Tag: touch up paint

What’s the Best Touch Up Paint?

Posted on by ERAPaints

Only the Best for Your Car or Truck

When it comes to touch up paint, you’re probably looking for the best, that’s also affordable. Like many, you’re probably typing into google “best touch up paint”. In fact that’s why we labeled this article in hopes that you’ll find it and read what we have to say.

Touch Up Paint Manufacturers:

There are a lot of misconceptions on what the “best touch up paint” is. In fact, most companies order from 3 different manufacturers which are PPG, Sherwin Williams, and BASF. With each manufacturer there are 3 tiers of automotive touch up paint from which car touch up companies can buy from. You have low quality, medium, and high. From there each touch up company will have to choose which tier to use in their touch up paint.

A QUICK NOTE: The best touch up paint will be the paint that is mixed when you order and then shipped to your house. The best touch up paint can go bad within 6 months! When you see it sitting on shelves in stores, you’re getting very low quality with a lot of additives/preservatives that aren’t meant to be in car paint. You also can’t get a perfect color match, there are hundreds of thousands of colors and only 15 on the shelf. How could ever expect an even remotely close match? That’s why the best option is to buy touch up paint online.

What Touch Up Paint Businesses Buy To Create Their Paint:

The issue is that businesses, even ours, can buy any tier and call it whatever they want. So, you never know what the quality is until you get it home and put it on your car. The general rule of thumb in almost all cases of commerce is that you pay for what you get. Just because a product is high priced doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best touch up paint either. Luckily for our day-in-age we have something called reviews. Always check the price, if it’s less than 10 dollars most likely it’s too good to be true. If it’s extremely high compared to others, then you’ll want to check the reviews in more than one place or check YouTube to see the product in use.

Application Is Just As Important As The Paint You Buy:

What also needs to be understood about touch up paint is that companies can create very high-quality paint for you. But if it’s not applied correctly, or you skip over clear coat or even primer, then the results can vary. I’ve seen great car paint companies get horrible reviews because the user did not follow the instructions and blames the paint. It’s also extremely important to make sure you got the right color and understand that if your paint is badly faded, you will never get a good match. Even if the car touch up company you ordered from gets the EXACT PERFECT match to your car paint color from OEM specifications it will NOT match. And you can’t blame the company for that.

What do we strive for?

At ERA Paints, we are never the type of business to talk bad about others. There are a lot of great car paint companies out there, some that call themselves the best (almost all), and why would you not? If you don’t believe in your own product how can others believe in it?

The best option is to do what you were probably already doing, look at prices, check reviews and make your best educated guess. What we have said in articles before is something we learned from our fathers before us.

There’s a story behind it.

– “Dad, why are you spending a $100 (that was a lot for boots back then) dollars on your boots when we can barely afford rent?”
– “Son, sometimes you have to buy nice, so you don’t buy twice”

I probably brushed it off and didn’t think too much of it, sad he couldn’t get me some more video games to play with. I didn’t realize the importance of what he said until 10 years later when I had a very rough blue-collar job. In 5 years at the job I went through 2 pairs of boots. I was trying to save money and buy cheaper boots for around $60. I ended up spending more money than he did 10 years earlier.

Of course, I wanted to go tell my dad about this and enjoy the story together. When I got to my parents’ house, I went to the back to find my dad clearing blackberry bushes. I looked down at his boots and started smiling. My father still had his boots he bought 10 years ago. I told him what my experience was, and he laughed at me and we both smiled. I should have listened to him.

Whether you’re looking for the best touch up paint or some other product, remember that it’s not always about price, but it can show the quality behind the product.

Why buy high quality paint?

Buy a high-quality touch up paint so you don’t have to keep retouching the same area multiple times and end up spending more money in the long run. Take the 10 minutes to learn how to properly apply the paint or you will have to keep retouching every year.

In the end, at ERA Paints we may have competitors that offer the same premium quality we offer. But we also separate ourselves through our customer service, with exact paint color matches and no shipping costs. We offer help and guides to get the best results. We truly believe we have the best overall experience for the customer and were still getting better every day.

We’re small enough to care about each customer, but large enough to take care of you!

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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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

Posted on by ERAPaints

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.

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

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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.

ERA Paints Logo

Visit the website today for details https://www.erapaints.com/

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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Have you heard about Exterior Ceramic Coating for Cars?

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Ceramic Coatings

Ceramic coatings are alternatives to waxes, and if correctly applied can be more durable and make your auto’s exterior shine. A Ceramic Coating creates a permanent or semi-permanent bond with a vehicle’s paint.

Therefore, it does not wash away or break down and does not require repeated application every few months. It is a liquid polymer that is applied by hand to the exterior of a vehicle. Furthermore, it’s a lot more expensive than waxing a car, and you’ll want to have a deep polish/clean done prior to applying a ceramic (you’ll want to get rid of as many issues on your exterior as possible as ceramic coatings are long lasting). Make sure to touch up areas where you may have lost some paint and wash your car extremely well.

A Ceramic Coating adds additional protection to your car’s exterior and helps keep it looking like-new with comparatively minimal maintenance. The coating achieves this by making your vehicle more resilient and easier to clean.

Ceramic Coatings probably aren’t for the DIYers. If you want this done to your auto, be sure to find a auto detail company who has some experience doing ceramics.


If you are looking for more information around ceramics, here is a great video: YouTube

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.