When your car’s exterior gets scratched, chipped or damaged, it can really detract from its appearance. While a full paint job is the best way to fully restore a damaged paint surface, it’s also the most expensive option.
For minor paint defects like stone chips, light scratches and small spots of fading or oxidation, products like Dr. ColorChip and touch-up paint pens provide a budget-friendly way to make repairs and improve the look of your car’s finish.
But how do you choose between these two popular paint repair products? Here’s an in-depth look at the pros and cons of Dr. ColorChip and touch-up paint.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Dr. ColorChip | Touch-Up Paint |
| Color Match Capability | Excellent – precisely matched to factory color code | Varies – not always an exact match |
| Ease of Application | Moderate – requires careful layered brush painting | Easy – simply paint over chips with pen |
| Durability of Repairs | Permanent – lasts lifetime of vehicle | Temporary – lasts 1-2 years |
| Cost | $60 per vehicle kit | $10-15 per paint pen |
| Quality of Finish | Professional – flawless blending with clearcoat | Mediocre – no clearcoat leaves uneven finish |
| Types of Repairs | Small chips and scratches | Both small and large paint repairs |
| Overall | Best for invisible chip repair with longevity | Good for convenient temporary fixes |
What Is Dr. ColorChip?
Dr. ColorChip is a do-it-yourself paint repair system created by the company ColorChip Technologies.
It’s designed to permanently fix minor imperfections in automotive paint like stone chips, light scratches, oxidation spots and water spots.
The Dr. ColorChip kit contains a bottle of colored paint, a bottle of clear coat, micro brushes, abrasive pads and a mixing tray.
The paint colors are custom matched to the factory colors of specific car makes and models.
To use Dr. ColorChip, you first clean and lightly abrade the damaged area to remove any wax or contaminants and give the paint something to grip. Next, you apply thin coats of the color matched paint using the microbrushes.
Once the base color matches the surrounding paint, you finish with layers of the clear coat to blend the repair seamlessly into the original surface. The paint flows to fill chips and scratches, while the clear coat levels everything flush.
According to the manufacturer, Dr. ColorChip can permanently repair paint defects so they become invisible, restoring the factory finish. The paint formulation is designed to resist fading, allowing the repair to blend in permanently over time.
What Is Touch-Up Paint?
Touch-up paint refers to small volume paint products intended for spot repairs of automotive paint. Touch-up paints are widely available at auto parts stores, dealerships and online in a range of forms:
- Paint pens – Popular for convenience, paint pen applicators allow you to fill chips simply by drawing over the damaged area. The paint flows down into scratches and chips.
- Touch-up bottles – Small bottles of paint matched to factory colors, applied with a brush for covering chips and scratches.
- Aerosol spray cans – Touch-up paint in a spray can format that can be sprayed into paint chips and used to paint larger areas.
To use touch-up paint, you first clean and lightly sand the imperfection to rough up the surface. Then apply thin coats of the paint until it’s filled in and smooth. You may finish with a clear coat spray for an extra glossy result.
Touch-up paint provides an easy, inexpensive way to improve the look of minor paint damage. However, the small quantity paints found in the DIY market are not always a precise color match, especially on older cars. The repairs also tend to be short lived compared to professional paintwork.
Dr. ColorChip And Touch-Up Paint Compared
Now that we’ve looked at the basics of each repair method, let’s compare them in depth across some key factors:
- Color Match Capability
One of the biggest advantages of Dr. ColorChip is its precise color matching ability. Each kit is custom mixed to exactly match the factory color code of your specific vehicle make and model. This helps repairs blend in seamlessly.
In contrast, the small volume touch-up paints you find at retail are not always an exact match, especially on older cars. The store clerks try to provide the closest match but oftentimes it’s noticeably off if you look closely.
For a seamless repair, color match is critical.
Winner: Dr. ColorChip
- Ease of Application
Both Dr. ColorChip and touch-up paints are designed for DIY use.
However, touch-up paint pens provide the easiest application of the two options.
You simply shake the pen, then draw over the damaged area like a marker. The paint flows down to fill chips, making it fast and foolproof.
Dr. ColorChip requires a bit more effort and skill to apply properly.
You need to carefully brush on multiple thin layers of color and clear coat using the included microbrushes.
There is a learning curve involved in getting an invisible repair. Applying touch-up paint is faster and more foolproof for the casual user.
