Clear coat is being installed Image source: It is a thin, transparent, pigment-free finish that protects the paint job from potential environmental damage, such as strong sunlight, rain, and other conductive factors
Whether you possess a collectible smaller or a Lamborghini, the feeling is the same: the high-pitched shrieking, the tormented sound of metal scratching on metal, and at last, a heart-breaking scar over your car’s valuable bodywork. Luckily for you, most scratches can effectively be settled.
Although many scratches can be polished, some scratches require a stronger method. But don’t use it up. Re-spray the car body if there are scratches. You can repair it with a little polish and a little grease. Car scratches are divided into different severity levels: 1A, 1B, 2, 3, and 4. the first level is a slight scratch on the surface, and the 4th level scratches may make you cry.
The system has three basic types of scratches on the car: varnish, primer, and terrible scratches on the primer. Before you rush to find a mechanic, read on to better understand each type of scratch and whether and how to fix it yourself. Each type has a different approach, so a better understanding of each type will help you decide whether to do it yourself or if your car should go to a body shop. Scratches can come from many places, some of which are unexpected. Ironically, the culprit for varnish scratches is the car wash.
This includes incorrect hand-washing techniques, but scratches mainly come from automatic car washing, which is known to be not gentle. They often use abrasive applicators that can easily rotate and scratch the surface. Parking lot accidents are another common source. No matter how good your driver is, others will drive.
It only takes a short concentration of attention to produce a collision. Crushed stones, sticks, and rocks flying from your wheels and the car in front can also cause damage. Of course, these are mostly unavoidable. The last rare but possible source is the manipulator. These folks are jealous of their car’s flawless finish and can’t help but drag their keys through their paint job.
1. Streaks in clear coat
Clear coat is being installed Image source: It is a thin, transparent, pigment-free finish that protects the paint job from potential environmental damage, such as strong sunlight, rain, and other conductive factors. Varnish scratches are the best because they are the most superficial and therefore the easiest to repair. These include scratches and swirls caused by careless washing of the car. To determine if your varnish is affected and not your paint, you can perform a “nails” test. Apply nails along the scratched surface. If you don’t grab your nails, your clear coat is likely damaged. Usually you just need to use a buffer and polishing agent for a good polish, and you can start to use it. How to fix it Make sure the area you are polishing is clean and tidy. Use soapy water to clean, rinse and dry the area.
There are several scratch remover polishes available, but standard polishes should also work well. When polishing, please use microfiber cloth or similar, it is slightly abrasive. Apply enough pressure-you are actually trying to wipe off traces of varnish to remove nasty scratches. Rub in a circular motion for a few minutes and then check. You may need to do this several times, but this should work for most minor surface scratches.
How to fix the scratch
Make sure the area you are polishing is clean and tidy. Use soapy water to clean, rinse and dry the area. There are several scratch remover polishes available, but standard polishes should also work well. When polishing, please use microfiber cloth or similar, it is slightly abrasive. Apply a lot of pressure-you are actually trying to wipe off traces of clear coat to remove nasty scratches. Rub in circular motions for a few minutes and then check. You may need to do this several times, but this should work for most minor surface scratches.
2. Paint Scratches
Paint scratches or color coating is a bit tricky because it needs to match the paint scratch of the car to repair it. If you have a standard black or white car, combining it will be a simple job. But it may be difficult to get more unique colors accurately. A good idea is to check all the manufacturing details of your car; this should give you the exact name of the color. If this fails, many manufacturers will sell repair kits that match the exact color of your car. Do nails test, if it grabs but you can’t see the metal, you have paint scratches on your hands.
How to repair
You can purchase a kit or repaint separately. It is best to use the kit because it will provide you with the additional tools you need for your job. You need to clean the surface thoroughly, then use a scuff pad to further scrub the surface and prepare it for painting. Shake the paint to ensure even color distribution. Carefully apply the paint in layers, making sure it reaches the end of the scratch or chip. Now it needs to dry for a few days. Once it has dried properly, you can apply a clear coat and buff again, as described above.
3. Primer scratches
Primer scratches are the most serious and require the most work to remove. These are the scratches that a jealous manipulator will bring you. Primer is an additional protective layer for the car’s paint surface. When the scratches penetrate the varnish, the paint layer, the primer, it will expose the metallic body of the car. If left untreated, these scratches will rust and cause more serious damage to your car.
How to Repair
Ideally, larger and more serious scratches should be used to pierce the primer and hand it over to the professionals. However, if you are technically minded or brave enough, you can do it at home. In this case, it is a good idea to buy a kit because it provides you with all the materials you need. Follow all steps listed above, but apply primer before painting. In the kit, this is usually provided as a handy pen. It also takes a few days to dry, after which you can continue to paint and varnish. It sounds simple, but it can be challenging to be clean and smooth.
Summary
Most scratches do not require repainting the entire door panel, so even if the scratches extend to the metal, don’t be too scared. This can be done quickly and cheaply in a body shop. Small scratches on the surface are easy to solve with simple methods. A more unpleasant one can be solved at home. Hope this list will ease your anxiety and provide you with useful information about different car scratches and their remedies.