That fateful day when you accidentally scratch your car can be quite disheartening. Whether it’s a minor scrape from a rogue shopping cart or a deeper gouge from a close encounter with a tree like I experienced, the sight of damaged paintwork can be frustrating. Initially, my instinct after backing into a tree in an empty road (ego bruised more than the tree, thankfully!) was to head straight to the Hyundai Service Center. The quote for bumper repair and potential replacement, coupled with the suggestion to claim insurance, seemed like the standard route.
However, the thought of dealing with insurance claims and potentially losing my no-claim bonus led me down the path of DIY solutions. The internet became my research ground, specifically YouTube and online stores for matching car paints. That’s when I discovered Com-Paint (https://www.com-paint.com/), a website offering custom-matched spray paint kits based on your car’s color code. Intrigued and encouraged by my previous successful experience with wet sanding and DIY projects like preparing wooden fascias for amplifiers, I decided to order a kit. A week later, armed with my Com-Paint kit, I embarked on my journey of do it yourself scratch repair on my car.
Before diving into the actual repair, I want to emphasize the importance of preparation and patience. Painting, in itself, is a straightforward task, but the magic lies in the steps you take before and after applying the color. These preparatory and finishing touches are crucial for achieving professional-looking results. To ensure the Com-Paint matched my car’s shade perfectly, I tested it on various surfaces – inside the trunk, a plastic bumper part, and the door sill. The color consistency across all surfaces was reassuring, giving me the confidence to proceed with the repair process.
To document the process and potentially help others, I also recorded a video. However, with so many steps involved, the raw footage stretched beyond 30 minutes! To make it more digestible, I edited it down to around 15 minutes, although in hindsight, a two-part video might have been better to cover everything comprehensively.
| https://youtu.be/lZAX-Jo0HAw |
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| Watch the DIY scratch repair process in action on YouTube. |
Now, let’s delve into the step-by-step guide for performing a do it yourself scratch repair on your car, focusing on surface preparation and painting techniques.
Surface Preparation: The Foundation for Flawless Finish
Proper surface preparation is paramount in achieving a seamless and durable car scratch repair. This involves cleaning, sanding, and filling to create a smooth base for the new paint.
1. Cleaning the Damaged Area
The first step is to thoroughly clean the area around the scratch. Remove any loose debris, dirt, or wax that could interfere with the repair process.
In my case, the bumper had some rough, jagged plastic edges resulting from the impact. Using a sharp blade, I carefully trimmed these rough edges to create a smoother surface to work with.
After carefully removing the loose and jagged plastic, the area was much cleaner and ready for the next stage of preparation.
2. Wet Sanding to Smooth Imperfections
Next comes wet sanding, a crucial step in leveling out minor bulges and preparing the surface for body filler. For this, I used 180 and 320 grit wet sandpaper. The choice of grit depends on the severity of the damage; for deeper scratches, start with a coarser grit like 180 and gradually move to finer grits. Remember to keep the sandpaper and the surface wet throughout the sanding process to minimize scratches and dust. Be cautious not to sand too aggressively, as you could thin the panel or even create a hole, especially on plastic bumpers.
After wet sanding, it’s essential to let the area dry completely before proceeding to the body filler application. This ensures proper adhesion and prevents moisture from being trapped underneath.
3. Applying Body Filler for Deep Scratches
For deeper scratches and gouges, body filler is necessary to restore the surface to its original level. My Com-Paint kit included a ready-to-use body filler paste, simplifying this step. When applying body filler, ensure the scratched grooves are free of any remaining debris. This will ensure a stable and strong fill. Allow sufficient drying time for the body filler before sanding – I waited approximately 2 hours for the Com-Paint filler to cure. Drying times can vary depending on the type of filler and environmental conditions.
4. Sanding the Body Filler to Match Contour
Once the body filler is dry, it needs to be sanded down to match the original contour of the car panel. Com-Paint recommended wet sanding the filler with 400 grit sandpaper. This is a critical step; the filled area must seamlessly blend into the surrounding surface. If the contour isn’t right at this stage, no amount of primer or paint can rectify it. Take your time and frequently check the shape and smoothness by feel and sight.
Painting Steps: Applying Color and Protection
With the surface prepped, we move on to the painting process. This involves masking, priming, painting, and applying a clear coat or finishing solvent.
