Whether your car is new or old, finding a scratch can be frustrating.
If you’re not too sure of how to remove scratches from car paint, then it can make it worse.
If the scratches on your car are minor, then you can follow the car scratch removal process outlined below.
But if you’re wondering how to remove a deep scratch from your car, then it’s best left to a Doylestown automotive repair shop.
7 Steps to Remove Scratches from Car Paint
1. Determine the Depth
First you need to determine the depth of the scratch.
For this, you need to know that a car has four layers - coat, color, primer and steel. The severity of the scratch will depend on the affected layer.
To determine the depth of the scratch, move your fingernail over the scratch.
If you can feel it but the fingernail cannot catch it, then the scratch isn’t very deep.
Knowing the depth will help you decide a specific approach to remove it.
Scratches as deep as the color or clear coat are easy to remove.
If it is a deep scratch, then it will display the steel or a different color and removing it will be difficult.
2. Prepare the Repair Area
Before you start removing the scratch from your car paint ensure that it is actually a scratch and not anything else.
Also the repair area should be clean. Dirt can cause more scratches during repair.
For that, you will need to wash your car thoroughly while paying special attention to the repair area.
Check for other scratches too so that you can repair them at the same time.
3. Sand the Scratch
Use a clean 2000-grit wet or dry sandpaper and sand lightly in the direction of the scratch.
Ensure there is no dirt between the scratch and the sandpaper, else it will cause more scratches.
Sand only upto the clear coat. Sanding in the opposite direction will increase the ridges and the repair area.
For scratches deeper than the clear coat, level the surface with a 1500-grit sandpaper.
Then clear the scratches made by this sandpaper with a 2000-grit sandpaper.
4. Wipe the Area Clean
Sandpaper will loosen small particles of the paint, so rinse the area with water.
Use a soft and clean cloth to wipe the surface dry. Wiping with rough cloth can cause more scratches.
5. Apply Rubbing Alcohol
Put some rubbing compound on the buffer pad. It removes the scratches caused by the sandpaper and smoothens the repair area.
Set the buffer to the lowest level and turn it on. You need to be quick while polishing as the rubbing compound dries out immediately.
Polish the repair area for approximately 10 seconds.
Now increase the speed to 2,000 rpm and polish for a minute while moving the buffer side to side and downwards.
Keeping the buffer stationary in the same spot will make the scratch deeper.
The time taken for polishing the scratch shouldn’t be more than five minutes. Polish only as long as you see the dullness fading.
6. Wipe with a Damp Cloth
Immediately wipe the area clean with a damp cloth to remove the residue.
Leaving the rubbing compound on the area will make it stick to the paint and it will be more difficult to remove.
7. Apply Carnauba Wax
Get a good quality carnauba wax and use a random orbital buffer to apply it.
Wash the area once again and you will be surprised to see the scratches have vanished. The repair area will look glossy and will repel water easily.
If you don’t get a smooth finish by polishing and waxing, then use a liquid scratch remover.
Many people are concerned about removing deep scratches from the car. Deep scratches that penetrate upto the steel can be best taken care of by professionals.
Contact A&G Customs auto repair professionals on 215 669 3072 now for car scratch removal.