Touch up paint

[Corolla02]

Hey there,

I've noticed i got a few rock chips (very small) on the hood of my corolla. I've been told i can get touch up paint by taking the color code on the door and giving it to canadian tire and they will supply me with some paint. I'm wondering if this is a good idea or should i go to the dealership?

How do you guys deal with rock chips?

- Thanks

[AlaricD]

Originally Posted by Corolla02

I'm wondering if this is a good idea or should i go to the dealership?

How do you guys deal with rock chips?

Unless they stock the actual Toyota-branded paint, you should go to the dealer. Even though the dealer's touch-up paint is not guaranteed to be a 100% color and hue match for the factory paint (due to the different batch numbers and whatnot), it is guaranteed to be chemically compatible.

For rock chips, I find that if I break the end off a toothpick, then dip that into paint on the very edge of the touch-up bottle, I can then make a little bump of touch-up paint inside the chip that is actually bubbled up higher than the paint surrounding it. I fight the urge* to "smooth" that out, and let it dry; as it dries, it settles into the recess.

*Yes, really, seeing that paint bubble/dome sitting there is maddening. I feel like I MUST try to make it level, even though experience tells me that it'll settle down all by itself.

[PhatRoyale]

Dealer, the few dollars you save aren't worth risking unmatched paint IMO.