Car paint chip - does the choice of paint matter?

Question

My silver car (clear coat finish) has a very, very small paint chip. My question is, wondering if it matters what paint I use to fill it in? I could get some relatively inexpensive silver spray paint at a hardware store, the color would match. (I would spray the paint onto cardboard, and then use a toothpick to fill in the chip).

Is there something unique in touch up paint bought from a car dealer that makes it worth it to buy?

Answer 1

It does matter, The chemistry of today's paint varies a lot. Almost all cars are painted with 2 step paint. The color is sprayed on and is a flat paint. The clear is sprayed on after, while the paint is actually still a bit wet and gives the gloss look. When you get a chip, it stands out because the stuff showing is flat looking. If the chip is not down to the primer, which is a different color than the paint, but not to the metal, you should be able to add some clear and get the gloss back without any pigmented paint being put on.
If you need some paint, some part stores have small containers with the correct colors for most cars and the cost is about $5. US
you can also get small clear containers for the same price. If you have the money there are mobile companies that will fix chips for a reasonable price, Dent pro is one that I know of in California, they will give you free estimates if you drive to their location.
Using any old paint may get you a chemical reaction that will look worse than what you have, Good luck!

Answer 2

You don't have to go to the dealer, but I would highly recommend using proper touch up paint. You can buy custom colors at the auto parts stores, where it will be cheaper than the dealer. It will only be a couple $ more than the spray paint.

Answer 3

I heard just the opposite. Maaco apparently sucks. I've seen one of their commercials where they advertise a paint job for $229, but, as the old addage goes, you get what you pay for. Don't expect the paint to last on your car if you get it done there.

Answer 4

If it is a small chip, NO it will not hurt as long as you are alright with the color match.

Answer 5

Yes,,,

Here's the Yahoo Answer>
Wrong Paint will eat thru the door,and it will fall off.
Then you will fall out of the car,and car will run into something.
Your Insurance Rates will go up way More than the price difference of Actual,Correct Touch-Up Paint.

Seriously now...
There's a variety of reasons to use ACTUAL Touch-Up Paint,,instead of common paint.

*1st,,,You can get High Quality,appropriate Touch-Up paint at most Auto-Parts stores which is Very Economical...
"hardware store prices",,,,$5 or less.
It comes in Factory Color Matched colors,,,and in a very handy small bottle with a built-in applicator brush.
Like Fingernail Polish bottle w/ brush.

*"Real" paint is a grade and quality which is comparable AND compatible w/your original paint

*The consistentcy is made FOR Touch-up,,,,it wont run or sag.
It will fill the ding then level out as it dries.
It's quite Thick so a Dab of it holds it's shape.
And it has certain blend of thinner/retarder which makes it spread into a chip/nick,scratch and stick there,,then dry or "skin over" almost immediately.

May sound silly,,,but there's a BUNCH of chemical science in that little bottle to tailor the product to THAT specific job.

Common Paint is thinned to a HIGH degree to make it Flow Out evenly on larger areas.
And it's "Slower" ...It dries slower,,which means it remains liquid/viscous Longer.

On a Horizontal Surface--like Roof,trunk,hood,,,,,it MIGHT be OK.
But Common Paint on a Vertical Surface like a Door Panle or the side of a car.....
It will SAG as it Dries.
It fills the chip/scratch,,,then skins Over----but it continues to MOVE.
So you end up with a spot that has very THIN,,un-filled chip at TOP,,,and a thick ripple across Bottom.

Imagine filling a plastic bag with Water.
It would lay nice and flat and even on your Hood or Roof,right?

Now imagine it on the SIDE of your car.
Empty at TOP,,ballooned -up fat at the bottom.

I Know How to use Common Paint to fill spots.
Very "Common" and quite Possible.
But ya find yourself WORKING too hard ,,
and fooling with it TOO MUCH for the job at hand.

There's 100's of cars with NO Touch-Up available.
To do the job takes Lots of Tricks.

I'll WAIT to get actual TouchUp if its available.
I'll drive across town to get it.
I'll Order it.
I'll do almost Anything to use T/U .
Unless there's just no other choice and I have to do without it.

**Color-Match
Common paint may go down OK,,,but invariably the color will change with time.
Silvers go dead rather quickly.
You'll end up with nothing more that DIFFERNT blemishes on your car.

You'll not have fixed to spots,,,but only Changed them

**Touch-Up is made to be compatible with Base/Clear finish systems.
It ,,,uh,,,"has Clear IN it"---figuratively speaking.
It's engineered to dry with a high-gloss sheen on the paint's skin/surface.
So the results is a Very acceptible appearing "Match" with a finish that's been clearcoated

Your touchup job is Easier,,
it Color Matches,,,
the Filling/Levelling is far better,,
It's "permanent",,,very stable color & durability,,
and the finish's level of gloss matches the overall car as close as can be.

$5~6 most places,,,
Any Auto Parts store has it,,,and can easily get Exact Color for Your specific car

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/scratchfix2in1.html

...........................................
There's nothing "WRONG" about doing it as you said.
And there's a Chance it may come out just fine.

But if you Really want to make your efforts and expense come out nice,,,and Last a while....
You will improve your odds of Success dramatically by using actual Touch-Up paint.

Good Luck with your project,,I hope it comes out very nice!