Repairing deep scratches on your car can seem daunting and expensive, often leading car owners straight to professional body shops. However, with the right technique and a bit of patience, you can achieve impressive results at home using simple touch-up paint pens. This guide will walk you through a unique DIY method for Auto Deep Scratch Repair, utilizing readily available materials and a bit of unconventional finesse.
To get started, gather these materials: factory-matched touch-up paint pen, clear coat pen (both felt tip applicators), 2000 grit wet sandpaper, paint polishing compound (like Menzerna Power Gloss), a dual-action polisher (such as FLEX 3401), a polishing pad (like Lake Country orange pad), and a playing card.
The process begins with carefully applying the touch-up paint. Work in small sections, about 1-2 inches at a time. Immediately after applying the paint to the scratch, use the edge of a playing card to swipe away the excess paint from the surface, leaving paint only within the scratch and a very thin layer around it. Allow the paint to dry slightly until it’s no longer tacky to the touch.
The scratch before any repair attempt.
Touch-up paint applied to the car scratch.
Now comes the slightly unorthodox, yet effective part of this auto deep scratch repair technique. Using the felt tip of the touch-up paint pen, without releasing more paint, gently work the tip along the scratch in small, circular motions. The key here is that the paint pen tip is almost dry. This action softens the semi-dried paint and effectively pushes it further into the scratch. Repeat this process a few times. You’ll notice the scratch gradually filling up and becoming more level with the surrounding paint.
Paint dried between re-softening passes.
After several layers of paint application and softening, let the area dry thoroughly overnight. Before moving on to wet sanding, gently re-soften the excess paint surrounding the scratch using the dry felt tip again, and carefully wipe it away with a microfiber cloth. Be extremely cautious not to disturb the paint within the scratch itself. This step significantly reduces the amount of sanding needed.
Now, proceed with wet sanding using 2000 grit sandpaper. Follow this with a compounding stage using your dual-action polisher, orange pad, and Power Gloss compound. Power Gloss is effective at removing 2000 grit sanding marks, making it ideal for this auto deep scratch repair. You may need to repeat the touch-up paint application and wet sanding process a few times, especially for deeper scratches.
After wet sanding and compounding, with reapplied paint.
For the final step in this auto deep scratch repair, apply the clear coat using the clear coat pen. A potential issue is that clear coat pens can saturate the tip very easily. To avoid removing the paint you’ve just applied, let the clear coat pen tip dry out slightly before application. Apply the clear coat in thin layers, similar to the touch-up paint, and let it dry completely.
The scratch is almost gone after the repair process.
The results of this auto deep scratch repair method can be quite impressive. While it might be considered an unconventional approach by some, focusing on pushing and softening the paint into the scratch rather than just layering it on top proves to be effective.
Close-up and angled views showing the scratch is nearly invisible after repair.
Final results highlighting the nearly invisible scratch and overall success.
This DIY auto deep scratch repair technique offers a cost-effective way to address those annoying scratches at home. While professional repairs may be necessary for severe damage, this method is worth trying for many common deep scratches, saving you time and money while achieving a respectable finish.
