The vehicle coating provides not only a presentable appearance, but also additional protection. But, like other materials, the paint surface has a limited service life. Under the influence of loads, minor damage gradually appears on it. Therefore, it will be useful for car owners to know how to paint over a scratch on a damaged car with their own hands.
remove scratches
“I have an obscene word scratched with a nail on my left rear fender...
- Wait... Which one?
From the movie "Beware of the Car"
There are a lot of products on counters today for removing or masking scratches - this calms the owner of a scratched car for a while. But the eyes immediately run wide, and optimism dries up: the principles of operation of the drugs are completely different! Some are polishes with abrasive inclusions, others contain a certain substance that slightly dissolves the varnish and fills the scratch, while others simply allow you to touch up the defective area. There are also wax compounds that fill and mask the scratch “while the car is being shown to the buyer.” So what should I buy? We purchased drugs of various principles of action.
Finding a suitable wing and riddling it with scratches of various sizes is not a difficult task.
Removing scratches from glass and headlights
Scuffs and cobwebs on the windows reduce the attractiveness of the car and interfere with the view of the road and create glare. They can be removed by polishing with special products based on cerium oxide. Scratches from windshield wiper blades can be removed especially well with polishes. The work is done like this:
- wash the glass and dry it;
- mark the scratches from the inside with a marker;
- install the polishing attachment on the drill and polish the glass at medium speed;
- periodically spray the glass with water to prevent it from overheating;
- Continue polishing until a high-quality result is obtained.
Scratches on headlights can be removed in the same way. You need to buy a special polishing kit and carry out all the work according to the instructions. Finally, apply a layer of special varnish that is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. Accuracy and careful adherence to recommendations are the key to successfully removing any scratches with your own hands, as well as saving on turning to professionals!
scratches
The photo shows only one of 10 identical zones with specially applied scratches: from light scratches to “ditches” reaching to the ground.
It was with them that the drugs fought to the best of their strength and purpose. Alas, the picture did not give an idea of the real result: it turned out to be possible to evaluate it only with a living eye! The photo shows only one of 10 identical zones with specially applied scratches: from light scratches to “ditches” reaching to the ground. It was with them that the drugs fought to the best of their strength and purpose. Alas, the picture did not give an idea of the real result: it turned out to be possible to evaluate it only with a living eye!
While correcting our art, we deliberately “forgot” our professional skills for a while. They simply read the instructions and acted in accordance with them, like an ordinary buyer.
It is clear that it is incorrect to directly compare a wax pencil, paint and polish. Therefore, we arranged all the participants according to the wishes of... the artist!
Kinds
Various types of products for minor vehicle repairs are on sale, both small jars or tubes and entire sets in plastic packaging. But they are very easy to understand.
According to the type of fillers, pencils are:
- full-fledged tinting kits;
- wax products;
- gels.
Gel
The molecular structure of gel pencils is similar to the structure of car varnish. These pencils come in tubes and are liquid products with a viscous consistency. It hardens for a long time.
It is usually colorless and matches the color of the bodywork well. Thanks to this property it is almost invisible.
The gel is designed to mask scratches of the top varnish layer that do not reach the paint. In fact, this is a simple touch-up of defects.
Wax
The wax pencil for cars contains a mixture of natural and synthetic waxes, which contains industrial oil as a binding component. Wax coating options contain corrosion inhibitors and a coloring pigment. Suitable for temporary filling of very small scratches.
ABRO Wipe Out Scratch Remover
ABRO Wipe Out Scratch Remover
ABRO Wipe Out Scratch Remover
Declared manufacturer: ABRO Industries, USA
Estimated price: 160 rub.
I was pleased with the product's speed when grinding surfaces. But the scratch will disappear along with the shine; it will have to be returned by other means. The composition is simple and convenient to use, as is its packaging. There is no need to wait for it to dry before rubbing. But the Russian-language sticker contains far from a complete translation of the original label (for example, the temperature range of applicability is not indicated).
Corrector
This type of restorative device is somewhat different from markers and pencils. It is a small bottle with a brush included. The product is used to cover small chips.
Using a stroke with a brush, you need to select the color of the composition as accurately as possible, since during paintwork restoration, it is difficult not to tint an undamaged area of the body.
fix it! PRO
fix it!
PRO fix it! PRO
Declared manufacturer: USA
Estimated price: 1100 rub.
No color selection is required: the applied composition apparently slightly dissolves the enamel and acquires the desired shade. But you need to read the instructions carefully - there are too many specific requirements in it. This did not save us: the promised drying time in the sun of 1 hour (remember how hot it was in the summer?) turned into 48 hours or more! During this time, dust settled on the repaired area. This means that it must be left to dry in a particularly clean room.
