Many car enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike face the dilemma of maintaining a pristine vehicle appearance, especially when dealing with inevitable road rash and paint chips. If you’re planning to use a Doctor Colorchip system to address these imperfections and also intend to perform paint correction, understanding the correct sequence is crucial for achieving the best results. A common question arises: should you apply Doctor Colorchip before or after paint correction processes like polishing and swirl removal?
The optimal approach, favored by detailing experts, is to perform paint correction first, and then apply Doctor Colorchip. This order ensures a superior finish and maximizes the effectiveness of both procedures.
Why Paint Correction Should Come First
Correcting paint imperfections such as swirl marks, scratches, and oxidation through polishing creates a clean, uniform surface. This is essential for several reasons before you address paint chips with Doctor Colorchip:
- Enhanced Paint Chip Visibility: Paint correction removes surface haze and imperfections, making existing paint chips and road rash more visible. This allows for a more precise and targeted application of Doctor Colorchip, ensuring you address all problem areas effectively.
- Improved Doctor Colorchip Blending: Applying Doctor Colorchip to a polished surface allows the touch-up paint to blend more seamlessly with the surrounding, corrected paintwork. The smoother surface promotes better adhesion and a less noticeable repair.
- Preventing Further Damage: Paint correction often includes a protective step, such as applying wax, sealant, or coating. Performing this before Doctor Colorchip application means you are protecting the freshly corrected paint and then addressing chips on top of this protected layer. This sequence helps to prevent further damage to the exposed chip areas before they are treated.
Doctor Colorchip Application: The Final Touch
After completing your paint correction process, including polishing and applying your chosen paint sealant or coating, you can then proceed with the Doctor Colorchip application according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This ensures that the touch-up paint is applied to the cleanest, most uniform surface possible, maximizing its blending capability and longevity.
While Doctor Colorchip systems are effective at minimizing the appearance of paint chips, it’s important to manage expectations. Touch-up paint, even with advanced systems like Doctor Colorchip, is designed to improve, not eliminate, the visibility of damage. For truly flawless, “like-new” results, a professional repaint might be necessary. However, for daily drivers and those seeking significant improvement without a full repaint, Doctor Colorchip, applied after proper paint correction, offers an excellent solution for tackling unsightly paint chips and maintaining your vehicle’s appearance.
