Scratches and Key Scratches
- Scratches: Minor scratches can often be repaired with touch up paint, especially if they don’t penetrate through the paint layers.
- Key Scratches: For deep scratches like key scratches that reach the base panel, a more extensive process is required:
- Sand the entire panel.
- Use spot putty and primer to build up the surface.
- Finish with a basecoat and clearcoat, ensuring to blend metallic paints into adjacent panels.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Spraying Scratches
- Advantages:
- Completely covers and repairs the scratched area.
- Drawbacks:
- Time-consuming and requires considerable effort.
- It is often better to retain the original paint when possible.
- Blending is necessary, especially with metallic paints, which might require extending the work to adjacent panels or even the entire side of the vehicle.
Chips
- Small Chips: Ideal for touch up with a paint pen, especially for chips smaller than a pencil eraser.
- Larger Chips: Chips larger than a dime should ideally be sprayed for best results.
Holes and Tears
- Holes: Repair holes in panels or bumpers using auto body filler; use a backing if necessary, then sand, prime, and paint.
- Tears: For actual tears in bumpers, use our bumper repair kit, followed by shaping and smoothing with auto body filler.
Dents
Repairing dents involves reshaping the metal, removing paint, filling the dent, and finishing with priming and sanding. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide.
Steps to Remove Dents
- Reshaping the Metal:
- Use body repair tools like a slide hammer, porta-power, or body hammers to push the metal back into shape as close to the original form as possible.
- Although specialized tools aren’t absolutely necessary, they significantly facilitate the process.
- Removing Paint:
- Use #36 grit sandpaper to grind away the paint from the dented area. This step is crucial for the filler to adhere properly.
- A grinder, dual action air sander, or a drill with a sander wheel attachment are effective tools for this purpose.
- Applying Body Filler:
- Fill the reshaped area with body filler to level it with the surrounding surface.
- Once filled, sand the area to match the original contour of the vehicle.
- Refer to the “How-To Guides” section under “Preparation” for detailed instructions on applying and sanding body filler.
- Priming:
- Prime the area to prepare it for painting, ensuring a smooth and uniform surface.
- After priming, sand the area smooth to ensure the best possible finish.
- Check the “Application” section of our knowledge base for tips on priming and finishing.
- Additional Tips for Dents
- Tool Availability: While having the right tools makes the job easier, creative solutions with available tools can also be effective.
- Safety Measures: Always wear appropriate safety gear such as gloves, goggles, and masks to protect against dust and debris when sanding and grinding.
Peeling Paint
- Surface Preparation: For vehicles suffering from peeling paint, sand down the peeling areas, apply primer, and repaint. Note that this is a temporary solution and peeling may recur.
- Manufacturer Defects: Some manufacturers offer repair programs for peeling paint, though many attribute peeling to age.
Clearcoat Peeling
- Underlying Issues: Clearcoat peeling often indicates deeper issues with the paint or primer.
- Repair Process: Strip the affected area to bare metal, then reapply primer, paint, and clearcoat for a lasting solution.