Support and Knowledgebase
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Featured Articles
What Is Your Color Match Guarantee?
We guarantee that our touch up paint will match your vehicle's original finish, or your money back.
Where Can I Find Your Instructions?
ScratchesHappen instructions are available here in our help center.
Unboxing ScratchesHappen Bottle Paint Kits
These short unboxing videos show what’s included in each ScratchesHappen bottle repair kit.
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How To
How to selectively remove 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
What Polish Compound Works Well For Touch Up Paint Jobs
Tricks for Super Small Chips and Scratches
When should you apply primer?
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?
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.
Applying Tri-Coat Layer 2 (L2 is a mid coat), Metallic or Pearl Finish Paint
How to Apply a Control (or Top or Drop) Coat for L2, Metallic, and Pearl Colors
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
Aerosol Sprayed Clear Coat is Cracking
Why this happens, and how to fix it
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.
Painting in High Humidity
Here are some tips for painting when humidity is high
What causes the "orange peel" finish when spraying?
The orange peel effect is an uneven finish that can happen due to several factors
How to Use an Airbrush with ScratchesHappen Paints
An airbrush requires a few extra steps to get good results
The Art & Science of Invisible Brush-On Touch Up Paint Repairs
We test out some touch up hacks from customers
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
Paint & Color
I found my color on your website, but the color swatch you display looks different than my car. Is this the correct color?
Is it necessary to use clear coat?
What is a tri-coat color?
How is your paint better than what my local dealer sells?
The color code on my vehicle says LRC LKH, but on your web site all I can find is code LKH/1AB/2136. Is this the right color to choose?
What is VOC and why does it matter?
What are your paints made of?
My paint looks blue, not black
Explaining the blue cast of waterborne paint when wet. Don't worry, it dries to the correct color
How Much Aerosol Paint Do I Need for a Car?
Guidance for each body panel on how many aerosol cans are needed for primer, paint and clear coat. This handy table assumes typical panel sizes and typical coverage amounts for a car.
How Much Aerosol Paint Do I Need for a Pickup Truck?
Guidance for each body panel on how many aerosol cans are needed for primer, paint and clear coat. This handy table assumes typical panel sizes and typical coverage amounts for a pickup truck.
How soon can I wash and wax my car after a new paint job?
Whether you touch up by brush or aerosol, you need to wait before you hit the car wash.
When to Brush and When to Spray
Which kit do I need?
Drying Time Summary
Here are the recommended dry times for each step of the touch up process.