How To Fix Small Rock Chips
Over the years, your car will inevitably suffer a few dings and dents along the way. The most common are small rock chips. These chips are usually harmless, at first. But, overtime they can lead to serious rusting and unfixable deterioration that you cannot reverse. It is very important that you fix these small paints chips before they turn into a more serious and expensive problem. This article explain how to fill and seal rock chips so to halt rusting and rotting of the car body.
To Sand or Not to Sand
If your rock chip is large enough, you might need to sand the area before you apply any patch. For instance, if it is just the size of a fingertip, you can probably forego the sanding step. If your damaged area is larger than this you will need to sand the perimeter before applying any patch. Use auto body sandpaper. This is like normal wood sandpaper, but it comes in much higher grit and it is wet sandpaper (meaning it needs to be wet when sanding).
Patching the Rock Chip
Patching the chipped area with autobody patch is simple. You just need to make sure you have dedicated auto body filler. Do not use metal or aluminum patch that you find at a home improvement store. Get autobody patch at an auto store or repair shop, such as Auto Body By Duie LLC. For small holes, you can easily spread it with your fingers. Just wipe it away with your finger until the hole is filled in and matches the texture of the car.
Painting the Patch
The final step is to paint over the patch. For the best results you want to get the right paint. Most dealerships sell small paint touch up cans. These little cans are made for just this type of job. They even have a small brush built into the lid of the can. This makes it super easy to paint small areas. Paint sparingly so you do not get too much paint on the car. If you apply the paint too thick, the texture and sheen will not match the car. The paint will seal the chip and the patch, making it waterproof again.
Once you learn to repair small rock chips, you can fix them as soon as they pop up. The smaller the chip is, the easier it is to patch and paint over. This is why it is so helpful to learn this skill.
