Auto Scratches
What to Know & How to Remove Them
Auto scratches can be a major eyesore on any vehicle, but if you plan on taking your car to a professional paint repair center, you can expect to shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars just to remove a couple simple scratches.
Most people don’t realize that they could just as easily fix the scratches themselves for a fraction of the cost. And, you don’t have to waste an entire weekend to do it, either! Even if you have zero experience in removing auto scratches, you can quickly and easily make your vehicle look like new again when you have the proper tools and techniques.
The first step to removing those scratches, however, is understanding what type they are and how deep they are, so you can determine which steps you’ll need to take.
Common Types of Auto Scratches
The Surface Scratch
80-90% of auto scratches are in the very top layer of your paint job, which is called the clear coat. Manufacturers began applying clear coat layers around 1990 as an added level of protection against scratches and scrapes. Previously, cars and trucks only used a single-stage lacquer, which required a lot more attention and care to keep it looking nice.
So, how do you know if your scratch is just a surface scratch? The simplest way to tell is to gently run your fingernail across the scratch itself. If you can’t feel the scratch, that means it can be removed very easily with a simple technique of polishing and re-sealing the restored paint.
A Borderline Scratch
This type of scratch is also primarily in the clear coat, but slightly deeper. When you run your fingernail across, you can just barely feel it – unlike a surface scratch which you can’t feel at all. Some, not all, borderline scratches like this will require an additional step of wet sanding.
Wet sanding gently removes more of the clear coat, evening things out so that the scratch is eliminated. The process is very similar to removing surface scratches, except the wet sanding is done before the polishing.
Deep Paint Scratches
If your auto scratches are obvious scrapes or chips, and you can definitely feel it when you touch it with your fingernail, then that means the scratch has passed the clear coat and is likely in the color layer.
Don’t worry! These scratches can be removed too, and the process is just as simple as the other scenarios, except that you’ll need a bit of touch-up paint. First, you’ll clean and polish the area. Then, you’ll apply the touch up paint. Then you have three choices. 1. You can leave it as is. 2. Wet sand to level & polish. 3. Level the touch up paint “blob” with a special leveling solvent. If you want a really professional looking result #3 is your best bet and truth be known VERY simple process, that anyone can do with no experience. Beginners will be amazed. If it sounds simple, that’s because it is!
Auto Scratches: Do it right, do it affordably, do it yourself!
Don’t waste money on expensive new paint repairs or cheap, ineffective products at your local auto parts store. The Ultimate Car Scratch Remover System offers everything you need to effectively remove any auto scratches – even if you have never done it before.
Plus, unlike every other car scratch removal product out there, ours comes with a complete quick-start guide and videos to help you remove your auto scratches like a pro. And, if you have any questions, help is never more than a phone call or email away.