How to Remove Deep Scratches from Your Car?

Have you ever walked up to your car and noticed long, ugly scratches mars its paint? You wince at the eyesore and rack your brain trying to figure out what could have caused such abrasions. A rogue tree branch? Runaway shopping cart? Mysterious vandals? Regardless of the culprit, you want those bothersome scratches gone asap. But can deep scratches actually be removed from automotive paint?
The answer is a resounding yes! With the proper tools and techniques, you can make those frustrating scratches disappear and restore your car’s exterior to its original gleaming glory. This straightforward guide will walk you through the complete process step-by-step.
We’ll cover:
- What commonly causes deep paint scratches
- Assessing the depth of the damage
- Smoothing out scratches with wet sanding and compound
- Applying touch up paint to deal with any remnants
- Waxing and sealing to protect the repaired paint
Arm yourself with a buffer, some elbow grease, and a can of touch up paint, and you’ll be amazed how effortlessly you can fix paint scratches. Cruising down the road in your restored ride will give you a satisfying sense of DIY accomplishment.
Table of Contents
How Do Deep Scratches Happen in the First Place?
Before we get to the nitty gritty of repair procedures, let’s review what typically causes deep scratches to appear on your car’s exterior in the first place. Some common culprits include:
- Gravel, rocks, or debris on the road – If your car gets pelted with small stones kicked up by the tires of the car in front of you, they can leave behind nasty scratches, especially if the car’s paint isn’t well protected.
- Brushing up against foliage – Stray tree branches, bushes, or shrubbery can scrape against your car’s sides as you maneuver out of parking spots or drive down narrow lanes. Leaves deep marks.
- Other vehicles – Tight parking lots increase the chances of opening doors banging into neighboring cars, causing scratches and paint transfer. Shopping carts can also ding paint if people aren’t careful.
- Vandalism – While not the most common occurrence, jealous exes, random troublemakers, and disgruntled people have been known to intentionally key or scratch parked vehicles. Very aggravating!
- Automatic car washes – Some older or poorly maintained mechanical auto washes have stiff brushes that can be abrasive to paint surfaces, leaving thin scratches.
The point is, there are many ways deep paint scratches happen, and chances are every car will experience them at some point or another. The question then becomes…is there a way to make them disappear without taking a trip to the body shop?
Yes, You Can Remove Deep Scratches Yourself!
In most cases, yes – you can eliminate those annoying eyesores at home if you follow the proper process. The techniques work especially well for vertical scratches on flat panels, but horizontal scratches can also be minimized.
Here is an overview of what’s involved:
- Using increasingly finer grit sandpaper to gradually smooth away the deepness of the groove – starting with a heavy compound and moving to light polishing
- Employing a power buffer if needed to vibrate the sandpaper for faster blending
- Applying touch up paint to any remnants of the scratches for full coverage
- Protecting the repaired area with wax, sealant, or a ceramic coating
It takes some time and elbow grease, but thousands of car owners have used these techniques to erase unsightly scratches. Best part – the supplies only cost around $100 or less – much cheaper than taking it to a professional detail shop.
Ready to banish those bothersome scratches for good? Let’s get started with the step-by-step instructions.
Gather the Proper Scratch Removal Supplies
Before you begin the repair process, you’ll need to gather the proper tools and materials. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Buffer or Polisher – A power buffer allows you to apply compound and polish with the right amount of pressure to smooth away imperfections. For deep scratches, you’ll need the extra vibration and rotation speed a buffer provides vs doing it by hand
- Scratch compound – This is essentially a fine grit abrasive polish designed to wear away imperfections in clear coat. Use a compound specifically made for wet sanding for best results.
- Wet sandpaper – Start with 1500 grit then follow up with 2000 grit for ultra smooth results. The water prevents creating new scratches.
- Masking tape – To tape off any adjacent panels you don’t want to risk damaging during the process.
- Touch up paint – Kits comes with small bottles of paint matched to your car’s code. Use sparingly to fill in scratches as the last step.
- Microfiber towels – For removing compound residue and buffing out paint after applying. Also needs for drying panel.
- Paint depth gauge – Allows you to see if the scratch goes through the clearcoat layer before you begin.
While it looks involved, these items can be easily sourced online or locally for an affordable DIY scratch repair kit. With the right supplies on hand, you’re ready to break out the buffer!
