ve heard some stories…. so please make sure you do this!

Application

You’ll need to plan for several coats. If you’re spraying a large area, you may need multiple cans of clearcoat. When doing a regular touch up repair you always use more clearcoat than basecoat or primer. You’ll usually want to plan for 2-3 coats.

Apply the first coat lightly, this will help prevent cracks in the clearcoat. The next 2 coats should be full coats and look wet to the eye!

Keep your distance! But not too far! Keep the can of paint 6-8 inches from the surface. Like spraying anything, if you’re to close it’ll cause drips. If you’re too far it won’t lay on evenly.

Avoid windy, hot, or days with a lot of moisture. Do not paint on an overly foggy day, or a rainy day. Do not spray on a hot day! 72 degrees Fahrenheit is the premium temperature. Don’t spray in direct sunlight. Even if it’s 68 degrees outside, the sun will heat your car panels up much higher than that!

Use our spray can trigger in our kit! It barely costs a thing and isn’t there just to increase price! It really does help, it helps control the spray and the trigger. They’re also reusable so you can keep it around and use it on other projects!

You’ve done it!

Great job! Your final coat should look like a shiny polished finished! But remember, you need to wax your car 30 days after to really bring out the shine and color!

Did you mess up?

Hey, sometimes we mess up. That’s okay, let us tell you how you can fix these common mistakes!

  1. Your paint looks dull or lacking shine. This is most likely because you did not wax, polish or buff your car! Doing one of these will surely help and we always recommend a good wax 30 days after finishing your project.
  2. If the finish looks coarse or has lines through it, we recommend wet sanding the area as we mentioned above. Also if you have drips in the clearcoat. Use 1000-2000 grit sandpaper, we always recommend 2000 grit when wet sanding. Soak the sandpaper in water for 30 minutes and keep adding water as you go. Lightly sand the area. Remember, the goal is to only get rid of the clearcoat, not to damage the basecoat! Be careful and have patience. Once the clearcoat is off, reapply!

TLDR;

Quick Steps to How To Apply Clearcoat:

  1. Assess the area, remove existing clearcoat with wet 2000 grit sandpaper making sure to only remove the clearcoat. Taking special care to not damage the basecoat.
  2. Make sure the can is close to a temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Practice and prep, clean the area after wet sanding. Practice spraying clearcoat on cardboard to get used to spraying.
  4. Use masking tape and something like newspaper to cover the surrounding area.
  5. Add 2-3 layer of clearcoat. First layer lightly, the next two add heavy so it looks wet!
  6. Keep the can 6-8 inches away from the panel you’re spraying
  7. Environment: Avoid windy, hot, or high moisture days.
  8. Use a spray can trigger.

Still not sure how to apply clearcoat or have general questions? Call us at 971-770-2372 or email us CustomerService@ERAPaints.com and we’d be happy to help!

Watch our How To Guides on YouTube!

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

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Automotive Touch Up – What Not To Do

Posted on by ERAPaints

What Not To Do When Applying Automotive Touch Up Paint.

At ERA Paints we’ve seen it all, if you’re using high quality automotive touch up paint then the problems that occur are usually due to product application. This is true whether you’re using ERA Paint products or someone else’s. We are proud to say that we use premium paint that has set us apart from our competitors at an early stage. This doesn’t mean every project goes smoothly. This indicates error in application or someone not following the directions properly. To help smooth this process out here are some of the most common errors we see in automotive touch up!

Touch Up Paint Quality

What I stated above about using quality paint is probably the most important factor, so why not discuss this first. To start, remember to not use old car paint! Car paint is much different than what you would paint your house with. If the paint is over 6 months old, do not use it! That’s why touch up paint should be mixed AFTER you order it and shouldn’t be bought off the shelf.

Now there are numerous paint companies out there. What people don’t know is that the majority uses only 3 different manufacturers to mix the paint. When you send the order in, the paint is then made that day (or at least it should be). Typically each manufacture sells different grades of paint. When looking for a paint company don’t automatically assume the cheapest is the way to go. There’s an old fashioned saying – Buy nice or buy twice! This holds true for automotive touch up paint. If you buy cheap paint, it’ll fade quickly, fall off or crack/chip. This means you’ll be buying paint again and you’ll be paying double what you would have the first time. ERA Paints sells premium quality paint, and some other companies will too. But we also pride ourselves on our customer service, so we ask, please give us a chance! (shameless self plug?)

