Everyone who has a personal car will sooner or later face the problem of scratches on the surface of the body. When the scratches are very deep, or even there are dents on the car, the best solution is to contact a car repair shop, where specialists will qualitatively repair the damage. However, if the scratches are small or there are shallow abrasions, you can remove them yourself, but the question arises: how to cover up scratches on a car? This article discusses several options for the most popular remedies that allow you to eliminate large and small scratches at home.
Body polishing
When there are only abrasions on the car body that affect the varnish layer (if they are wet, they disappear, but when the surface dries, the abrasions appear again), they can be completely eliminated at home on your own, this does not require large financial investments. They make special wax pastes for polishing; by the way, many car washes offer a polishing service quite inexpensively; such a wax paste is applied and rubbed over the surface of the car body, as a result of which small scratches completely disappear for a while.
Thanks to the application of wax and polishing of the body, abrasions disappear, but this procedure will have to be repeated from time to time. This polishing should not be confused with professional polishing, which completely removes the top paint coating, resulting in all scuffs and scratches being completely eliminated. Such polishing is quite expensive, but it does not need to be repeated in the future.
Options for eliminating shallow and severe damage
Car body defects can be removed in different ways, many of them are used in service centers. These include:
- polishing;
- restoration of paintwork;
- use of special tools.
The listed methods of body treatment can eliminate almost any type of damage.
To polish and grout the body, various power tools are used - drills with attachments, screwdrivers and grinders. However, they are used only as a last resort, when it is necessary to deal with obvious corrosion and rust.
Not every car enthusiast can afford to purchase such a tool, so other options for polishing tools can be used, even manual polishing
To eliminate damage to the body, accessories are also used - rough rags, brushes, soft rags. All protective equipment is divided into several types:
- regular or non-abrasive polish;
- special paint;
- colored wax and pencils;
- colorless varnish.
Pencils for covering scratches
To eliminate scratches on the car body, special pencils are produced; they allow you to cover the damaged area on the car body very quickly and easily without any effort. It is important to remember that such pencils make it possible to cover up only those scratches that affect the top paintwork. This pencil contains a gel-like composition inside, which fills the damaged area through the rod. To do this, you need to press the pencil several times and move it along the car body.
Before covering a scratch or abrasion, be sure to degrease the damaged area so that the gel-like substance adheres to the surface as firmly as possible. Such pencils do not save you for long, because after a certain time the substance evaporates and is erased from the car body, so you will have to periodically treat the damaged car again and again. If you do the math, painting a car will cost the same as buying a few pencils.
Advantages of removing scratches without painting at the “No Defects” Auto Service
We will not repaint the part if we can get by with polishing.
Repairs and removal of scratches without painting in our service are performed by experienced craftsmen with many years of experience.
We use high-quality materials whose shine will not fade over time.
The minimum repair time, on average, repairing scratches takes 30 minutes. up to 2 hours. We use only proven repair methods.
Affordable prices for all types of damage removal from the car body.
Individual, friendly approach to each client of our center.
Contact our technical center and there will be no trace of scratches, chips, or dents, we guarantee that!
Important! All work performed by us is given a written guarantee for a period of 365 days.
Wax pencil
This type of pencil has been used for quite a long time; it makes it very easy and quick to cover up a scratch or scuff on the surface of a car. Wax pencils are significantly cheaper compared to the previous version of pencils, but their service life is almost the same. When purchasing a wax pencil, it is important to consider the color of the car. For a black car or any shade, you will definitely need to specifically select the shade of the pencil.
Wax pencils allow you to cover up very small abrasions and scratches, and after application the substance will briefly mask the damaged area, and after the first wash of the car, the abrasions will become visible again, however, given the very low cost of wax pencils, the operation of restoring the paintwork can be repeated many times quite inexpensively.
Contacting specialists
Auto repair shops engaged in the restoration of scratches include various types of damage as deep defects, ranging from damage to the car with a sharp object and ending with abrasions caused by light touches.
The undoubted advantage of turning to specialists is high-quality restoration of the damaged area. They offer two options:
- local coloring - the cost of the service starts from 2000 rubles;
- complete painting of the damaged element - the price of the work is about 7,000 rubles.
For numerous deep defects, the latter option is preferable, as it gives 100% results. If, in addition to removing the scratch, you need to straighten the part, then the price increases by 3,000 - 5,000 rubles.
