So, you want to know how to repair a car scratch at home, but not sure of the process? There are several types of paint scratches and several types of paints. Because of the variety, there will be different methods for each type.
Do you have a scratch in your paint? I bet you are wondering if it is going to cost you lots of money at an auto body shop? Well there is hope, many car paint scratches, can be a simple home repair done by you.
I am sure you have already checked out YouTube and found videos that make the job look easy. Unfortunately, it isn’t always going to be easy. Methods will vary, because you have different paint types and the depth of damage.
The repair can be different between a single stage paint and a base coat clear coat. The process can also completely change if the paint is just a scuff or a scratch that is down to the primer.
The Two Different Types of Paints
It is important to know what type of paint you have, to know how to repair a car scratch at home. Does your car have a single stage paint, or is it base coat clear coat?
If you want to clearly understand the differences between these two types of paint, I suggest reading my article; Single Stage vs Base Coat Clear Coat Automotive Paint.
You can always call a dealership and provide your VIN number to the parts department. They can tell you if you car was painted with a single stage or base coat clear coat. Although, I can tell you, the majority of vehicles today are painted with base coat clear coat. Single stages are mostly used on commercial type vehicles today.
What is Single Stage
Single stage paint almost defines itself by name. It is a paint that is the color and element that causes the glossy protective coating, all in one. It doesn’t use a clear coat application to make it glossy or protect it from weather and UV’s.
Single stage paints are most commonly either an acrylic enamel or a urethane enamel. The urethane is more durable and resist oils and chemicals far better than acrylic.
What is Base Coat Clear Coat
A base coat is a two-layer style paint that is commonly in use on most cars and trucks today. The first layer is the color. Most people do not understand that this is not like regular paint. It is only one part of two layers and has to have the clear.
Most base coats are a dull to semi-gloss coating that only provides the coloration. There are those that show videos, where they buff out the base when the clear peels away. This is incorrect and should never be done.
Once you apply the base coat, you will apply the clear soon after. This will allow the base to bond with the clear. The clear coat over the base is what protects it from the weather and UV’s.
The base coat by itself, having exposure to the elements, will deteriorate and not protect your car. Do not be fooled by those telling you to buff it out and it will be fine. The gloss will not last with that method and you would be wasting your time.
Types of Scratches
When it comes to scratches, there are many kinds. You can rub or buff some out, while others will require paint and or sanding. Then there are those that will require body work and paint.
I am not going to get into doing actual auto body repair and paint. This article is on how to repair a car scratch at home. So, let’s keep it simple for now.
Your paint can get light scratches, more like a mar, from debris on the road or a branch sticking out to far. These type of scratches are usually the easiest repair to make.
Paint that has a deeper cut, may require adding paint to make the repair. You will also have where the paint has been scraped off, with possible body damage. This type of damage, might require auto body work. However, doing your own body work at home is possible.
Here is where many videos do not explain the repair accurately. Most cars today have clear coats. If the clear coat gets a mild scratch in it. The repair is fairly easy.
However, if the paint is a single stage, any type of scratches requires a little more work, possibly even some paint. I can tell you, that many light scratches only require a compound and a cloth, no equipment necessary. To learn how to repair a car scratch at home, let’s start with a clear coat scratch.
How To Repair a Car Scratch at Home
If you have mild scratches like in this image, the repair is relatively easy.
For this type of scratch or even lighter, I would start off with 1000 grit sandpaper, wet sanding. Using a small rubber squeegee pad, I would sand over the scratches, staying focused in the area of the scratches.
Sand the area for no more than 1 minute with light to medium pressure. Wipe the sanded area down and let it dry to examine how much the sand scratches have faded away.
The goal is to step up to the next finer grit in stages, until the scratches are gone. Using 1500 grit, wet sand your scratched area for about another minute. Wipe and evaluate the area. You are looking to ensure that each time you sand, the scratch will fade away.
What you will see is a dull area from the sanding. However, the scratches will look like shiny or still look like white lines. The goal is to sand those away until it all looks uniform and dull. AVOID sanding on edges of any kind!!