The Wrong Sandpaper Grit

Using sandpaper on a touch up job is great, but many pick up anything laying around the house. This can cause more damage to the paint which of course, we do not want. In our touch up kits we include 600 grit sandpaper, this is a very fine sandpaper and works great for touch ups. It’s great you’re using sandpaper on your project! But please remember, wash and clean the area afterwards! If you don’t do this then you’ll be applying paint to loose particles over the sanded area making it very hard for the paint to stick.

Touching Up in Inappropriate Weather

Something many people are unaware of when touching up a vehicle for the first time is that they don’t wait for the right weather conditions. It can’t be to hot or to cold. Your paint’s behavior will change based on the weather. If it’s too hot or too cold the paint can bubble, discolor itself, blotch and more. The best conditions will be on a dry day around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Not Adding Enough Coats or Adding Paint to Thick 

This one isn’t always to obvious for first timers. Automotive touch up paint might seem more simple than completely painting a new car and in most ways it is. But the process is still the same most of the time. You want to sand away any rust spots, clean the area, apply primer, apply the base coat and finally add clear coat to give it a nice shine. What most don’t understand is that taking a little extra time and being patient can help you get the best look and results. If you can, ALWAYS apply multiple thin base coats allowing each coat to dry before applying another. Just 2-3 coats will work just fine. Make sure you level out the automotive touch up paint with the rest of the vehicle.

Too Quick to Wax Your Vehicle

This one is a bit more rare, since come on, how many of you guys actually wax your car!? While you should wax your car, many don’t, and that’s okay. If you do plan on waxing your car to give it that extra boost in appeal remember to wait at least 25-30 days after applying new paint. This is because the paint can absorb the chemicals in the wax and can cause issues with the paint drying, rippling or thinning out. 

Remember your car paint is complex and specialized made to withstand the elements in the long term while maintaining a great look. Take the time to learn how to apply it properly so you don’t have to do it again. I hope this helps you guys and remember to use ERA Paints for premium paint and accessories! 

Need a guide? Need a video explanation? Check them out here.

Looking for products? Look below or check out our shop!

You can also check out YouTube for up-to-date videos on all things DIY Automotive!

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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Average Car Paint Touch up Cost

Posted on by ERAPaints

Do-It-Yourself vs. an Auto Body Shop

We all have owned a favorite vehicle where we spend countless hours each year maintaining the appearance inside and out. When we see a car scratch or chip in the paint it can immediately effect the overall appearance of an otherwise great looking car. Another big issue is that car scratches or chips can bring other issues, like rust or corrosion if not treated quickly. The big question most people have is, how much does car paint touch up cost and is it worth pursuing? 

Professional Auto Body Shops

Many car owners resort to professional auto body shops. If your car has great big dents and scrapes from all over from an accident or some other catastrophic event, then going to an auto body shop is a great option. Another option is the local dealer ship for your make of car. The great thing about a dealership is that they can order the paint themselves and find it with the vin number on your car. Although any professional auto body shop can get their hands on the correct paint in a very short amount of time or create it themselves.

The price at an auto body shop can of course vary depending on the scope of work. The more damage the higher the price. Going to a professional shop be it a dealership or auto body shop can raise the price of paint alone substantially. In addition to the paint, you’ll be paying for labor which will increase the average car touch up cost. The average cost for a professional dealer or auto body shop can charge anywhere from $800-$1200 in 2019. For small jobs it could be anywhere from $500-$800, anything less is not worth their time in labor. 

Average Car Paint Touch Up Cost For DIY

ERA Paints and other touch up repair companies will always advise you to do the job yourself. Why? Because touch up repair is very inexpensive when you do it yourself. Especially when you use a great company like ERA Paints(shameless self plug). We offer premium quality touch up paint and accessories with guides on how to do the job right the first time. Our touch up kits range anywhere from  $15-$30. The thing about diy touch up repair is that people normally think it’s very difficult when it’s not. We have all kinds of guides and videos on how to do this properly. 

The whole process doesn’t take much time, it does require some patience and maybe a little practice. If we can save you $500 or more than we definitely think it’s worth it in the long run.

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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Applying Touch Up Paint to Cars and Trucks

Posted on by ERAPaints

Applying Touch Up Paint to Your Car or Truck in 8 easy steps:

For many, applying touch up paint to your cars or trucks can seem like a daunting task. But with a little bit of research and knowledge of general practice anyone can do the project themselves and save A LOT of money in the process. All that you really need to focus on is making sure you follow the directions. We promise it’s easier than you think!

