How to Paint a Car Correctly

It is worth fixing small scratches and abrasions on your car before winter. Salt and moisture quickly get through the damaged paint down to the sheet metal, and a small scratch turns into rust by spring. Good news: for most small repairs you don't need a paint shop – the right shade and a bit of patience are enough.

## Where to find your car's paint code

Every car has a paint code from the manufacturer. You will find it on the vehicle data label:
- Volkswagen, Škoda, Audi: label in the trunk (often near the spare wheel) or in the service book
- BMW: under the hood or on the driver's door pillar
- Mercedes-Benz: on the driver's door pillar or under the hood
- Toyota: on the driver's door pillar (line "C/TR")

A code looks, for example, like this: LC9X, 475, 197 or 3R3. If you are not sure, photograph the label and bring it to us – we will find the code together.

## What we will mix for you

We prepare the exact shade according to the code:
- Touch-up pen 12 ml – for small scratches and chips from stones
- Spray 400 ml – for larger abrasions, mirrors, trim and smaller parts
- Car paint 1 l – 2K acrylic (single-colour shades) or basecoat (metallic and pearl) for spraying with a gun

With metallic and pearl shades, a clear coat must be applied over the basecoat – otherwise the paint will not be glossy or durable. Single-colour 2K car paints are glossy on their own.

## Fixing a scratch with spray in 6 steps

1. Wash and degrease the spot with a silicone degreaser.
2. Sand the surroundings wet with P800 abrasive paper until smooth.
3. Mask the surroundings with masking tape and film.
4. On plastic, first apply a plastic primer; on bare sheet metal, apply a filler primer.
5. Spray the paint in 3–4 thin layers with a 10–15 minute break between them. Thin layers are better than one thick layer.
6. For metallic and pearl shades, apply 2–3 layers of clear coat. After a week you can polish the transition with polishing compound.

Spray at a temperature of 15–25 °C, in dry conditions and in a well-ventilated area, wearing a respirator.

## Everything in one place

In our shop we also have clear coats, hardeners, fillers, putties, abrasive papers, masking supplies and polishing compounds. The current stock and prices are visible directly on our website – and if you are unsure, ask our assistant or come see us.

Davide Paint shop, Budince 26