How To Fix Paint Scratches, Abrasions, & Other Such Ugliness
Repairing paint scratches isn’t really too difficult, but if not done correctly, a small repair job can turn into a major expense. Deep scratches, abrasions and stains are best repaired by a professional, but you can repair some of the lesser scratches such as key & pebble marks yourself, and usually save a lot of money.
You can also repair Oxidation, Buffer Swirls, Certain Stains, etc. using the methods outlined here. Lets start with a typical small paint scratch repair -
Tools & Supplies You Will Need:
1) (2) One gallon buckets – Fill one about 1/2 full with a blend of soap and water; a good dish soap is fine. Fill the other with plain water.
2) A small paint brush – perhaps 1 inch in width.
3) 400-600 grit sandpaper, cut into 2 or 3 inch squares.
4) Body Compound. You can get this at most auto supply stores or online suppliers.
5) Primer Paint – buy this from your local car dealership body service center.
6) A small supply of soft towels. Lay aside two of these – one wet and one dry.
7) A good quality car polish, such as Quixx High Performance Polish
A good quality scratch removal agent such as Quixx Paint Scratch Remover
Before you begin the job, wash & dry your vehicle thoroughly. Dirt and grime will make for a poor repair job, and can in fact make the scratches even worse! Park the vehicle in a clean, warm area if possible.
For minor scratches, use the following procedures:
A.) Using a wet towel, apply polishing compound to the damaged area. The polishing compound container should have instructions on how to properly apply the product.
B.) Gently rub body compound into the damaged area, using a circular motion. Allow the compound to harden completely.
C.) Using soap & water from one of the buckets in #1 above, thoroughly wash the repaired area.
D.) Apply polish to a clean, dry towel. Now gently polish the area, using a circular motion.
E.) Again using a clean, dry towel, gently wipe the newly repaired area clean.
For deeper scratches:
1.) Using a piece of sand paper, carefully sand the damaged area; take your time and work slowly, being careful not to sand too far outside the damaged area.
2.) Using a dry towel, clean the area immediately after sanding.
3.) Apply body compound directly to the damaged area or scratch; allow compound to fully harden.
4.) Again using sand paper, gently sand the hardened body compound from step 3 so as to achieve a smooth finish. As in step 1 above, take your time and work slowlyand gently. Too much sanding here will do more harm than good.
5.) Again using a clean, dry towel, clean the area to remove all dust and excess body compound deposits.
6.) Using a small paint brush, carefully apply primer paint to the damaged area or scratch; if repairing a scratch, be careful to stay within the scratch lines. When finished, soak the paint brush in water – you will need it again.
7.) Allow the primer paint to dry completely. This may take awhile, possibly 2-4 hours or more.
8.) While the primer paint is drying, you can obtain a small quantity of touch-up paint for your vehicle. In order to get an exact color match, you’ll need to get the touch-up paint from your local dealer. Be sure to take along a written copy of the VIN number of your vehicle; the dealer will need this in order to supply the correct paint.
9.) Again make sure that the primer paint is dry, and then carefully apply touch-up paint to the newly repaired area. Allow to dry, and then clean & polish.
Congratulations!! You’ve likely just saved yourself a lot of money, and learned a new skill too.