First thing you must realize is that we or any other touch up paint supplier can’t control the results of your project. It’s all in the touch up application, ERA Paints sales premium paint which sets us a part from our competitors. This all falls to the wayside if the customer ignores the directions and does not take his time with their project. This means that if you do not practice before applying your touch up paint, your results could vary from a professional or someone who has done it before.

  1. Order your touch up paint

    At ERA Paints we have over 150,000 premium paint colors, and all the accessories you’ll need for you project. Need to find your paint code before you order? Use the tool at the top of the page click “Get Started” to select your paint code and paint kit. Note that the paint colors shown on the computer/mobile screen will never match perfectly. They should be used as a reference to help you quickly find your color. You can also find the paint code directly on your car. Use our how to find your paint code page to make this a simple process. 

  2. Practice and test

    First you need to make sure you selected the right paint code. Again, we always recommend that you find your paint code from your vehicle itself. You’ll also want to practice before going directly to you car. Before doing any prep work, use the enclosed TEST CARD to test and see how well the paint matches your vehicle’s. You’ll want to color compare in full direct sunlight.

  3. Understand your tools 

    There are several different tools and methods which can be used to apply primer, touchup paint and clear coat to scratches and chips on your vehicle. We have chosen a ‘dabber’ for our kits (as opposed to a brush or pen), as it works great as long as you know how to use it. So here are some helpful hits. First, we have included 2 dabbers for each bottle of paint you ordered. We’ve done this as a customer service gesture on our part so you will have an extra dabber for future use. Also note that these dabbers can be cleaned & reused – just use a little paint thinner or mineral spirits to completely clean the paint out of them. How to use: DO NOT use a dabber as a paint brush – you will destroy the tip and the fill-in scratch line will not be optimal. Instead gently dab a dot of paint into the scratch (light dots/coats only!) in a ‘connect-the-dots’ technique (see video below). Do not attempt to use the dabber to move paint inside the scratch – simply use many smalls ‘dots’. Your results will better if have patience and take your time filling in scratches or chips.

  4. Painting conditions

    Just like painting your home or anything else you need to pick a day anywhere from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll also need to choose a day/area with low humidity that’s not in direct sunlight. Make sure to sweep the area before hand and make sure no dust will get stirred up into the air that could attach itself to wet paint.

  5. Prep your car or truck 

    Clean the paint area you’re touching up using soap or wax and grease remover. We sell wax and grease remover in our touch up kit below. If you let your repair area go for a while it will have traces of rust, if this is the case use some fine sandpaper(at least 600 grit) to remove rust or bad surface damage.

  6. Apply primer (if needed)

     Any place where you see bare metal needs primer. You’ll need this to dry completely. At least 30 minutes or overnight. Why you want to use primer? Primer attaches to the metal and the paint attaches to the primer. Paint does not attach well when applied directly to the metal so we ALWAYS recommend it. It also prohibits rust from developing. 

  7. Apply base coat

    The base coat is the actual colored paint you received with your kit. Before using, SHAKE the touch paint jar upside down. THEN MIX THE PAINT THOROUGHLY WITH A TOOTH PICK, DABBER OR SIMILIAR TOOL. Apply as many dot-coats as necessary to cover the area, waiting 5-10 minutes minimum (20 minutes to be safe) between coats. Wax/Grease Remover can be used to gently wipe away excess paint. If you are not applying clear coat over the paint, you can apply polishing compound to bring out the shine after the paint is fully dry (wait at least one day). We strongly recommend clear coat usage.

  8. Apply clear coat (Strongly recommended):

    THOROUGHLY SHAKE the touch up paint jar upside down before applying. Allow at least 30 minutes after basecoat paint before applying clear coat. Gently apply multiple laters of clear coat dot-coats waiting 15-20 minutes between applications. Clear coat should be dry in 2 hours, but for best results let dry overnight. You should wait least one week before applying wax to the area.

We hope this guide has helped you with applying touch up paint to cars and trucks or any other vehicle you may have! You can always contact us for help at 971-770-2372 or CustomerService@ERAPaints.com!

For the best results we ALWAYS recommend using Primer, Basecoat, and Clear Coat when applying touch up paint to cars or trucks!

Learn better through video? Watch below. Or check our YOUTUBE channel.

