About two years ago, I upgraded my basic car to a sleek and fully loaded Ford Taurus X crossover. It had everything from a built-in DVD player for road trips to Sirius Satellite Radio to an optional third row of seating. And for a 2009 vehicle, it had very low kilometers and was in great shape!
In fact, the only flaw my new vehicle had was a bit of paint chipping on the hood and the wheel wells. I planned to touch them up but wasn’t sure how to do that kind of car body repair and get the smooth results I wanted.
Then, Roberts Paint Care came to my rescue! This Quebec-based company offers automotive paint and repair kits for small touch-up car body repair jobs like the one I wanted to attempt. But, even better, the company also has a variety of step-by-step videos to help DIY fans like me get the best possible results!
Since my paint chips didn’t have any rust, Roberts Paint Care sent me its Touch Up Paint Repair Kit for Deep Scratches, and I couldn’t wait to get started with my repairs. I decided that for my first attempt, I would repair the chips on the front hood. The wheel wells were more damaged, and I wanted to get some practice before attempting that bigger repair.
The steps to repair paint chips are relatively simple. After washing and drying the car, I then sanded the edges and surface of the chipped area with 180-grit sandpaper to help the included Polyester Finishing Putty adhere properly. Then I mixed up the required amount of putty and hardener, and used the flexible spreader to smooth it firmly over the chips.
After letting it dry for 15-30 minutes, it was time to sand the area well to smooth out the putty. Since this sanding job was a little more intensive, I taped off the area first to avoid damaging the surrounding areas. The kit included a 2-in-1 masking system and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to protect the area with this all-in-one tape and plastic!
With the area smooth, I was ready to apply primer. I sprayed three coats of Primer Surfacer over the area, waiting 15 minutes between each coat. The primer needed eight hours to cure, so I decided to call it a day and do my final sanding and painting in the morning.
The next day, to prepare the surface for colour once the primer was cured, I sanded the area with fine 400-grit sandpaper. Finally, it was time to apply the paint!
Painting is even more simple than the initial repair and preparation. I started by taping off the area once again. After giving the surface a wipe with a damp cloth and letting it dry thoroughly, I applied three coats of coloured paint and two coats of the clear topcoat, waiting 15 minutes between each.
Finally, to ensure the finish was flawless, I sprayed a coat of blending solvent around the edges of my repair job. This helped to blend any excess paint for a seamless finish. I was very impressed by the perfect match of the paint to my original vehicle colour!
What impressed me the most about this kit is that it really was an all-in-one solution for minor car body repairs. So often, I’ve noticed that similar kits are missing a key tool or item, however small, that I then have to scramble to find.
With everything from tape to the putty spreader to the sandpaper included in the Roberts Paint Care Touch Up Kit, I was able to work steadily and thoroughly without missing a step. And I have more than enough paint and materials left for future repairs too!
With the help of a detailed FAQ and quick, informative videos, Roberts Paint Care kits empower ordinary people to save time and money keeping their vehicles in tip-top shape.
With kits to repair scratches, chips, rust spots and even cracked bumpers, you’ll be shocked at how much you can save doing your own minor repairs. And when you see the results, you’ll never want to pay a body shop for a car body repair again!
Wow you did a fantastic job on this!
This kit is amazing I never thought about doing this myself
Just watched the video and it really does sound as If even I could manage that. Love the step-by-step video to help DIY fans get the best possible results!