It's no secret that car paint scratches easily. All you have to do is
set a grocery bag on your roof, hood or trunk lid and then slide it
off. Result? Instant scratches. But don't freak out. You might be able
to remove these minor paint scratches yourself in less than an hour and
for less than $30. To see if your scratches qualify for this DIY repair,
run your fingernail across the scratch. If your nail glides across the
scratch without catching in it, it's a minor scratch that'll polish out.
But if the scratch catches your fingernail, it's a job for a body shop.
If your scratch qualifies, pick up 3,000-grit sandpaper, rubbing and polishing compound, and polishing pads.
You'll also need a portable drill or dual action (DA) polisher unit.
You can buy most of the components off-the-shelf at any auto parts
store. Or, you can buy a complete scratch removal kit.
You
may have heard about the toothpaste method for removing scratches. This
only works for really shallow scratches. Toothpaste is just as abrasive
as 3,000-grit sandpaper and works as a polishing compound. If you don't
have the necessary tools and materials, this is a great option to
remove small scratches.
Tools
- Cordless drill
- Polishing compound pad
Materials
- 3000-grit sandpaper
- Microfiber towel
- Polishing compound
- Rubbing compound
Sand the car paint scratch
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| © Family Handyman remove scratches from car paint sand the scratch |
Wet the scratch and sandpaper and lightly sand until the finish looks
dull and the scratch is no longer obvious. Then clean the surface with a
microfiber towel.
Apply compound
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| © Family Handyman remove scratches from car paint polishing compound pad |
Squirt rubbing compound onto the polishing pad and spread it around
with the pad. Then run the polisher or drill at 1,200 rpm until you get a
light haze. Follow up with polishing compound to restore the shine.
How to Remove Small Car Scratches
Small
scratches are just big enough to stop your fingernail in our test.
These scratches have dug down into the base coat. But don't worry, we
can still get them out using basic tools and materials. Remember to wash
your car before attempting to remove the scratch. See the simple
process below.
Materials
- Microfiber towel
- Polishing compound
- Rubbing compound
Apply Scratch-Removal Product
Dab a quarter-sized bead onto the scrubbing pad and apply directly to the scratch. work the product into the scratched area, as well as the surrounding area.Wipe away the residue
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| © Shutterstock/REDPIXEL.PL |
Wipe away any residue with a microfiber towel.
Repeat 2-3 times
It
is safe to do this method a couple times. You may see a slight
difference in the scratch after trying this method once but it hasn't
gone away completely. Give it a couple more gos and the scratch will get
harder and harder to see.
How to Remove Deep Car Scratches
Deep
paint scratches are much harder to handle but can still be eradicated
with some patience. If you can see down to the metal panel, then this is
the method for you. As with all of these methods, wash you car before
attempting to remove a scratch.
Tools
- Sandpaper
- Polishing pad
- Microfiber towel
Materials
- Masking tape
- Paper
- Car wax
Sand the scratched area
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| © Shutterstock/MongPro |
Sand with 2,000-grit sandpaper until you reach your car's metal
panel. Always sand with the direction of the scratch, there is no need
to make more scratches.
Spray primer and then paint onto the sanded area
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| © Shutterstock/hedgehog94 |
Mask off the area with paper and masking tape to not spread paint/primer to any other area. Spray automotive primer
onto the area and let it dry. Next, spray the area with your car's
matching paint. It can be quite difficult to find the correct paint
shade but if you look at your manufacturer's specs, you will be able to
find the code that matches your paint. Lay a heavy amount of paint onto
the area and let dry.
Polish until the area matches the rest of the car
Make the newly painted area match the rest of your car by polishing the spot. Lay a quarter-sized bead onto a polishing pad or microfiber towel and rub in a circular motion until all the polish is removed.