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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How to Properly Prep a Panel for Automotive Spray Paint

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Automotive Spray Paint

At ERA Paints, we many times are asked how to prep a panel for painting and clearcoat. We sell what we feel is the best automotive spray paint around, however if you don’t prep your surface correctly paint of any quality will NOT spray on and adhere properly. So spend a couple of minutes to read an intro to proper prep procedures. While you’re at it, please visit our YouTube channel where you’ll find lots of prepping & painting videos, along with a comprehensive catalog of How to Find Paint Code videos on your vehicle.

Subscribe at YouTube; you’ll be happy you took a look!

Cleaning

First, before doing any bondo-ing, sanding, priming or painting, you should always thoroughly CLEAN the surface. Wash the area with kitchen dish soap (Dawn or similar) and water (rinse thoroughly, dry completely). This process removes dust and dirt from the paint surface.

Wax/Grease Remover

Then use wax/grease remover (rubbing alcohol is an OK subsitute) to remove oils, grease, wax, tar, bugs and other contaminates. Simply put: automotive spray paint or primer will not stick to a contaminated surface – you will end up with fish eyes, paint flaking, etc if your surface is not property prepped. Even the oils from your hands will contaminate paint surfaces, so you should either wash your hands thoroughly before starting, or wear nitrile gloves. Paint does not react well to ANY type of oils and greases. Paint surfaces can also be impacted by contaminates in the air. So never be spraying lubricants like WD-40 or silicon any near your project area – you would be surprised at how such particles suspended in the air can contaminate a paint surface!

Remember that a car paint spray can is pressurized as it comes out of the aerosol can. You’d be surprised at how much air it pushes, and this suspends dust particles in the air. Therefore be sure to sweep the concrete or floor before beginning work and either tape off tires & adjoining panels or wash the mud & dust off from them. You MUST clean off tar or any other types of grime. The paint surface must be COMPLETELY free of any type of contaminates.

You can find all of the best automotive spray paint, automotive touch up paint, supplies and prep kits for your do-it-yourself Auto Touch Up Paint project at https://www.erapaints.com. We specialize in customize-formulated car spray paint specifically matched to your car!

Here’s a video from start to finish on

Automotive Spray Paint

We pride ourselves on quality products, competitive prices and outstanding customer satisfaction.

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Where to Buy Touch Up Paint

Posted on by ERAPaints

Top 4 signs your car exterior needs touch up and where to buy touch up paint

The car’s paint plays a major role in defining its external look. No matter how expensive your car is, there will come a time when the paint starts to wither and get dull. In order to get the original shiny look of the paint back, you need to update the paint job. But, when do you know it is the right time to paint your car? Here we have a list of signs that indicate your car needs a new paint job.

The 4 Signs

  • Fading:

    Are your car’s exteriors turning dull and pale? Well, that is because your car’s paint is fading. It is commonly caused by damage from sunlight and if the car is not properly washed and waxed. Make sure to verify your car’s paint code and if you are wondering where to buy touch paint, we would recommend heading to right here to ERA Paints! Here you will find spray paints and touch up paints along with clearcoat, primer, and other painting accessories and tools.

  • Peeling:

    Have you ever come across peeling paint strips while running your hand on the hood? Peeling paint is a sure sign of the need for a brand new paint job. The car’s clearcoat starts to loosen from the rest of the paint job. It is recommended to get a new paint job as soon as you spot even minor peeling, as it can increase in no time.

  • Scratches:

    When you find scratches on the surface of the paint, it is time getting to get it all dolled up again. Minor scratches here and there can be fixed with touch up while significant scratches may require a respray of the paint.

  • Mismatched paint colors:

    There might have been instances when the paint chipped off and you managed with just any paint color that resembled the original color. Mismatched paint colors on the exterior looks unflattering and shabby and it is high time you identify your car’s paint code to get a new paint job. The color should match the car’s original shade and finish.

Have you spotted any of the signs on your car? Are you searching for where to buy touch up paint? Visit ERA Paints for the best quality car touch up paint, spray paints, and accessories like spray can trigger grip, clear coat, and paint kits. You just need to select your vehicle’s paint code and order the paint accordingly. They offer free shipping on all products.

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If you are more interested in ERA Paints and our strive for vehicle care, follow us on our social media:

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How to Make Trim Look New With Trim Black Touch Up Paint

Posted on by ERAPaints

Trim Black is a very easy and cost effective way to make the accents of your car pop! If your old trim was scratched and damaged or if you are looking to add some new trim items. When using Trim Black Touch Up Paint with our Basecoat paint your car could really stand out!

If you follow all of your Trim Black Touch Up Paint instructions, your vehicle will be sure to pop anywhere you drive.