Bottles with brushes
Such products make it very easy to cover up a scratch yourself, and containers with brushes are suitable for removing serious damage, even when the paintwork is damaged to the metal. These products consist of special substances, one of which is fiberglass, which helps eliminate scratches; in addition, bottles with brushes are very easy and simple to use. Another advantage is the easy selection of shades from a color catalog.
This product contains special fiberglass components that replace the primer, so the substance is applied very easily and simply. It is important to remember that after a few years the shade of the car changes slightly, so the original color may not match the car catalogue. The negative aspects of the paint in the bottle include the following:
- the brush is thin enough, so when filling scratches with paint, it allows you to cover only narrow damage;
- The product is disposable and dries very quickly after opening the bottle.
Before covering the damage, it is important to thoroughly degrease the surface.
Rating of the best anti-scratch products
CategoryPlaceNameRatingPrice
| The best anti-scratch pastes | 1 | Liqui Moly Kratzer Stop | 9.8 / 10 | 550 |
| 2 | Turtle Wax Anti-scratch | 9.6 / 10 | 240 | |
| 3 | ASTROhim Anti-scratch | 9.5 / 10 | 130 | |
| 4 | Sonax 320100 | 9.3 / 10 | 250 | |
| 5 | Scratch remover RUNWAY | 8.5 / 10 | 150 | |
| The best anti-scratch pencils | 1 | Wax corrector LUX COLOR | 8.5 / 10 | 90 |
| 2 | Fix It Pro | 2.0 / 10 | 1 000 |
Aerosol cans
In car stores you can find small cans of paint; they are very similar to samples. These products allow you to quickly and easily remove scratches on your car body. Among their advantages is the ability to select a shade from a car catalogue, but a problem may arise when the original color of the car changes after a few years. In this case, you will have to select a shade using computer programs. To properly paint over a scratch on a car body, you will need a spray gun and a compressor.
In order for abrasions to become invisible, certain skills and experience are required; in this matter, it is important to strictly follow the instructions for using this composition. The dye is applied from such aerosol cans in a warm and clean room, the temperature should be at least 15 degrees. If the composition is sprayed outside, it should be in calm, sunny weather; it is best to do this in the summer.
When removing scratches is carried out in a closed box, it is imperative to use personal protective equipment - rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator; they will also not interfere outdoors. Clothes must be tight and must cover all areas of the body.
Acetone
Surface preparation: wash thoroughly (preferably with a brush), dry and wipe. Remaining moisture will slow down the effect of acetone on the paint.
To eliminate damage, take a clean white cloth and moisten it with acetone. If you don’t have a clean one, any liquid based on it will do (for example, nail polish remover).
Rub the cloth over the damaged area until the scratches disappear. The action of acetone in this case is based on the same effect of softening the paint.
You need to take a white fabric, since under the influence of acetone, the fabric paints can stain the car.
How to properly remove scratches
To cover up scratches using a pencil, spray can or bottle with a brush, it is important to adhere to the following sequence of actions:
- the damaged area is cleaned with fine sandpaper, thereby eliminating corrosion, rust and dirt;
- scratches are degreased using anti-silicone, and dust is removed with a lint-free cloth. After treating with a dampened cloth, the surface of the car should dry for 10-15 minutes;
- If the scratches on the surface of the car are very deep, in order to cover them you will need to use a special automotive putty, which is applied to the cleaned surface. Puttying is carried out using a spatula, the composition is applied in a thin layer, it usually dries within half an hour, after which it is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. If necessary, the putty is reapplied, the main thing is that the surface becomes perfectly flat and smooth;
- After the putty has dried, a small layer of primer is applied; it is important to apply the primer in such a way that it does not come into contact with the old paint layer. Typically the soil takes 30-60 minutes to dry;
- the surface is degreased;
- The dye is applied from a bottle or spray can as the first layer. It is important to ensure that the composition is applied in a thin, uniform layer without drips. After application, the paint must dry completely; the drying time will be indicated on the label or in the instructions;
- when the first layer has dried, you can begin painting the second layer, which is applied in the same way as the first coating;
- if the car is painted metallic or pearlescent, after covering the scratches, you need to apply a thin layer of varnish, it usually dries within half an hour, it is better to let it dry for a couple of hours;
- After covering up abrasions and scratches, the restored area is polished with a wax compound; it is best to rub it with a special polishing machine. It is recommended to seek help from a car repair shop or car wash, where specialists will inexpensively polish the surface of the car body so that it does not rust.