1. Masking for Paint Application
Masking is essential when you are only painting a portion of the car panel. It protects the surrounding areas from overspray. Even seemingly invisible atomized paint particles can travel and stick to unwanted surfaces. I used masking tape along with multiple layers of newspaper to create a wide protective barrier. Additionally, I used a car cover to shield the rest of the vehicle from any stray paint.
2. Applying Plastic Primer for Adhesion
Although not explicitly suggested in the Com-Paint instructions, I added a step of applying plastic primer. This is particularly important when you have sanded down to bare plastic or used body filler, as primer promotes better paint adhesion on these surfaces. Primer also acts as a micro-scratch filler and further smooths the surface. I applied primer to all areas with bare plastic and body filler. Primer typically dries within a couple of hours, but I opted to let it dry overnight to ensure it was completely cured.
3. Wet Sanding the Primer for Smoothness
The next day, I wet sanded the primed surface using 1000 grit sandpaper. Similar to sanding the body filler, the goal here is to ensure the primed area seamlessly blends with the surrounding paint. Pay attention to any hard lines created by the masking tape. To address this, I slightly moved the masking tape outwards to feather the edges of the primer. After wet sanding, thoroughly clean the surface and allow it to dry completely before painting.
4. Spray Painting with Color-Matched Paint
Now for the exciting part – applying the color-matched spray paint from the Com-Paint kit! The color match was indeed perfect. I applied approximately four coats of paint, waiting about 10 minutes between each coat. This allows each layer to partially dry and prevents runs.
5. Blending with Solvent Spray
At this stage, I removed the masking tape to expose a larger area of the bumper. This is crucial for the next step – using a solvent spray to blend the new paint with the existing car paint, creating a seamless transition.
6. Skipping Clear Coat and Using Finishing Solvent
Typically, after painting, a clear coat is applied for gloss and protection. However, the Com-Paint kit I used suggested a finishing solvent instead, possibly a combination of clear coat and paint thinner. This solvent felt lighter than traditional clear coats. I applied four or more sweeping coats of the finishing solvent, extending slightly beyond the painted area to ensure proper blending. Unfortunately, I ran slightly short of the solvent, and another coat would have been ideal given the size of the repair area. Remember, with each step from filler to clear coat, the working area tends to expand for optimal blending. This is less pronounced when painting an entire panel.
7. Final Wet Sanding for Smoothness
The final wet sanding step is crucial for achieving a smooth, glossy finish. I used 2000 grit and then 2500 grit sandpaper for this stage. Uniform wet sanding at this stage is key to achieving a high-gloss finish after polishing.
Polishing and Protection: Bringing Back the Shine
The final stages involve polishing to enhance the gloss and applying protection to preserve the newly repaired paint.
1. Polishing for a High-Gloss Finish
After allowing the finishing solvent to dry thoroughly for a couple of days, it was time for polishing. I tested three different polishing compounds: Turtle Wax Finishing Compound, 3M 1-Step Compound, and Com-Paint’s compound. I found that Turtle Wax Finishing Compound provided the quickest and best results. This step requires some elbow grease, but it’s incredibly rewarding as you witness the repaired area transform and regain its shine.
Caution: Avoid using polishing pad attachments on power drills in delicate areas. I learned this the hard way when a polishing pad left harsh scuff marks near the rear lights, which were difficult to remove. Manual polishing is often safer and provides more control, especially for DIY scratch repair.
2. Car Wash and Cleaning
Given that the car had been exposed to dust and intermittent rain over the past four days, a thorough car wash was necessary. I washed and dried the entire car, including the newly painted panels, to remove any polishing residue and prepare it for protection.
3. Paint Protection and Waxing for Longevity
To protect the newly polished paint, I applied Turtle Wax Seal and Shine. Unfortunately, rain interrupted my plans to follow up with a waxing step immediately afterward. Waxing adds an extra layer of protection and enhances the shine further.
Conclusion: Satisfying DIY Car Scratch Repair Results
Overall, I was extremely pleased with the results of my do it yourself scratch repair. With proper planning, the entire process, including drying times, can be completed over a weekend. I started on a Saturday afternoon and dedicated most of Sunday afternoon, along with an hour or so on the following couple of days. If you are considering embarking on a similar DIY car scratch repair journey, I highly recommend watching instructional videos on YouTube and practicing on a small, inconspicuous area before tackling a larger, more visible scratch. With patience and attention to detail, you can achieve professional-looking results and save money by performing your own car scratch repairs at home.
