How to remove scratches on a car with your own hands

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Stop pulling your hair out with every scratch. Almost all cosmetic blemishes are easy to correct and inexpensive.

Scratches on the car are inevitable. Through your fault or not, sooner or later they will appear. And although such damage, as they say, does not affect speed, every car owner wants to get rid of them at any cost. Especially if the car is new or recently purchased.

Here are the main types of scratches and proven ways to deal with them.

1. How to remove minor scratches on the varnish

We are talking about small thin scratches, visible only at a certain angle and not at all visible on a wet car. These scratches only affect the top layer of the paintwork. And it's easiest to remove them.

Wax polish

You will need a wax polish that is applied after washing. A thin layer of wax will create a protective coating and fill in scratches. The method is good because it does not require special equipment and skills. But, as you might guess, such protection is enough for a short time. After a while, the coating will have to be reapplied.

Polishing machine + abrasive paste

A more effective method of removing scratches is considered to be polishing with a special machine and fine abrasive paste. This will help you to deal with almost any scratches that have touched the varnish, but did not reach the paint.

Usually, the polishing is done by specialists. If you decide to act on your own, you will need:

• polishing machine;
• fine abrasive paste;
• sandpaper P2000;
• spray bottle with water;
• napkins.

Immediately before the procedure, wash the car well with car shampoo and dry it. Place the car in a shade or garage so that the body does not heat up in the sun, and scratches and the result of the work are clearly visible.

Treat the damaged area with a sandpaper moistened with water and wipe dry.

Apply some paste to the circle and buff the scratch, gradually increasing the speed. Try not to stay in one place for a long time, so as not to overheat the varnish.

Continue polishing by alternating left-right and up-and-down strokes. Treat not only the scratch, but also the area around it. Rinse the polishing area often with water and clean the wheel from plaque.

Polish until the scratch is completely gone.

2. How to remove scratches on paint

If not only the varnish is damaged, ordinary polishing is indispensable. In this case, the damage can be painted over with a restoration pencil, matched to the color of the car.

In appearance and the number of shades, such pencils resemble nail polishes. But they are made from quick-hardening acrylic resins that perfectly fill scratches.

Thoroughly clean and degrease the damaged area before painting over the scratch. Then carefully paint over it with a brush on the pencil bottle.

Let the paint dry for 15-20 minutes. Full polymerization occurs after about a week, so it is better not to wash the car during this time.

3. How to remove deep scratches and chips

Paint will also help here. But, unlike the previous method, you first have to treat the surface with primer, and after applying paint, varnish and polish.

As a rule, the funds necessary for the restoration of scratches and chips that have reached the metal are sold as a set. This is all the same acrylic paint, anti-corrosion and ordinary primers, as well as a degreaser and transparent varnish.

Wash and dry the car. If there is rust on a chip or scratch, remove it with a fine sandpaper. Degrease the surface of the metal and seal the edges of the damage with masking tape.

Treat the surface with anti-corrosion primer and let it dry.

Then apply a coat of regular primer to level the surface and prepare the base for the paint.

Apply the first coat of paint. Then, after waiting for it to dry completely, apply a second one.

After the paint has dried, cover the surface with clear varnish.

4. How to remove scratches on plastic

The interior of the car also suffers from scratches. Sills, door cards and other plastic parts of the interior are covered with abrasions.

Plastic restorers

You can again make the trim neat with the help of plastic restorers.

These products are sold in the form of aerosols, sprays, and milk. They have good penetration properties and are designed to fill in scratches. In addition, the composition of the restorers includes a polish that returns the surface to its former freshness.

Instructions for use are on the packaging with the product. As a rule, restorative compounds are applied to dry and cleaned parts and left to dry for a few minutes. After that, using a clean microfiber cloth, the surface is well polished by hand.

Hair dryer or lighter

A simpler and more budgetary way of dealing with scratches on plastic is heating with a building hairdryer, in extreme cases, with a lighter. Under the influence of temperature, the damage literally heals. This life hack will help to completely remove small scratches and make deep ones less noticeable.

To eliminate scratches in this way, you need to very carefully heat the damaged surface, not staying in one place for a long time. If there are a lot of scratches, take breaks so as not to melt the part and not burn the upholstery parts adjacent to the plastic.

5. How to remove scratches on glass

One of the most annoying types of scratches. Abrasions and cobwebs on the glass not only spoil the appearance, but also impair the view, creating glare and glare. You can eliminate them by polishing in a specialized service.

However, you can do it yourself.

In this way, small scratches and scuffs from the wiper blades are perfectly removed. Deep scratches that are clinging to the nail will not completely go away, but will be smoothed out and become smaller. For polishing, you need a special kit, which usually includes a nozzle, circles and paste with.

Wash the glass and wipe dry. Mark the scratches with a marker from the inside to control the treatment area.

Place the bit on the drill and apply some paste to the circle. At medium speed and without too much pressure, polish the scratches in small patches.

Take frequent breaks to avoid overheating the glass. Moisten it with water and wipe dry again.

Continue polishing for 30 minutes to 1 hour until the result is acceptable.

6. How to remove scratches on headlights

Optics scratches are removed according to the same principle as on glass. You can try to remove common cloudiness with toothpaste, but it is still better to use special polishing kits, which include everything you need for the procedure.

The sequence of actions, as a rule, is indicated in the instructions. Usually you need to do the following:

Wash the headlights and wipe dry. Cover the adjoining areas of the hood, bumper and fender with masking tape.

Sand the glass with a sandpaper dipped in water. Then apply coarse polish to the wheel and polish the glass at medium speed.

Rinse off the abrasive and polish the surface with a fine-grained paste.

Clean the glass and wipe dry, then gently apply one coat of UV varnish.

Leave the car in the sun for a couple of hours to harden the varnish. Full polymerization takes place within 24 hours - during this time the car must not be washed.