Is the paint on your car beginning to look bad? Believe it or not, things like bird droppings, tree sap, and bugs can all cause chemical burns on your paint. These, along with all sorts of other things, will strip the clear-coat from the paint and leave it looking dull and blotchy. Here, you'll learn how to restore the paint's finish and bring your car back to its original shine.
Supply List
- Car wash soap
- Sponge
- Bucket
- Hose
- Car wax
- Wax removing solvent
- Bondo compound
- Primer
- Paint
- Gloss
- Auto body repair paintbrush
- 1000 grit sandpaper
Start With a Wash
Washing your car entirely before you begin will help you identify all of the trouble spots that you want to repair. Use a good cleaning solution so that all of the stuck-on debris will wash off. Watch as you rinse the car – you might be able to see some imperfections with the water flowing over the car that you wouldn't have been able to see otherwise.
Remove the Auto Wax
All of the wax that you've spent hours applying to your car will need to be removed from all areas that you'll be working on. You'll have to use a special solvent formulated to remove auto wax, which can be found at your local auto supply store.
Sand the Area
Sand the areas that are damaged using small, circular motions. Do your best to avoid sanding any areas that aren't damaged. The goal here is to remove the chemical burn from the paint.
Bondo Divots
If the chemical burns have left divots in the surface, you'll need to skim a thin coat of Bondo over the area. Once the Bondo cures, sand it smooth and wipe the surface clean with a slightly dampened cloth.
Prime and Paint
You need two layers of primer on the damaged area. Apply the primer using the auto body repair paint brush. Sand the primer smooth between each application.
Once the primer is complete, it's time to paint. Apply at least four coats of paint in the same manner in which you've applied the primer, sanding between coats as you did before.
Wax the Car
Finish up with a good wax job on the entire car. This will help to blend everything together and protect the paint that you've just applied.
If you don't feel comfortable taking on a project such as this, contact a local auto body repair shop like Straightline Collision. They will happily assist you with undoing the chemical damage on your car.
I have never been an especially handy person, but a few years ago I decided that I needed to learn more about my vehicle. I was tired of always relying on someone else to fix things, so I began reading more and more about the process. I realized that there were a lot of things that I needed to do, so I began taking a little course on at-home auto service. I still have a lot to learn, but now I can at least go through and change my air filter and check my oil. Read this blog to learn more about auto service.