Do these

• DO use a primer first if bare metal or plastic shows or in particularly deep scratches or chips.
• DO test the colour after giving it a good shake. Different paints in the mixture weigh differently and will settle, making colours in the bottle or pen look misleading. It needs to be thoroughly shaken and tested in a discreet area to compare.
• DO use a lacquer if the paint is metallic or pearlescent.

Don’t do these

• DO NOT get paint on original undamaged paintwork as it will make the colour darker drawing attention to the repaired area.
• DO NOT apply paint in cold, damp weather – it will affect the application and finish, especially with aerosols.
• DO NOT apply the paint too thick - to get the best results and avoid running drops, it requires thin layers to build it up to original height.
• DO NOT wash your car with a power washer for the first week after touching up paintwork.

If the colour doesn’t match

Our machines are capable of mixing 80,000 colours and matching your car’s original colour. On the rare occasion that the colour doesn’t look how you expect, there are a number of reasons why.

• Check the code of your paint with the code on your vehicle. There can be shade variants of certain colour codes.
• Too thick an application of paint or new paint covering existing paintwork (rather than just damaged areas) will make it look darker. This is because layers build the colour.
• Metallic and pearlescent paints, especially lighter colours like silvers and blues, can look different due to the angles of the metallic flecks in the paint.

Download and print the PDF guide

How to blend in a touch up

Your touch up pen is designed to blend in minor damage like chips and scratches. We mix an exact colour from your registration or paint code but, if you have an older car, your original paint will probably have faded. While this is usual, it means that the colour of your touch-up might appear more vibrant. You can blend it in by using relevant products, like PaintNuts Professional Scratch & Scuff Remover. 

Need to ask first?

Ask us for advice before ordering your paint by emailing helpteam@paintnuts.co.uk.

Warning

Keep out of the reach of children. If swallowed immediately seek medical assistance. Solvent abuse can kill.