It can be frustrating to get dinged and end up with a big scratch, and it’s even worse when you know it came because of someone else’s fault.
Whatever may be the case, it is heartbreaking and a complete nightmare to see it ruin the beauty of your vehicle.
However, in this we are here to help you through it, without having to pay a hefty sum of money in a repair shop to get the job done!
Yes, you can learn how to remove deep scratches from the car without professional help, and this article will show you how to do it.
3 Ways To Make Your Deep Scratches Vanish in No Time
Yes, you can remove every type of scratch on your car, from surface knicks to deep cuts. We will share 3 ways in which you can do this.
Before we begin: a word of caution. If you are not handy with tools around the house or garage, we suggest you go to a professional. DIY methods are best left for tinkerers, if you are not confident about it, it is better to spend a few extra bucks than ruin your car.
Use Repair Kits
The first thing you should consider before using a car (scratch) repair kit is checking if the scratches are too deep. In case it is, it is advisable to use methods other than standard DIY repair kits. If you use a repair kit for scratches in your car, follow the steps mentioned below.
- Clean the surface on and around the scratched area
You can use soap or water to clean the scratched area and the surface around it to clear away any debris accumulated due to the scratch. It is essential to keep the surface clean because we wouldn’t want the residue to mix with the polish of the paint in the later stages of using the kit.
- Rub scratch removal paste on the scratched surface
Use a cotton pad or soft cloth to apply the scratch removal paste to the scratched area. Then, rub this paste on the scratches to erase the outer layer of the car’s coating of paint. You need to do this to make sure that the surface gets smoothed before you go on to the next step.
- Remove remaining polish
After rubbing the paste and removing a thin layer from the car’s coat, ensure that the area is clear from any polish. It is essential to remove the polish to ensure it doesn’t harm the car’s surface.
Sand and Polish the Area
Next, you will need to sand and polish the area. For this, you will need:
- 2,000 or 3,000 grit Sandpaper
- A polishing pad
- A microfibre cloth or towel
- Paper
- Masking tape
- Primer
- Metallic paint in the same color as your car
- Car wax
Once you acquire these tools, follow the steps shared below to remove the unwanted scratch.
- Use sandpaper to reach the metal plate of the car
You should use a 2000-grit sandpaper to rub the surface of the scratched area of your car to reach its metal plate.
Also, remember to use the sandpaper towards the scratch, not away from it, or it can create more scratches instead of solving the problem.
Stop rubbing once the scratch becomes almost invisible and you can see the metal plate. It is time to move on to the next step.
- Apply a high quality primer to the area
Use a masking tape to cover the application of the primer to prevent it from spreading to other areas of the vehicle. Once you have applied the primer, let it dry for a few minutes. Once it is dried, move on to the next step.
- Spray the area with the matching paint
Make sure that you have brought the paint that matches your car’s color. Once you are satisfied with the color and tone of the paint, spray the same on the area where there was a scratch and make sure that it dries before you touch it again.
It can be a bit difficult to find the shade that matches the color of your car, so make sure that you get it from an OEM source or from the shop where you bought your vehicle.
- Polish the area once the primer dries
The last and final step to this DIY method is to apply a polish that matches your car’s paint. Drop a quarter size on a microfibre cloth or towel and polish it onto the scratched area in a circular motion.
Use a Glazing Putty
Glazing putty is usually used to repair glass panes but can also be used to cover car scratches in case they aren’t too deep.
Glazing putty is readily available in almost every car repair shop and is not very costly. Thus, you can buy one from a shop and continue fixing the deep scratch on your car.
Follow the steps below if you are using the glazing putty method to fix the scratches on your car.
- Use alcohol to cleanse the scratch
The first step is to clean the scratch on the car with rubbing alcohol. Once you have rubbed a considerable amount of alcohol on the scratched part, remove the unwanted dirt and residue, including wax, from the surface and surrounding area.
- Apply glazing putty on the scratch
Once you have cleansed the area, fill it with glazing putty and use a spreader to cover the entire area. You get the best results when you cover the scratch entirely with putty. Let it dry for five minutes before moving on to the next step.
- Remove the extra putty from the surface
Remove extra putty from the car surface to keep it smooth and even. The best way to remove it is to spray liquid paint leveler on a microfibre pad or towel and rub it on the putty until the surface looks transparent.
- Paint over the scratched surface
You can use car paint to do this job, but ensure that the shade matches the car’s color. If you are unsure about the color, you should take professional help because it can make or break the beauty of your car.
However, if you are confident in your ability to use touch-up paint, make sure to use a fine bristled brush to do the job. It should take 10 to 12 hours for the color to dry and for your car to look as good as new.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much to remove scratches from the car?
The cost of removing scratches from your car depends on how deep they are. Even so, a deep scratch can cost you around $2,000, and in the case of complete car scratch repair, it should cost you above $3,000.
With the DIY methods we told you in the article above, you will surely save a lot of money.
Can you repair a deep car scratch at home?
You can repair a deep scratch on your car at home by using repair kits, sanding and polishing yourself, or for some scratches you can use glazing putty as well. However, you should do it only if you are confident in your ability to fix the scratch, no matter how deep it is.
Wrap Up
Prevention is always better than cure, so take care while driving and parking your car not to get scratches on to it. Even a small scratch can cost you a fortune at a repair shop.
But we hope that with the methods we described above, you will be able to sort out the scratch in not time, without spending much money either.