Precautionary measures
When operating a repaired vehicle, you should be careful. The machine is used only after the restoring agent has completely dried and is regularly inspected for new damage to the paintwork. When they appear, defects are eliminated with a wax pencil. If traces of corrosion appear, the centers of its spread are eliminated, and after removing the rust, they begin to restore the paintwork of the vehicle body.
Small chips and microcracks are the cause of the appearance and spread of corrosion. It spoils the appearance of the car and destroys the body. To avoid costly hull repairs, minor defects should be dealt with promptly.
KratzerEntferner Set SONAX 305941
KratzerEntferner Set SONAX 305941
KratzerEntferner Set SONAX 305941
Declared manufacturer: SONAX, Germany
Estimated price: 880 rub.
The company is famous, but it has problems with translators: the Russian text does not correspond to the German. Wipes are difficult to secure to the initial treatment fixture. And most importantly, despite the complex two-component formula, the composition could not even cope with minor scratches and did not restore shine.
Marker
In some cases, scratches are touched up with a special wax marker. The felt-tip pen, thanks to a special rod, effectively and almost completely eliminates defects. When working, apply light pressure to the device. This is necessary so that the required amount of the substance gets into the scratch or small chip. After completing the procedure, you need to remove excess substance from the treatment site using a napkin and let it dry. On sale you can find clear, black and multi-colored markers for removing scratches.
Turtle Wax, Anti-scratch
Turtle Wax, Anti-scratch
Turtle Wax, Anti-scratch
Declared manufacturer: England
Estimated price: 240 rubles.
The composition in a convenient tube copes with scratches of any size and depth (even to the ground!). But be careful not to overdo it: the abrasives contained in it can easily rub through the paintwork. It is clear that such a paste is not able to give the surface a perfect shine, so in the end you should put the tube aside and take a bottle of “Anti-Scratch Restorer” from the same company.
Pros and cons of use
The undoubted advantage of such markers is that you can quickly paint over a scratch or chip and drive a neat, clean car. This disguise saves the car owner a lot of time. And it's cheaper than a thorough repair at a car repair shop.
But the markers that are actively advertised in various “couch shops” have one big drawback: they are absolutely not durable, and they cannot mask deep damage. It will be easier and cheaper to use car polish.
Polymer crayons show greater stability in use. You can even choose the right color, but it’s not a fact that you will be able to find the appropriate one.
They are suitable for plastic and metal parts. It can hide deeper damage and is wash-resistant.
The most stable coatings are those contained in tubes with a brush. When applied in two layers, they are a primer unto themselves. There is a special table for color selection. After repair, it is recommended to apply polish.
However, after a certain time, it is better to take the car to a service station. Temporary coating is not able to protect metal from aggressive environmental factors.
DoctorWax DW8275
DoctorWax DW8275
DoctorWax DW8275
Declared manufacturer: USA
Estimated price: 240 rubles.
The polish copes well with abrasions and scratches up to medium. Suitable for manual and machine surface treatment. According to the manufacturer, for the best effect, you should first wash the car with shampoo, but only of the same brand. Even its specific type is indicated. We won’t find fault with this: in the end, the manufacturer knows best...
Painting parts
The body painting procedure is carried out in several stages. Before starting painting, it is necessary to clean the surface. Cleaning involves removing from the surface of a car element:
- rye;
- pollution;
- fat
You will need sandpaper for cleaning. With its help, parts of the machine are processed, after which you can move on to the next stage. To apply paint evenly, it is necessary to clean the damage and the surface around it.
Avtomark
Avtomark
Avtomark
Declared, Russia
Estimated price: 120 rub.
In fact, this is a paint that needs to be selected according to shade. Suitable for masking deep scratches and chips down to the ground. The “pencil” is compact, easy to use, and the paint dries quickly. However, the paint rod is too large for accurately painting over small scratches. In addition, when the cap is removed, the paint dries quickly, making it impossible to continue working. The repair marks are noticeable, but do not look as provocative as the original scratch.
Repair kits
The repair kit includes several products that allow you to effortlessly and quickly paint over scratches with your own hands. The kit includes a minimal set of devices that will allow you to remove even deep scratches. The repair kit usually includes varnish, a pencil and a special spray with an applicator. Some repair kits also contain a polishing compound that is applied to the surface of the machine using microfiber or a regular cloth.
