How to Remove Scratches From Car Paint

Getting a scratch out of car paint can be easy or difficult, depending on the type of paint job on the vehicle. If you have a special paint job, such as candy apple, you will need to repaint the entire area of the car (fender, door). Even then, with a candy apple paint job, it will never look exactly right. If you have a standard paint job, you can easily repair a scratch in the paint, especially if the paint process used base coat-clear coat. If a base coat-clear coat procedure was used on the vehicle, and the scratch is not deep, you can easily repair the clear coat layer.

Things You'll Need:

• 3M Glazing compound
• Makita Buffer
• Buffing pad
• Wet-dry sandpaper, 2,000 grit

 

 

1. 
   
    Step 1
   Prepare the area to be repaired by wet sanding the scratch and an area of 2 inches larger than the scratch in all directions. Wet sand lightly (using the 600 grit wet-dry sandpaper), making sure there to use plenty of water. If the scratch is in the clear coat only, you may be able to rub the scratch out. Skip Steps 2 and 3 and continue with Step 5 if the scratch is only in the clear coat.
   
   
   
   
2. 
   
    Step 2
   Continue to wet sand the area until the scratch starts to fade. If the scratch is embedded deeply into the paint, you will need to take some of the paint off the area around the scratch. The deeper the scratch, the larger area around the scratch should be sanded out so that there will not be a "dip" in the paint. This will help feather the new paint into the existing paint on the vehicle. You may not be able to get the scratch to noticeably fade if it is more of a gouge than a scratch.
   
    
   Step 3
   Fill the scratch with thick primer. This primer is advertised as "scratch filling" primer. Hold the can 2 to 3 inches from the area being repaired and spray the sanded area lightly. Allow the primer to dry. If the scratch is very deep or if it is a gouge, fill the scratch or gouge with glazing compound. Allow the compound to dry, then wet sand it smooth. If you can still feel the scratch or gouge, add another coat of glazing compound. Let it dry, then wet sand it.
   
   Step 4
   Spray the vehicle paint over the primer. You will need to spray at least two coats of paint over the area. Allow each coat to dry, then wet sand each coat. When the paint is closest to the color of the rest of the car, you will have enough coats of paint. Keep the spray can at least 2 to 3 inches away from the area being painted. Use a light touch, spraying lightly over the area so as not to create runs in the paint (a run is when the fresh paint drips down the side of the vehicle). Allow the work to dry for at least 24 hours.
   
   Step 5
   Spray the repaired area with clear coat. Allow the clear coat to dry, then wet sand it with 2,000 grit wet-dry sand paper to smooth the paint. Add a second coat of clear coat.
   
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