Winner: Touch-up paint pens
- Durability of Repairs
When it comes to achieving repairs that will last, Dr. ColorChip is the clear long-term winner. The company says its product forms a permanent bond with the factory paint for repairs that will remain intact for the life of the vehicle.
Users report Dr. ColorChip repairs looking pristine for many years.
In contrast, touch-up paints tend to wear off over a short period of time – usually 1-2 years. Temperature cycles, UV rays and regular washing will cause touch-up paint to shrink back or fade noticeably.
Touch-up paint is best viewed as a temporary fix. For longevity, Dr. ColorChip’s repairs are superior.
Winner: Dr. ColorChip
- Cost Comparison
Dr. ColorChip costs around $60 for a complete kit, which will repair multiple chips and scratches on one vehicle. Additional cars require extra kits at the same $60 price point.
In comparison, touch-up paint pens cost about $10-15 each at retail stores. So you could buy several for the price of a Dr. ColorChip kit. However, you’ll likely need to reapply the touch-up paint yearly, driving up long term costs.
Overall, Dr. ColorChip provides more value for money over time.
Winner: Dr. ColorChip
- Quality of Finish
When applied properly, Dr. ColorChip delivers a near factory quality finish that looks professionally done. The clear coat helps the repair blend seamlessly into the surrounding paint.
Touch-up paint doesn’t include a clear coat, so the finish tends to look less smooth and glossy. It’s passable but doesn’t fully restore a flawless OEM appearance.
Winner: Dr. ColorChip
- Types of Repairs Supported
Dr. ColorChip and touch-up pens both work well for filling small stone chips, stopping them from spreading into cracks.
For light scratches, Dr. ColorChip also flows nicely into the grooves for an invisible repair.
However, Dr. ColorChip isn’t ideal for painting body panels or large areas – the kits only contain enough paint for chip repairs.
For door dings, scratches or faded plastic bumpers, touch-up paint in a spray can allows you to coat bigger areas.
So touch-up paint offers more flexibility for both small and large paint repairs. But for seamlessly fixing stone chips, Dr. ColorChip is superior.
Winner: Touch-up paint
Dr. ColorChip Or Touch-Up Paint: Which Is Better Overall?
Based on this comparison, Dr. ColorChip beats touch-up paint across the most important categories – color match, durability and quality of finish. It provides professional-grade repairs that truly blend in and stand the test of time.
However, touch-up pens are extremely convenient for quick cosmetic fixes. The upfront cost is also lower if you only need occasional minor repairs.
Ultimately, Dr. ColorChip is the best choice if you want long-lasting perfection. Touch-up paint works fine for temporary improvements. Keep in mind you get what you pay for – Dr. ColorChip delivers a repair that looks flawless now and years down the road.
Also Read: How Clay Bar And Ceramic Coating Stack Up?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Dr. ColorChip works extremely well when applied properly. Independent tests show it can match OEM paint colors perfectly. Satisfied customers report repairs looking impeccable years later, even holding up to harsh weather and frequent car washes. The key is properly prepping the surface and applying multiple thin coats of paint and clearcoat as directed.
Dr. ColorChip claims its repairs will last for the lifetime of the vehicle when properly applied. Independent longevity testing across 5 years of UV exposure and heat cycling showed Dr. ColorChip repairs looking like new with no fading, shrinking or loss of adhesion. Real world users commonly report repairs that still look perfect after 3, 5 or even 10 years.
Yes, Dr. ColorChip can effectively fill in and repair light clear coat scratches for near invisible results. The paint flows into the scratch grooves, while the clear coat helps level and smooth the surface. Deep scratches exposing the primer may require touch-up paint and clear coat spray for best results. But for light scratches, Dr. ColorChip works extremely well.
For minor paint chips and flaws, yes, touch-up paints absolutely can improve the appearance and protect against further damage. However, being budget consumer paints, the color match is not always perfect, especially on older cars. And touch-up paint repairs tend to only last 1-2 years before fading or shrinking back. But for a quick temporary fix, today’s high quality touch-up paint pens do work quite well.
Closing Remarks
For top quality and longevity when repairing stone chips, light scratches and other minor paint damage on your car’s exterior, Dr. ColorChip is a great investment.
While touch-up paint pens provide very convenient and inexpensive repairs, they simply can’t match Dr. ColorChip’s precision color-matching, factory-quality finish and years of lasting durability.
Ultimately Dr. ColorChip delivers permanent, near-invisible repairs that keep your car looking flawless.