The repair kit is selected depending on the shade of the car so that their color matches as much as possible. The pencil is used to restore the surface of the body, doors, bumpers and other car parts. Thanks to the repair kit, you can quickly and inexpensively restore the attractiveness of your car. In some cases, instead of a pencil, the kit comes with a container with a brush and paint, but such a set will cost much more. Any repair kit is designed to be used several times. Using the products included in the kit, you can paint scratches as soon as they appear in the future. By periodically painting over the damage, you can keep even an old car looking very attractive.
"Everest", wax pencil
"Everest", wax pencil
"Everest", wax pencil
Declared, Russia
Estimated price: 160 rub.
The “Magic Pencil” playfully restores shine and eliminates sponge stains. This is where the advantages end. The composition does not fill scratches, the plastic spatula included in the kit is inconvenient, its sharp, untreated edges can even damage the coating. The pencil melts in your hands and gets dirty. And the results of the treatment are short-lived. Like, he tinted the car and sold it.
Selection of paint and its application
It is important to select the paint, taking into account the shade of the car, so that after painting the area, it is no different in color from the car body. The shade is selected from a car catalogue. After choosing the appropriate color, paint is purchased:
- in an aerosol can;
- in a jar or bottle;
- in the form of a pencil.
Before you start painting, it is important to check for any contamination on the surface. It is important to apply the paint in a thin layer, without sagging or drips. When the first layer dries, the second coat is applied. It is recommended to paint in two or three layers.
Turtle Wax Safe Cut FG 4994
Turtle Wax Safe Cut FG 4994
Turtle Wax Safe Cut FG 4994
Declared manufacturer: England
Estimated price: 300 rub.
This composition helps to remove minor scratches and abrasions that appeared after treatment with a paste from the same manufacturer.
And yet, it was not possible to achieve the ideal shine - I just want to use some other potion...
Fighting scratches on paintwork
Deep damage to paintwork
If you find a scratch on the car body down to the level of the primer, then in this case neither a pencil nor sanding will help you, and you will only have to touch up the damage. So, to remove a scratch you should:
- Thoroughly wash and dry the car body.
- Treat the damaged area with gasoline or white spirit,
- Wipe the surface first with a damp and then with a dry cloth.
- Cover the damage with masking tape.
- Carefully apply a thin layer of primer to the scratch and let it harden.
- Using a very thin brush, paint the damage in one layer.
In the event that the scratch affected not only the soil, but also the metal, you need to perform the work in almost the same way as described above, only to begin with, carefully inspect the damaged area.
If rust is visible in the scratch, you should treat it with an anti-corrosion agent. Otherwise, rust will develop even under a layer of new paint, which will lead to much more damage, and in the end you will have to contact specialists to completely paint the body part.
To ensure that after finishing painting a deep scratch does not stand out on the surface of the body, it is necessary to cover the damage with a thin layer of primer after treatment with an anti-corrosion substance. When the primer has hardened, you can begin painting using a very thin brush.
If your car has metallic paint, the work must be performed according to the same schemes described above, but with only one small nuance. The fact is that after application the new paint shines more, so most often the restored area can be seen even if you don’t look closely.
To avoid this result, the painted area can be coated with car varnish in one layer. Thus, the reflective properties of the new and old paint will be almost completely equalized, and the damaged area will become invisible.
As for the plastic bumper, scratches on such a body part can be eliminated as simply as possible. Considering that plastic is not subject to corrosion and has excellent adhesion to paints and varnishes, you do not need to treat the bumper with protective solutions or primer, but simply wash it, dry it, degrease it and cover it with automotive spray varnish or paint.
Now you know everything about how to paint over a scratch on a car with your own hands, and if such damage occurs, you can get rid of it even without outside help. However, if you are not entirely sure that you will be able to complete all stages of the work carefully and correctly, then it is better not to take risks and use the services of certified specialists from the nearest service station.
Not only Fixit Pro. Effective remedy Remark
- REMARK does not wash off. The REMARK set includes original car paint and varnish. This paint will not rub off after washing. By filling damaged areas with paint, you are actually restoring the finish rather than masking defects.
- REMARK ensures color matching. The color base contains more than 50 thousand colors. These are almost all the colors of mass-produced cars. We only need to know the color code of your vehicle to ensure an exact color match.
- REMARK is stored for more than three years. An aluminum tube and a special valve allow the marker to be stored for more than 3 years, and a set of replaceable tips makes it possible to use the set multiple times.
- Everything you need to remove scratches in one kit. Adhering to the “allinone” principle, the REMARK kit includes everything you need to completely remove a scratch: degreasing wipes, paint marker, varnish, gloves, replacement tips, fine-grit sandpaper, instructions with a test card.
