How to Fix a Car Scratch
Sometimes, no matter what you to do to maintain your car’s appearance, it may get scratched. Rather than get upset and pay for costly body work, you can repair the damage yourself.
Every car has several layers to its body. The first and second are the most visible: the clear coat and color, respectively. Scratches rarely get to the third and fourth layers which are the primer and the actual steel of the car.
Here are three possible ways of removing those annoying scratches from your prized possession:
To make sure the scratch really is a scratch and not just deposit transfer from the object that bumped into your car, let your fingers do the walking. Brush your fingertips over the ‘scratch’. If it is raised, then it is a transfer of materials and can be removed by buffing. If the area has a recessed feeling, then it is a scratch. First, find an off color shoe polish that will locate and fill in the scratch. Wipe off excess polish. Using a wet/dry piece of 2000-grit sandpaper, and lightly sand until the shoe polish disappears. With a rubbing compound, polish out the slight sanding scratches until smooth manually or with a polishing wheel that oscillates. Finally, hand buff and car wax will complete the repair.
One of the secrets that mechanics don’t like customers knowing is this simple trick with medical syringe. Find a paint color that is similar to your car’s color and fill the syringe with the paint. Carefully insert the tip of the needle into the end of the scratch and slowly release just enough paint so that it tills the groove. After the paint dries, lightly buff with a polishing wheel.
Another tip to remove car scratches is wash the damaged area with wax remover and sand the area down with a feathering edge piece of sandpaper. This allows a smooth alteration between the undamaged paint and the scratch. Apply the primer with a fine-tipped brush. Using a similar brush, paint the car color over the primer. It is recommended that both applications of primer and color be as smooth as possible. Apply either clear topcoat or clear nail polish topcoat over the car paint after it has had at least two hours to dry. After the last coat has dried completely, use the sandpaper again and buff the area smooth. A fine-grit polishing compound can improve results if a total car wax follows it.
As a reminder, each scratch is different. Based on this, it is recommended to talk to mechanic or the dealership on the appropriate course of action should the scratch be beyond the home remedies. No technique is 100%. Remember to stay safe and read over all instructions on the various products being used.
Category: 
Tags: 