It’s expensive to have your car repaired and made new again. Be ready to spend a large sum for car repair after making that small mistake on the road, unless of course you have full coverage for repair. Still there are pocket-friendly ways to remedy those little scratches and dents – through the do-it-yourself way.
– Prepping Your Car
– Some of the things you need are:
– Soap and water
– Toothpaste
– 3M Scratch Removal Kit
– Touch-up paint or pen
– Touch-up primer (exposed metal)
– Touch-up clear coat
– Prep solvent
– Wet and dry sandpaper from 320 to 1500 grit
– Sanding pen
– Sanding block
– Fine cut rubbing compound
– Artist’s paintbrush #2 or plastic toothpicks
– Clean, lint-free cloths
Inspect the anatomy of the scratch first before deciding what to do. Car skins usually have three layers: primer, base coat and clear coat. Clean the area with soap and water, and let it dry completely. Get rid of loose edges using a sanding pen.
Administering First Aid
If the scratch is only paint-deep, and barely recognizable, use toothpaste. Clean the area, and then smooth toothpaste over the damage area. Rub a damp sponge in circular motion to seal in the scratches, but don’t rub too hard. Wipe the area dry with a soft cloth and see if results are satisfactory. You can also use toothpaste to clear headlights, followed by manual buffing.
You can also use 3M Scratch Removal Kit, complete with all the tools and substances to repair clear-coat-deep scratches.
Applying Touch-Up Paint
When it’s quite a noticeable scratch, retouch the paint. Buy car touch-up paint that perfectly matches your car’s color (see sticker in the door jamb). If you’re unsure, test the paint in an inconspicuous area first. If you’re not using touch-up pen, use a small artist brush or toothpick to apply. Carefully follow instructions on the car paint product you use. If metal is exposed by the scratch, you need to apply a quick primer, then touch-up paint and clear coat. Don’t retouch paint when temperature is >60 degrees.
Leveling & Polishing
Level touch-up paint using sanding block and wet and dry sand paper (1500 grit). Wet the area first before sanding, and dry it with clean cloth. If it’s not leveled yet, repeat the process. Polish with a fine cut compound using foam or polishing cloth in back-and-forth motion not circular. Buff with a microfiber towel.
