How To Apply 3 Stage Paint Touch Up On Car


Touching up a 3-stage paint job can be a bit more complex than a 2-stage paint job because it involves groundcoat, midcoat (pearls), and clearcoat layers. Here are the general steps to follow:


Materials you'll need:


  1. Touch-up paint: Make sure you have the exact color match for your vehicle. Confirm your paint code is the same on the bottle. You can usually find the paint code on a sticker in the door jamb or your owner's manual.
  2. Primer (if needed): Some touch-up kits include a primer. We recommend it especially if the area you're repairing has exposed metal.
  3. Shop Towel: For cleaning.
  4. Surface Prep Cleaner: For cleaning and decontaminating the area.
  5. Applicators: For applying paint, provided in touch up kit.
  6. Clearcoat: For best matching results. 

Steps:


  1. Prepare the area: Clean the damaged area thoroughly with Surface Prep Cleaner to remove any dirt, wax, or grease. Use the shop towel included in your touch up kit.
  2. Apply primer (if needed): If down to bare metal, apply a thin layer of primer and allow it to dry for 15-20 minutes. This step is essential to prevent rust.
  3. Apply the ground coat-bottle (1): Shake the touch-up paint well to ensure it's properly mixed. Use the applicators included to carefully apply the ground coat paint to the damaged area. Start with a thin layer and let it dry for 5-10 minutes. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to apply several thin layers, allowing each layer to dry in between. Be patient; it's better to apply multiple thin coats than one thick one. Remember to use the dot-to-dot method for best results.
  4. Apply the midcoat-bottle (2): If your vehicle's paint has a pearl layer, you'll need to apply the midcoat after the ground coat is dry. Follow the same process as with the basecoat, applying thin layers and allowing each layer to dry. Apply necessary coats to achieve desired color match.
  5. Apply the clearcoat: Once the basecoat and midcoat are dry, apply a clearcoat over the repaired area. This clearcoat helps protect the new paint and gives it a glossy finish. Apply it in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next.
  6. Buff and blend: After the clearcoat is fully dry, you may need to buff the repaired area to blend it with the surrounding paint. Use 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper to carefully wet sand the clearcoat until it's smooth. Then, use automotive polishing compound to bring back the shine.
  7. Final polish and wax: Once you're satisfied with the repair, polish the entire area to ensure a seamless blend with the surrounding paint. Afterward, wax the entire panel to protect the paint and provide a uniform appearance.

Automotive Touch Up Paint FAQ

IS TOUCH UP PAINT SOMETHING I CAN DO MYSELF?

Of course! Do-it-yourself customers use our products to fix paint damage such as rock chips, chipped paint, scratches, deep scratches, scuffs, rust, oxidation and corrosion can all be fixed using our Ready Car Paints Kits. We have made an easy DIY Solution so you can repair the paint job yourself for a fraction of the cost of the traditional Auto Body Shop. It doesn’t matter what your experience or skill set is – as long as you follow instructions and use your tutorial videos as your guide, our products are very user friendly. Give it a go!

HOW TO FIND MY PAINT CODE (COLOR CODE)

We make finding your paint code easy!  Visit our resource page titled Paint Code Locator.

We have created a video library for each brand on finding car paint codes. Click on the vide next to your cars manufacturer you will be able to identify your vehicle color code.

Still having trouble finding your paint code? We are here to help at: 503-567-1184 or info@readycarpaints.com

I FOUND THE PAINT CODE ON YOUR SITE, BUT SAW A DIFFERENT COLOR NAME ELSEWHERE. ARE THEY THE SAME COLOR?

It isn’t common practice – but it isn’t uncommon either – for a car manufacturer to use the same color name for different colors.  For example, a car manufacturer may have a color called “Cherry Red” in 2018, but in 2019 they make a slight alteration to the color making it a little bit brighter.  Although they keep the same color name in 2019, and the difference is hard to notice, the actual color may be different.  While the color name will stay the same, the color code will change to reflect the new color designation.

When placing your touch up paint order make sure you select color based of your vehicles paint code not color name. The same color name can be used in different paint formulas by car manufacturers.

 

HOW CAN I FIND THE EXACT COLOR OF MY CAR?

To find the Paint code of your vehicle, you can take a look at the Compliance / Manufacturer’s / Identification Plate, which should be somewhere on your automobile. It is roughly the size of a credit card, and the Paint code is referred to as “Paint” or “Ext. Color”. Find out how to locate that code here.

CAN I RETURN MY ORDER?

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, Ready Car Paints will accept returns of non-painted parts within 30 days after the date of purchase for you to receive an exchange or refund. Shipping charges are non-refundable. If the return is because of our error, the restocking fee will be waived.

We do not accept returns on painted parts from our painting service. Sorry, no exceptions.

If an error is made and a product is listed at an incorrect price, we maintain the right to refund or cancel orders placed at the incorrect price.

Please contact us for any questions or for our complete return policy.

WHAT ARE PEARL 3 STAGE PAINTS?

Every year, more and more cars are made with pearl finishes. These are known as 3 stage finishes. The first coat is a basecoat color, then a translucent pearl is applied and finally a clear coat finish.