Step 1: Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Scratched Area
Before doing any sanding or compound work, start by washing the scratched area to remove any dirt, debris or wax build up. Scratches should be cleaned so you can see their full depth. Use a quality car wash soap and water, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely with microfiber towels.
Step 2: Evaluate the Severity of the Scratches
Here is a key initial step – use a paint depth gauge to determine if the scratches penetrate down to the basecoat layer or just the clearcoat. If it’s deep enough to have gone through and removed clearcoat, the process will require extra care. You’ll want to focus on minimzing their appearance vs fully eliminating them.
Run the depth gauge over the area and see if bare metal shows. If not, you should be able to sand and polish the scratches out fully as long as you take it slow.
Step 3: Try Compounding First Before Sanding
After testing scratch depth, start by using a compound and buffer to try improving the area before sanding. Apply a small amount of rubbing compound to a foam buffing pad and run the buffer over the scratches on a slow speed. Applying downward pressure, work in straight lines to flatten away the upper layer of clearcoat.
Check if the compound alone is enough diminish the look of minor scratches. If the scratches remain visible, you’ll need to move on to sanding.
Step 4: Lightly Wet Sand the Scratched Area
If compound isn’t enough, you’ll need to smooth away the groove of the scratch with wet sandpaper. Here are the steps:
- Apply masking tape around the scratched area to protect surrounding paint
- Fill spray bottle with water and wet the area thoroughly
- Start with 800 – 1500 grit wet/dry automotive sandpaper
- Gently sand in straight lines following the scratch grooves
- Apply frequent water to lubricate and pick up removed paint
- Sand until the deepest portion is diminished then wipe away slurry
Step 5: Reduce Scratch Appearance with Finer Grit Sandpaper
After going over the area with medium grit sandpaper, repeat the process with finer 2000-3000 grit paper. This will gradually minimize and blend away any remaining upper edges of the scratch grooves:
- Keep area wet while sanding with finer paper
- Use straight motions and light pressure
- Frequently wipe away paint dust with microfiber towel
- Go over area until satisfied with smoothness
The goal is to feather out the scratches while removing as little clearcoat as possible. Take your time and continually clean and inspect the area while wet sanding.
Step 6: Use Compound on a Buffer to Restore Shine
After sanding, the area will look dull and matte. Use a buffing pad on a buffer along with rubbing compound to restore gloss and blend everything together:
- Spread compound over sanded area
- Use buffer to work compound with against-the-grain motions
- Remove and inspect results – repeat if needed
- Use lighter polishing compound for final buff out
The buffer will vibrate over the surface to remove any fine sanding marks and swirls. Done properly, the paint will be glassy smooth!
Step 7: Apply Touch Up Paint to Any Remaining Scratches
Examine closely – if any remnant of the scratch is still visible after compounding, you can apply touch up paint to fill it and achieve full coverage:
- Dab paint into deepest part of scratch groove using applicator
- Allow paint to dry fully per manufacturer instructions
- Buff area gently with polish pad to level touch up paint
This will make the repair virtually invisible by hiding the last signs of damage.
Step 8: Wax or Seal the Area for Protection
As the final step, apply wax or paint sealant to the repaired area to protect the finish and prevent new scratches. Regular waxing is the best defense against swirls and damage!
Maintain Your Paint to Prevent Deep Scratches
Now that you know how to remove scratches yourself, here are some tips to avoid new ones from forming:
- Wash your car weekly and apply wax for protection
- Install paint protection film on the front end if driving often on gravel roads
- Be aware of low trees, branches, and shrubs that could scrape your car
- Park away from other cars whose doors could ding you
- Avoid drive-through automatic car washes with stiff brushes
A well maintained paint job will stay looking great for a long time. Quickly fix any light scratches with touch up paint before they get worse.
Conclusion
In summary, deep scratches and blemishes in automotive paint can make your car look unsightly and weathered. But with some basic supplies and DIY techniques, you can smooth them away and restore your paint’s shine.
Carefully sanding the area before compounding and buffing will make those frustrating scratches virtually disappear. Apply touch up paint to any small remnants for full coverage.
With a little time and effort, you can fix paint damage, impress your friends, and cruise with pride in a car that looks great. Those aggravating scratches don’t stand a chance against your buffing skills!