Minor Scratch Repair

[Tony C]

Hi All,
I was wondering what everyone does when, despite all of your best efforts, you get a minor scratch in your paint - it's a daily driver, it happens. Now, I'm not talking about a key scrape just a minor scratch that the swirl removers and clay bars won't take care of. I've done some wood working and there are wood stain colored wax pencils (okay, crayons) that can be rubbed into a small scratch and buffed out. Does anyone know of a comparable wax pencil colored to match body colors or some other product that can fill in/hide minor scratches? I'm not too fond of touch up paint as I've never been very good at blending that in.
Thanks, Tony C.

 

[twiget]

How about this stuff:http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/turtlewax_tv_kit.html

Never used it my self, but it is TurtleWax, so it cant be all bad.

Jason

 

[gmjunkie]

How about this stuff:http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/turtlewax_tv_kit.html

Never used it my self, but it is TurtleWax, so it cant be all bad.

Jason

Don't wast your $$!! Looks good for a day or two,And Then Looks like "Sheet"!!!!

 

[Nevets2004]

Tony C.

Great question! I have similar problems with touch up paint and have been looking for an alternative. My clear coat seems to be especially thin so any time there is the slightest touch with something sharp, I get a scratch.

Looking forward to a good solution.

 

[Junkman2008]

Well, here's part 2 of a four part series on what I do:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1NVMPf6QhoI

Here's the whole series:

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102281

 

[Remo]

Scratch Repair

Tony - check out this product. There are many people on this forum that use it and love it. I think if you make an inquiry in the "detailing" section you'll find a lot of support for the pruduct.
Remo:cool

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm/fa/p/pid/3508/sc/7542

 

[Junkman2008]

Tony - check out this product. There are many people on this forum that use it and love it. I think if you make an inquiry in the "detailing" section you'll find a lot of support for the pruduct.
Remo:cool

http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm/fa/p/pid/3508/sc/7542

This is a excellent product for chip and deep scratch repair. I've used it and recommend it also. However, I think the kind of scratches that Tony is wanting to take care of does not require as extreme of a product as this, but simply a buffing or hand action product that he can use for very minor stuff that you pick from using your car as a daily driver.

I know his pain. I drive mine a lot when the weather is nice and the freakin' tiny scratches just show up out of the blue. With a dark colored car, it's a love/hate relationship.

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Scratch

I too have a scratch that the previous owner added when getting contents from the back hatch. If the scratch is deep enough to feel with your finger nail, is it too deep to repair without wet sanding?

Dennis

 

[Junkman2008]

I too have a scratch that the previous owner added when getting contents from the back hatch. If the scratch is deep enough to feel with your finger nail, is it too deep to repair without wet sanding?

Dennis

I would say yes to that Dennis. However, wet sanding in that area is the easiest to do because it cuts so fast. If you know how to wet sand, then you can fix a scratch back there pretty quick. If you don't, BE VERY CAREFUL!

 

[killain]

I've had really good results using 'Nu finish' Scratch doctor. My car is a dark red matallic, and it often seems to be scratch magnet. Also the chevy dealership sells touch up paint that comes in an applicator that has a kind of ball point applicator on the top. but if using touch up paint, I always use a paper match as an way to apply the minute amount of paint to the scratch. Be careful and patient and it works very well.

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

I've had really good results using 'Nu finish' Scratch doctor. My car is a dark red matallic, and it often seems to be scratch magnet. Also the chevy dealership sells touch up paint that comes in an applicator that has a kind of ball point applicator on the top. but if using touch up paint, I always use a paper match as an way to apply the minute amount of paint to the scratch. Be careful and patient and it works very well.

Killian, are you talking about scratches deep enough that you can feel with a fingernail? I'm not talking about a grand canyon here, but you can barely feel it.

Dennis

 

[killain]

Killian, are you talking about scratches deep enough that you can feel with a fingernail? I'm not talking about a grand canyon here, but you can barely feel it.

Dennis

Yes Dennis, I'm talking about the scratch you can feel. The Nu finish is great for the just barely felt scratch and the scratch doctor works well with this kind of scratch, any deeper and you need a deeper scratch action. now the other scratches I have a detail shop down the street, and the owner, Eric is a painter and does high end detail work. he uses 1500 or 2000 sandpaper to just feather out the scratch and then touches it up, lets it dry and goes back with the 1500 and flattens the touchup residue and then buffs out to a high gloss. he NEVER goes through the clear coat because if you do the paint is ruined. i don't have the talent to do this kind of work, but he is an expert, so any scratches I get in the front bumber or sides I have him do. i do the minor stuff and I do a wax twice a year.

