Luckily for you, here at Columbia Auto Collision, we happen to be glass repair experts. Here’s a quick tutorial for anyone wanting to repair scratched glass by themselves.

The Clear-Coated Nail Polish Technique.

This is cheap, easy, and usually works for small scratches. All you do is get some clear-coated nail polish (Ladies, you probably already have some; Gentlemen, you can probably get some from your ladies : ) and apply it to the scratch.

Don’t be too generous, but don’t be scared either. Get a good amount on the glass. Then let it dry. After it dries, remove excess nail polish with…Yup, you guessed it, nail polish remover!

This usually works like a charm to repair scratched glass that is too severely scratched.

If it doesn’t work the first time, it’s possible that it may work if you do it again. Wait about a day or two (if you’re here to learn how to repair windshield glass, try not to drive around too much for those two days) and do the process again.

A lot of times after doing this 2-3 times, your scratch will be completely invisible. And it makes sense, too, if you think about it. The nail polish creates layers and fills the previously run-down areas of the glass. This filling effect makes it so that the scratch is invisible, and Bingo, you get what you want. 

Sometimes unfortunately, the glass is too deeply scratched and you have to result to other measures. Usually it’s a good idea to get professionals involved, but there’s a way you can do this yourself, too. 

(I don’t really know why I’m telling you all this. Sorta putting myself outta’ business here! Just kidding : ) 

If you DO have to get a professional involved, and you live anywhere in the Maryland, D.C., Virginia corridor, make sure you check out Columbia Auto Collision for all your Auto Body or Glass Repair needs. Just ask for Eddie.

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The first thing you should know is that with the right preparation, you can paint an entire car–from start-to-finish–in about eight hours. That’s right. Eight hours is all it takes, given that you have the right tools.

Get yourself a good HVLP Spray Gun. If you want to start some DIY car painting, you’ll need one of these for sure. “HVLP” stands for “High Volume, Low Pressure”. Here’s an inexpensive, effective Spray Gun from HarborFreight.com which should meet your needs.

Are you looking to paint your whole car, or just a portion of it? Most people that are looking for auto body painting tips, are usually looking to paint a portion of their car.

Here’s a frequently asked question–“How To Remove Rust Spots From Cars?”

Answer: First, sand away any visible rust from the body of the car. Be sure to sand all the way down to the bare metal. Then, as opposed to doing the usual priming, color, clear, use an ‘Etching Primer’ first. Etching primers are specifically for bare metal. They stick to bare metal better than normal primers. If you skip this step, there’s a strong possibility that the rust will reappear.

After you’ve primed it, use body filler to raise any areas that have decayed. Then you can paint as you normally would (i.e. prime, color, clear).

Painting a car is pretty easy. Especially if you know what you’re doing. However, for most people it makes more sense to take it somewhere and have it painted for you. Why? Because you need some equipment to do it yourself. If you’re not going to be doing it regularly, it may not make sense to buy it.

But if you do decide to invest in the equipment, and do some diy car painting, the most crucial auto body painting tips we can possibly give you are related to health.

Painting your car can be dangerous if you don’t have an effective ventilation system. Columbia Auto Collision, and other body shops invest lots of money to get state-of-the-art ventilations systems that move tons of air every minute. If you do decide to paint your own car, please make sure that you’re taking the proper precautions. You wouldn’t want to shorten your life by 15 years just to save a couple hundred bucks, right?

If you decide that DIY auto body painting isn’t for you, call Columbia Auto Collision. We provide full-service paint and body work, in addition to a large variety of other services. Hope to see you soon.

More DIY Auto Body Painting Tips

Do you have a specific question about automotive painting? If so, feel free to ask in the comments section below.

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