Final Sanding and Buffing to Repair a Car Scratch
Your final sanding should be done with 2000 to 3000 grit sand paper. If the scratches are a little deep, they still may show a little. This is OK, you can always rub or buff to se if you are getting the look you want.
Using a buffing pad, ether a small one on a drill or a bigger one on a buffer. Apply a cutting compound like Meguiar’s “Mirror Glaze M10508 Ultra-Cut Compound”.
Closely examine the repair area to see if the scratches are still showing. If not, go back over the repair area with “Meguiar’s Professional Swirl Remover M0916”. This will remove the buffing swirls from the previous compound.
At this point, the scratches should be gone and or hidden. I would go over the panel or panels with a Ceramic Wax.
Repairing a Deeper Car Scratch at Home
Some scratches are so deep that they cut through the clear coat down into the base coat. If this is the case, you will need to add paint.
This doesn’t mean you will need spray gun equipment. All that is really needed is a touchup pen or a small bottle.
I often will take the paint and put some on the tip of my gloved finger. Then spread it all over the scratches, this puts paint down in the scratches. This may sound messy, but a good way on how to repair a car scratch at home.
If you would rather apply the paint with the pen into the cracks, is also good enough.
Give the paint to the next day to dry. It is possible to buff all of the extra paint off. However, you run a risk of cutting through the paint in other areas, especially edges.
You will have much better control on leveling and smoothing out the paint by wet sanding. Just follow the sanding and buffing steps from the above section.
Using Paint to Repair a Car Scratch
Basically, you are using the paint to fill in the scratch. You also may find, once you do your first run of sanding (1000 grit) and wipe off the area.
The scratches might look shiny. If so, this is telling you that your sandpaper isn’t touching it. It would be OK to apply a second coat of paint to fill them up more.
If you apply more coats, just follow the same process. Let dry for a day, at least 6 to 8 hours. Then sand and wipe to inspect it.
NOTE: Even if the paint is a single stage, it is possible to use clear to fill the scratches. This can show up on some colors, so I suggest the trial and error method.
Watch These Videos to Understand Wet Sanding and Buffing
I have two videos that can help you get the idea of how to repair a car scratch at home. The fist video is where I sanded out a run in the clear. This will demonstrate removing scratches.
The second video covers wet sanding and buffing the clear coat out. This process is the same for single stage paints as well.
How To Sand Out a Paint Run
How To Color Sand and Buff
Where To Get Paint for Repairing a Car Scratch
The above procedure that requires paint to fill the scratch, will require you to get paint. Try looking for automotive paint dealers in your area, even the dealership for your brand car.
You will need ether a small bottle of paint or a paint pen. If you can’t find anything local, you can order your paint to match at Automotive Touchup. They offer matching paint, in 1.5oz bottles and paint pens.
All you need, is your paint code, and they can tell you where to find that if you are not sure. Even though, you would think manufacturers would make it obvious, often times they don’t.
So, if finding your paint code seems impossible. Call a local dealership with your VIN number and ask the parts department for the code.
Conclusion To Repairing a Car Scratch at Home
Before you can start thinking of repairing your scratch, you will want to determine the type of scratch you have. If you have a damage like the image below, this will require body work and that is beyond this article.
However, it wouldn’t hurt to put some matching paint over a damage like this. This isn’t the correct way on how to repair a car scratch at home. Although, it is a good way to keep the damage from rusting until you can fix it correctly.
If your scratch is small or in a small area, using a small 3 inch polishing pad kit is ideal. You will just need a drill, electric or cordless.
It’s important to not wet sand too hard or too long. Same with buffing, avoid buffing too much or too hard. Paint and clear are only so thick, and you do not want to cut through them. Cutting through your paint, just makes this become a full-blown body repair.
However, I have been sanding and buffing for years, and I have rarely ever come across the paint being so thin, that I cut through.
Take your time, sand or buff a little and take breaks to view your work. Just do a little at a time, and you should be fine.
Just keep in mind, this type of car scratch repair, works best on fine scratches. The types you would get from a tree limb scraping your car. If your scratch is really deep or excessive, this method can work, but will take more time and effort.
If you are unsure, RodsShop does offer a “Ask a Mechanic” service. It does cover auto body, and the first question is always free.
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