How To

How to selectively remove paint around the edges of your repair, without removing the paint in the scratch or chip

Tips on how to carefully remove the paint around the edges of your repair, without removing the paint in the scratch or chip.

How to prep aluminum or steel before applying touch up paint

Special considerations before priming aluminum or steel

What Polish Compound Works Well For Touch Up Paint Jobs

Removing fresh touch up paint? Here are some options.

Tricks for Super Small Chips and Scratches

Sometimes, your chip or scratch is so small, that no matter how hard you try, the paint and clear coat is too thick, and you end up removing it all when you try to level it. Here are a few tricks to help in this use case.

When Should I Apply Primer?

Smart question! The answer depends on how deep the damage is.

How to properly spray aerosol paint, to avoid spitting and splatter

There are a few reasons why an aerosol spray can might ruin your finish with paint splatter. Here's how to avoid that splatter.

Why is my paint lifting or bubbling?

My touch up paint job does not look very smooth. What can I do?

How to get a smoother finish on brush touch ups

My final finish is not glossy or shiny

Application technique is usually the culprit in cases of low gloss. Here's how to fix it.

Can I use other brand primers and clears with your paint?

How can I tell if I have purchased the right touch up paint color?

Verify the color match before applying paint to the vehicle

How do I fix small blemishes in my paint job?

Can this paint be used on brake calipers or in the engine bay?

Which touch up applicator should I use?

Applying Tri-Coat Layer 2 (L2 is a mid coat), Metallic or Pearl Finish Paint

Tri-coat and metallic finishes can look darker if flakes in the final paint coats don’t align evenly. A light “control” or “drop” coat helps those flakes settle correctly so the color reflects light evenly and blends smoothly with the original finish.

My paint doesn’t feel completely dry, what can I do?

Paint that doesn't fully cure is usually due to one or more of these 3 things.

How To Apply Tri Coat Paint Properly (with a brush)

The correct order to apply base and mid coats, and how to polish excess away for each layer.

The clear coat (or mid coat) is removing the base coat that I just painted on

Too much pressure with the brush, and the solvents in the clear coat or mid coat can remove the new base coat

Painting in High Humidity

Here are some tips for painting when humidity is high

Can I paint more base color over the clear coat I just applied?

Sometimes you need to paint more base color after you've clear coated the repair. Here's how to do it.

Aerosol Sprayed Clear Coat is Cracking

Why this happens, and how to fix it

What causes the "orange peel" finish when spraying?

The orange peel effect is an uneven finish that can happen due to several factors

The Art & Science of Invisible Brush-On Touch Up Paint Repairs

We test out some touch up hacks from customers

How to Use an Airbrush with ScratchesHappen Paints

An airbrush requires a few extra steps to get good results

How to Know How Much Aerosol Paint You Need for a Pickup Truck

Rough rules of thumb for how many cans of primer, paint, and clear coat you need

How to Know How Much Aerosol Paint You Need for an SUV

Rough rules of thumb for how many cans of primer, paint, and clear coat you need

How to Know How Much Aerosol Paint You Need for a Car

Rough rules of thumb for how many cans of primer, paint, and clear coat you need

How to Mask with Tape to Create a Soft Transition Line in Your Paint Repair

Fold over one edge of the masking tape to avoid a hard tape line

How to Know How Much Aerosol Paint You Need for a Motorcycle and Helmet

Rough rules of thumb for how many cans of primer, paint, and clear coat you need