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Thanks

I would say yes to that Dennis. However, wet sanding in that area is the easiest to do because it cuts so fast. If you know how to wet sand, then you can fix a scratch back there pretty quick. If you don't, BE VERY CAREFUL!

I don't know enough about wet sanding on base coat / clear coat paints to attempt this. To be honest, I'm "skeert" to get sandpaper anywhere near it! hnoes Thanks for your response.

Dennis

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Thanks

Yes Dennis, I'm talking about the scratch you can feel. The Nu finish is great for the just barely felt scratch and the scratch doctor works well with this kind of scratch, any deeper and you need a deeper scratch action. now the other scratches I have a detail shop down the street, and the owner, Eric is a painter and does high end detail work. he uses 1500 or 2000 sandpaper to just feather out the scratch and then touches it up, lets it dry and goes back with the 1500 and flattens the touchup residue and then buffs out to a high gloss. he NEVER goes through the clear coat because if you do the paint is ruined. i don't have the talent to do this kind of work, but he is an expert, so any scratches I get in the front bumber or sides I have him do. i do the minor stuff and I do a wax twice a year.

Thank you for the response. I'm going to give this product a try.

Dennis

 

[Toms007]

Junkman2000, that was a very informative series of videos. Very entertaining also.

 

[Tripleblack51]

Hi All,
I was wondering what everyone does when, despite all of your best efforts, you get a minor scratch in your paint - it's a daily driver, it happens. Now, I'm not talking about a key scrape just a minor scratch that the swirl removers and clay bars won't take care of. I've done some wood working and there are wood stain colored wax pencils (okay, crayons) that can be rubbed into a small scratch and buffed out. Does anyone know of a comparable wax pencil colored to match body colors or some other product that can fill in/hide minor scratches? I'm not too fond of touch up paint as I've never been very good at blending that in.
Thanks, Tony C.

There are lots of products out there. A.J.'s how-to pictorial is excellent!
I believe what any of these techniques require is patience.
How much you have will determine how good your results are.

Over the years I've read of people using this product with success.

Just thought I'd throw it out there for ya..just to give you something else to think about! otfl

http://www.langka.com/


Regards,
Pedro

 

[Junkman2008]

Junkman2000, that was a very informative series of videos. Very entertaining also.

Thanks Tom! :L

I'm actually an 8 year old in a 45 year old body. I refuse to grow up!

There are lots of products out there. A.J.'s how-to pictorial is excellent!
I believe what any of these techniques require is patience.
How much you have will determine how good your results are.

Over the years I've read of people using this product with success.

Just thought I'd throw it out there for ya..just to give you something else to think about! otfl

http://www.langka.com/


Regards,
Pedro

Thanks Pedro!

You've hit the nail on the head with the patience requirement. I believe that any quality product on the market will achieve outstanding results if used according to the manufacturer's specifications. Remo actually suggested the Lanka product also in a earlier post. That is a great product which I have successfully used for chip repair and deep scratches that go deeper than the paint and clear coat, but he won't need to use anything like that for the light swirl type scratches. That's when the ol' PC-7424 will show it worth. I highly recommend one to anyone who rubs their baby down. :dance

 

[Tripleblack51]

Thanks Tom! :L

I'm actually an 8 year old in a 45 year old body. I refuse to grow up!

That's when the ol' PC-7424 will show it worth. I highly recommend one to anyone who rubs their baby down. :dance

otfl

Ditto on that!
I've had one for a few years now and it easy to work with and a real time saver especially for projects like swirl/scratch removal !!
I still enjoy applying Z5 by hand though.
Probably have about 103 coats on her after 7+ years!

Hey, I can relate to the "refusing to grow up" part.
Just because our bodies "mature" it doesn't mean our minds have to!

Be well,
Pedro


I should've clicked on Remo's link...must've been a "senior moment".
Ya know, I seem to be blaming a lot of things to senior moments lately!

 

[ICOMP]

This is a excellent product for chip and deep scratch repair. I've used it and recommend it also. However, I think the kind of scratches that Tony is wanting to take care of does not require as extreme of a product as this, but simply a buffing or hand action product that he can use for very minor stuff that you pick from using your car as a daily driver.

I know his pain. I drive mine a lot when the weather is nice and the freakin' tiny scratches just show up out of the blue. With a dark colored car, it's a love/hate relationship.

What a great looking car. Thanks for the info...

ICOMP

 

[ICOMP]

How about this stuff:http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/turtlewax_tv_kit.html

Never used it my self, but it is TurtleWax, so it cant be all bad.

Jason

I'm not usually this abrupt in my responses but this stuff is junk. Don't waste your money.

ICOMP