Mystery scratch in paint #$%$#&*
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: So Cal
Mystery scratch in paint #$%$#&*
So I just noticed a 4 inch scratch in my fender. WTF. I cover my car in the garage and never park it anywhere. Only take her for joy rides.
Only thing I can think of is it was recently in the shop for two days and one night for a new oil sender, oil change and to install the missing vent/cover to the Alternator. It was parked inside the whole time. I didn't notice the scratch until a week later, but that's because I picked up the car, parked it and didn't drive it for a week.
I don't think I can say anything to the shop, as I should have done a walk around when I picked it up. They only do Porsche's and I felt like they know how to be careful. No way to know if it was them or not. Besides they are the only well respected, decent priced, place near by. So I don't want to burn that bridge.
So my question is, is there any way to fix a scratch these days without having to paint the entire fender? I really don't want to do that. They have paintless dent removal, what about scratch repair?
Only thing I can think of is it was recently in the shop for two days and one night for a new oil sender, oil change and to install the missing vent/cover to the Alternator. It was parked inside the whole time. I didn't notice the scratch until a week later, but that's because I picked up the car, parked it and didn't drive it for a week.
I don't think I can say anything to the shop, as I should have done a walk around when I picked it up. They only do Porsche's and I felt like they know how to be careful. No way to know if it was them or not. Besides they are the only well respected, decent priced, place near by. So I don't want to burn that bridge.
So my question is, is there any way to fix a scratch these days without having to paint the entire fender? I really don't want to do that. They have paintless dent removal, what about scratch repair?
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,391
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From: So Cal
Thanks. I'll post a picture soon. Lesson learned. I know better too. I always do a walk around. I was in a rush that day. Figures the one time I don't do a walk around is when a scratch pops up. Really pisses me off. The car goes 31 years without a scratch and now it's got one in a conspicuous place, right on the top of the fender near the hood. Argh. Good point about the cover. I'll check that too.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: New York
Pretty hard to say w/o seeing it, and you don't describe the scratch, like is it into the primer??? Many surface scratches can be buffed out, hence "that'll buff right out." The product "Dr. Colorchip" works well on stone chips. I think it might be what you should try. When I bought, it was $40 for a tiny jar, IIRC, but certainly better than painting the whole fender.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,391
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From: So Cal
The scratch is not to the metal but well into the paint. You can feel it with your finger nail. It's say half way into the paint but not to the primer. Straight scratch and fairly wide. Not a hair but more like a key scratch. I'll post a picture ASAP. I've tried those paint pen scratch fillers on a lease return and it worked kinda OK on a door. Just this one is on a top surface in plain sight. Just an awful place for a scratch.
Craic Head
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From: Jersey Shore, USA
There was a thread on here a few years ago where someone described a technique involving touch up paint and a razor blade burnished to act like a scraper.
You find the matching paint color you need, then carefully paint the scratch and then use the razor blade burnished so it acts like a scraper (I think he used sandpaper or something to get the 'edge' right). You need a steady hand and lots of patience but he showed some pics and it came out great.
Check out post #6 in this thread, I think this is where I learned it.
You find the matching paint color you need, then carefully paint the scratch and then use the razor blade burnished so it acts like a scraper (I think he used sandpaper or something to get the 'edge' right). You need a steady hand and lots of patience but he showed some pics and it came out great.
Check out post #6 in this thread, I think this is where I learned it.
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Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: So Cal
Great tip, thanks. I'll practice on my wife's car. She has a scratch in her door. Wonder if there are any professional places that offer this service? If not, there should be. No where do I find petrol Blue Metallic touch up paint? Big 3?
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Michael S. Palmer
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From: Fresno, CA (summer in Calgary)
Well around here, competent body shops will happily charge you for a nice little bottle of custom touch-up paint, although the quality of the match may be a little off. I have fixed one or two scratches in my 944 this way, with pretty decent results. The procedure involves using a "Turtle Wax Scratch remover" kit with the touch-up paint.
1: Buff area well using a paint cleaning compound
2: Apply touch up paint to scratch. Let dry. Apply more coats if there is a big dip still.
3: When dry, sand *carefully* using a wet 2500-grit paper. This should remove all touch-up paint not inside the walls of the scratch itself.
4: (optional) apply clearcoat using "pen" or thin brush over top of scratch
5: Wet sand using 3500-grit paper to level.
6: Buff vigorously with paint cleaner, polishing compound, or "clarifying" compound to remove haze from sanding.
And yes, if you bring touch-up paint, most expensive detail shops know how to do this better than I do.
The result will never be perfect. If you examine the paint up close at a low angle you will see the remnant of the scratch and paint damage from the sanding. But I find that from most angles of light my scratches can no longer be seen, and when they can be seen they are much less annoying than the big white line that was there before I did the removal process.
As they say,
Try in an inconspicuous location, or on wife's car.
1: Buff area well using a paint cleaning compound
2: Apply touch up paint to scratch. Let dry. Apply more coats if there is a big dip still.
3: When dry, sand *carefully* using a wet 2500-grit paper. This should remove all touch-up paint not inside the walls of the scratch itself.
4: (optional) apply clearcoat using "pen" or thin brush over top of scratch
5: Wet sand using 3500-grit paper to level.
6: Buff vigorously with paint cleaner, polishing compound, or "clarifying" compound to remove haze from sanding.
And yes, if you bring touch-up paint, most expensive detail shops know how to do this better than I do.
The result will never be perfect. If you examine the paint up close at a low angle you will see the remnant of the scratch and paint damage from the sanding. But I find that from most angles of light my scratches can no longer be seen, and when they can be seen they are much less annoying than the big white line that was there before I did the removal process.
As they say,
Try in an inconspicuous location, or on wife's car.
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From: Temecula, CA
Post a picture.
I've successfully touched up a few scratches which most people can't see unless I point it out with a flash light. I might be able to give you suggestions based upon the pictures.
Metallics are definitely more difficult and it may take a few tries so you'll need to be patient.
I've successfully touched up a few scratches which most people can't see unless I point it out with a flash light. I might be able to give you suggestions based upon the pictures.
Metallics are definitely more difficult and it may take a few tries so you'll need to be patient.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
GREAT contact. Spoke to him today. Thanks you!!!
He's not even that far away either. About a half hour. Even going to talk to him about "restoring" both Driver and Pass seat bottoms. (The leather is fine - just got that OB deflated seat cushion thing going on. Seems he's the right guy for the job and I've been looking for a year now.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 4
From: So Cal
Post a picture.
I've successfully touched up a few scratches which most people can't see unless I point it out with a flash light. I might be able to give you suggestions based upon the pictures.
Metallics are definitely more difficult and it may take a few tries so you'll need to be patient.
I've successfully touched up a few scratches which most people can't see unless I point it out with a flash light. I might be able to give you suggestions based upon the pictures.
Metallics are definitely more difficult and it may take a few tries so you'll need to be patient.
Thanks....I'll post a picture this weekend.
