Repair of Lightly Scratched Paint

If the scratch is superficial and does not penetrate to the metal of the body panel, paint repair is extremely simple. To remove loose paint particles and wax, lightly rub the damaged area with fine rubbing compound. Rinse the treated surface with clean water.

Using a small brush, fill the scratch with paint of the same type and color as used on the panel. Continue applying paint layer by layer until the bottom of the scratch is level with the surface of the surrounding paint. Allow the paint to cure for at least two weeks, then carefully sand the transition area using fine rubbing compound. Finally, wax the repaired panel.

If the scratch has penetrated the paint and reached the panel metal, causing corrosion, repair must be performed using a different procedure. Using a penknife, scrape powdery rust from the bottom of the scratch, then treat the damaged area with a corrosion inhibitor to prevent corrosion in the future. Using an applicator made of hard rubber or nylon, fill the damaged area with glazing-type filler. If necessary, which is especially useful when filling narrow deep grooves, the filler may be thinned with a special solvent. Before the filler hardens inside the scratch, wrap the tip of a finger in soft cotton cloth, dampen it with solvent, and quickly draw it along the scratch. As a result, the surface should become slightly concave. Now, after the filler has hardened, the treated area can be painted using the procedure described in the first part of this subsection.