Repair car paint with spray paint

A small dent, scratch, or area of peeling paint does not necessarily require the entire panel to be repainted. Touching up a small damaged area with spray paint is a cost-effective and relatively quick way to repair the car paint surface.

Careful preparation, the correct colour and several thin coats are the key to a clean and durable result.

This guide explains how to repair car paint with spray paint

Watch the video or follow the step-by-step instructions below to repair small scratches, dents and paint damage.

What you need for car paint repair

• Maston Degreaser Spray
• Maston Spray Filler, if needed
• Maston Spray AutoACRYL Primer
• Maston AutoACRYL Spray or Maston Car Color Solid / Car Color Metallic in the correct colour
• Maston Spray AutoACRYL Clear Coat
• Fine sandpaper
• Masking tape and protective paper or plastic
• Appropriate personal protective equipment

Steps for a successful car paint repair

1. Preparation

• Wash the damaged area and remove all dirt and loose paint.
• Sand the damaged area and feather the edges smooth with fine sandpaper.
• If the surface has small dents or uneven areas, use Maston Spray Filler if needed. Allow it to dry according to the product instructions and sand the surface smooth.
• Clean the surface thoroughly with Maston Degreaser Spray.
• Before painting, make sure the surface is completely clean, dry and free from grease, wax and silicone.

2. Masking and protection

• Protect the surrounding areas carefully with masking tape and protective paper or plastic.
• Leave enough space around the damaged area to blend the new paint into the existing paint surface.
• Make sure spray dust cannot spread onto other parts of the car.

3. Priming

• If the damage reaches bare metal, apply Maston Spray AutoACRYL Primer.
• Shake the can thoroughly before use and also occasionally during painting.
• Spray a thin layer first, then apply 2-3 thin cross layers as needed, following the product instructions.
• Allow the primer to dry between layers. Sand lightly if necessary and remove all sanding dust before applying the top coat.

4. Top coat

• Choose Maston AutoACRYL Spray or Maston Car Color Solid / Car Color Metallic in a colour that matches the original car paint.
• Shake the can thoroughly and paint a test patch on an inconspicuous area first whenever possible.
• Spray from approximately 25 cm from the surface and keep the can moving slowly and evenly.
• Apply several thin coats rather than one heavy coat, and allow the paint to dry between layers according to the product instructions.
• Blend the paint lightly around the repaired area so that the transition between the new and existing paint is as discreet as possible.

5. Clear coat

• When the colour coat has dried sufficiently, finish the surface with Maston Spray AutoACRYL Clear Coat.
• Apply thin, even coats according to the product instructions and allow each coat to dry before applying the next one.
• Avoid applying coats that are too heavy, as this may cause runs.

6. Drying

• Allow the repaired area to dry and cure thoroughly before washing, polishing or handling it heavily.
• Drying time depends on the products used, temperature, ventilation and film thickness.
• Always follow the drying times stated in the product instructions.

Tips for the best result

• Work in a dry, dust-free and well-ventilated area and use the personal protective equipment stated in the product instructions.
• Careful preparation has a major effect on the final result.
• Apply several thin coats instead of one thick coat.
• Test the colour and spray pattern before painting the actual repair area.
• The original car paint may have changed over time due to sunlight, weather and wear. For this reason, a new paint layer may differ slightly even when the colour code is correct.

Choosing the correct colour for car paint repair

For the best result, choose a colour that matches the original car paint as closely as possible. Use the Maston CarColor Guide to find the correct Car Color hue for your car. Depending on the original finish, use Maston Car Color Solid or Maston Car Color Metallic. Maston AutoACRYL Spray can also be used when a suitable colour is available.

Keep in mind that the existing paint can fade or change over time due to sunlight, weather and normal wear. The new paint may therefore look slightly different from the surrounding surface even when the colour code is correct.ue to factors such as the age of the paint, exposure to sunlight and general wear.
When carried out carefully, spray paint is an easy and cost-effective way to improve the appearance of small areas of damaged car paintwork. The better the surface preparation and masking, the better the final result will be.