Mild scratches and dents on cars are a common occurrence. A careful repair and coating job can ensure that your car looks flawless. Here are a few steps that ensure that your scratch removal process is smooth. There are many market wide options available for fixing car scratches. Right from simple tinted wax to the As-Seen-On-TV miracle pens. In fact, car touch up kits are readily available for purchase and sometimes seem to be a prudent choice especially if you are looking for a minor fix. But if you like to take the long route and do the job professionally, here’s how:
Abrasion
It must get worse before it becomes better. We recommend to use a folded piece of 180-grit sandpaper and scratch the surface. Make sure to expose the metal part of the car under the paint.
Priming
Just like any other paint job, use a primer for optimal preparation. First, use a black-tinted sandable primer, which helps to fill in the sandpaper scores. Usually, two to three coats are optimal. Make sure to allow drying the coats before reapplying.
Coating
Primer helps to give way to the base coat. After the primer, use a matching pigment to start coating. Usually, more than one coat is required. Each application seals in pigments and adds a protective layer. Between layer, you can sand with ever-finer paper. Wet sanding with something like a 1,500 grit sandpaper should do the trick. The last finish usually finalizes your work with a nice shiny shell.
Results
After the final coat dries overnight, use a rubbing compound to bring out the shine. It is a matter of individual judgement to use appropriate quantities of paint, sandpaper, etc., to get a colour that matches your car. Sometimes, if your car is really old, you may notice that the worked colour looks slightly brighter than the paint. In this case, your car may look a tad patchy. So it may be smart to work your way through the coats and keep comparing it to the other coloured parts of your car. Consider a ceramic coating for a complete finish. Then use an orbital buffer and hope that the new patch blends in the original colour.
Modern-day paints are artificially hardened within a couple of hours and are pretty stable. They fall in the category of lacquers which dry as their solvents evaporate, leaving the solids behind.
Most lacquers take at least a day to dry completely. Make sure to leave that time before you give it another coat. Work in a well-ventilated area so you can get faster and efficient drying.
Whether it is a paint protection film, window tinting or ceramic coating, it can get pretty tricky to go the DIY route. Consider contacting the experts at Ceramic Pro Mississauga for all your car’s cosmetic needs.