Touch Up Paint Question (Old paint, too thick)

[Patek14]

So I`ve realized I have about 8 tiny chips down to the primer over the last 2 years and I need to take care of this! Grrrr....

I have some older touch up paint that is still liquid, but is much more thick as the solvent likely evaporated. What can I use to thin it out?

I have at home:

95% IPA
Pure acetone (not scented)


I could buy paint thinner, turpentine, etc but I am wondering if any household products would work Ok to thin touch up paint out?

[Older]

You may be able to thin it out with whatever the carrier solvent is, usually lacquer thinner as it dries quickly. It should say on the container.

[The Guz]

If it were me I would just buy new touch up paint. It is not that expensive.

[Bill D]

If you do buy new touch up paint, be sure to store it in the house, never in the garage.

[Dan]

I use acetone for the same purpose. It takes less than you think, so go sparingly or you`ll get watery paint.

[Dan]

If it were me I would just buy new touch up paint. It is not that expensive.It`s like $25 at the dealer these days. Madness.

[The Guz]

It`s like $25 at the dealer these days. Madness.

Still cheaper than buying or trying to salvage an old dried up one. There are places online that sell them cheaper and match just fine.

There is always dr. Colorchip as well.

[Older]

I wouldn’t futz with it, either. I’d just buy a new one.

[Setec Astronomy]

If it were me I would just buy new touch up paint. It is not that expensive.


I wouldn’t futz with it, either. I’d just buy a new one.

What`s with you guys? You`ve never fixed thick touch-up paint? A little lacquer thinner, and there you go. Isn`t half what this forum is about is polishing stuff to make it look better/new? And cleaning stuff to the same end? But you guys give up when your touch-up paint gets a little thick?

[The Guz]

What`s with you guys? You`ve never fixed thick touch-up paint? A little lacquer thinner, and there you go. Isn`t half what this forum is about is polishing stuff to make it look better/new? And cleaning stuff to the same end? But you guys give up when your touch-up paint gets a little thick?

One reaches an age where certain things are not worth the hassle.

[Setec Astronomy]

One reaches an age where certain things are not worth the hassle.

That made me laugh.

[Dan]

It`s like 60 seconds of work and you let it sit a few days. Probably less work than looking up paint codes and ordering online and waiting.

Nevermind going to the dealer and bothering the tweaker at the parts desk. Dealerships have really made it apparent they don`t want to sell parts to DIYs.

[Stokdgs]

I have years of experience with Dr Color Chip and their product has always worked great...But I was a Painter so I have lots of experience with auto paint..

It seems like it would be worth a try to get a little can of acrylic lacquer thinner even at H/Depot and pour a little in the bottle and it should get that paint useable again... Do you have a good pointed tip brush to apply the paint???

Yes, you can go purchase the product all over again, but I bet it is a lot more expensive when they first sold it in these lovely wooden, finished, boxes...
Dan F

[Accumulator]

What`s with you guys? You`ve never fixed thick touch-up paint? A little lacquer thinner, and there you go... To my surprise and disappointment, that did *NOT* work with Auid-branded touchup paint, even though the stuff is almost certainly lacquer-based. No, I can`t explain it, nor did I give it any more thought since a new batch is so inexpensive. SO much simpler to just call my Dealer and have `em send another one.

And while it`s always a crap-shoot, the Dealer`s stuff matches my (silver) Audis and the Crown Vic (Silverstone Metallic...tricky stuff, never *really* matches) better than some of the aftermarket ones (which also surprised me since I gather most touchup paint comes from one/two sources).