Car Paint Repair: Step-By-Step

It is easy to fix chips and scratches in car paint with the right tools and products, even if your experience is limited. Depending on the depth of the scratch, you will use a different repair method. Clear coat, base coat and primer are the four layers that scratch can penetrate. You can determine the depth of scratch by rubbing your fingernail 90° on it. The scratch will indicate if it has damaged the metal. Mobile Car Scratch Repair Make sure to clean the area of the scratch before you start the repair. Use warm water and dish soap to wash your car. After the area has been cleaned, dry it completely.

Minor Car Scratches

Clear coat scratches caused by car accidents are easy to repair. You can use a good quality polishing and rubbing compound. Apply wax to protect the paint as a final step.

Medium Car Scratches

Medium car scratches are small scratches that have penetrated the paint layer, but not the primer. This type of scratch can be repaired by sanding the area first with fine sandpaper. There are two options for sanding: dry or wet. Wet sanding is quicker and easier for me. Spray the paint in layers once your surface is smooth. Give each coat sufficient drying time. Check the label for drying times. The clear coat should be applied next. We use rubbing compound to blend the new coat with the previous one. Let dry for at least 30 days before applying wax.

Deep Car Scratches

Fixing deep car scratch requires few more steps. Check to make sure there is no rust. To smoothen it out, you can use a lower grid sandpaper. I use 180 grit sandpaper. Apply a few layers of gray primer. After primer has dried, smoothen it with 600 grit. You can continue with the rest of the steps as in the medium scratch repair section. Also, wait 30 days before applying wax.

It is easy to fix car scratches at home, as you can see. You only need to have good weather, the right products, and clear instructions. A few scratches can be repaired by a body shop for anywhere between $100 and $1,000. You can save lots of money by doing the job yourself. It’s a great feeling to see your car in the driveway, knowing that you did it yourself.