So, there are several options for how to cover up scratches on a car; this can be done with a special pencil, wax polish, a bottle with a brush, or using an aerosol can. If you follow the manufacturer's instructions, the restored area will look attractive for a long period of time.
Is it possible to cope with improvised means?
You can try to get rid of scratches using improvised means. Sometimes they turn out to be effective. It’s better to at least temporarily repair the defect than to drive with exposed metal.
Means that can be used to restore a defect:
- WD-40,
- toothpaste,
- brake fluid,
- coloring pencil.
VD-40 grease is used as follows:
WD-40 is a first aid solution that can help get rid of scratches for a short period of time.
The area needs to be treated, wiped dry, and the edges cleaned with sandpaper with the finest abrasive.- Apply WD-40 to a soft cloth and move it over the scratch in a circular motion. The product will soften the paint and clog the damaged surface with it.
- Remaining lubricant is removed with a dry cloth.
You need to wear gloves to avoid damaging the skin of your hands.
VD-40 allows you to quickly get rid of scratches, but the effect of its use is short-lived, so you cannot do without high-quality restoration. Instead of WD-40, you can use toothpaste :
- purchase a toothpaste with a whitening effect;
- degrease the surface of the car with a scratch;
- apply the paste to a soft cloth and polish the body with it;
- Leave the product for 15 minutes, remove any remaining residue with a paper napkin, and rub the car until it shines.
If the desired result was not achieved the first time, the procedure is repeated. In this way you can get rid of massive scratches that did not reach the metal.
Brake fluid helps to quickly mask the defect. Its action is that it washes away the paint from the undamaged area and fills the scratch with it. It is recommended to resort to this method when a major restoration of a part is planned in the future.
Mode of application:
- Wash the car so that there is no dust left on it. Allow the surface to dry.
- Apply brake fluid to a clean cloth and buff the scratch with it.
- After 10 minutes, evaluate the result. If it is satisfactory, the car is rinsed with water.
Only white cloth can be used to treat a car. If the rag is colored, the pigment from it may get into the scratch, which will only worsen the situation.
Colored grout pencils are sold in auto stores. Their average cost is 250 rubles. If the desired color is not available, you can order it in the online market. By choosing the right tone, you will be able to effectively camouflage the scratch.
Mode of application:
wash the car, degrease the treated area with white spirit;- wait for the surface to dry completely;
- if there is dirt left inside the scratch or there are irregularities, it should be carefully cleaned with fine-grained sandpaper;
- fill the damage with a coloring composition using a pencil;
- when the paint has set, the surface of the car is polished with wax;
- Remove any remaining product with a soft cloth.
All of these methods allow you to get rid of deep scratches for a while, but then they will appear again. Therefore, it will not be possible to do without sanding, painting and polishing.
Applying varnish
Next, you will need a colorless acrylic varnish, for example, you can take Novol HS 2+1, which comes complete with hardener H5120, or use some other one. Take a new medical syringe and also sharpen the tip, cutting off the edge at an angle. Take the prepared varnish mixture and carefully apply it to the scratch in one layer. Carefully check how the varnish has adhered to see if there is any boiling. If there are gaps, we eliminate them. Now leave until the varnish dries. The drying time is indicated by the manufacturer on the can or can, but it is better to wait a little longer.
Applying paint
At the next stage, the scratch is tinted. You will need a little paint, and you can buy it in bulk. Computer selection of shade is not necessary; there will, of course, be a slight difference in tone, but not critical. It is convenient to use a medical syringe to fill the scratch with paint. Its tip is cut at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Paint is drawn into the syringe and squeezed out, moving along the scratch. At the same time, make sure that the paint lies in a continuous stripe, without gaps.
For a deep chip, one layer of paint, even a thick one, will not be enough, since it sags after drying, and the primer can then show through. Therefore, the second layer is also carefully, without skipping, applied using a syringe.
Practical advice from Novate.ru:
The vehicle color code can be found in the service book or on the manufacturer's label. Depending on the make of the car, stickers may be located under the hood, in the trunk, on the front doors and other places. The color can also be determined by the VIN code by entering it into the search on the manufacturer’s website.
