HELP!!! Deep Scratch.

[Ryans14ThungstunZ71]

This is my first post and I havent seen any other post about deep scratchs. I live in upstate NY and we had a snow storm come through. I was clearing my drive way and had to move some snow in my truck. I ended up hitting the side of my truck with my snow shovel and it left a pretty good size scratch in the rear passager fender. Scratch is down to the metal 2-3" long. Tried to clean it up with some rubbing compound and polish compound. Can't leave it the way it is. This truck is my baby. Ive heard of people wet sanding but with the scratch being down to the metal I am not sure it would do any good. I was thinking about touch up paint then rubbing compound and polish to blend it in better. I will post pictures as soon as I can.

[RyanbabZ71]

Please post a photo kinda hard to arm chair QB a diagnosis

 

You could use touchup paint but it will never look right unless a bodyshop fixes it (whether it is a repaint or wet sanding), especially if it is down to bare metal.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

Well being that it's your baby and I would be the same way, you wouldn't be happy with any cheap or easy fix since it's all the way down to metal. If it was just the clear coat then it wouldn't be a bad fix. I think you may end up having to get a body shop to do it. Hopefully it wouldn't have to come down to repainting the whole fender.

['01LS1]

You can go down to your local Chevrolet dealer, they should have some AC Delco paint in a pen. Has clear mixed in*I think*. It will not be perfect, but generally will not be noticeable walking by & it will be sealed off from corrosion.

 

There are also guys who airbrush touch up paint for dealers. They generally roll around lot to lot in warmer weather, but given this is January, you may have to ask who is good in your area & go to their shop. Very inexpensive compared to body shop blending an entire panel.

[Daryl LBZ]

This is what's available at the dealer. Matches up pretty good.

 

[Back in a Bowtie]

little wetsanding will help remove the highpoints of the scratch. -->

clean --->

fill with touch up (be careful here not to over do it) -->

wet sand again (this is optional... if you apply the touch up good enough you dont need to do this as the paint is soft enough to be leveled in the next steps) -->

Compound -->

Polish -->

Wax / seal

 

wont be perfect but its a cheap fix if you already have the materials... otherwise the only other option is get the panel re-sprayed and that will be costly.

[pm26]

You need to immediately cover the bare metal to prevent rusting. First apply some primer with a small brush, let dry, then carefully brush on the matching color paint. You can wait a few days with the second step, just cover the bare metal quickly.

[RyanbabZ71]

Waxing the area can also be a temporary quick fix for rust

 

 

Ryan

[TJay74]

I have heard of professional detailers doing it like this. you will need some 2000/2500 grit wet/dry sandpaper, polishing compound(s) and clean microfiber towels.

 

1. Check the edge of the scrape, if it is smooth then move onto next step. If it is rough then take the wet/dry sandpaper and wet the panel down and the paper down and LIGHTLY sand the area of the scratch to smooth it over. You can put some wide masking tape around the area so you don't go to far outside of the work area.

 

2. Using the correct touch up paint you will start to build the scratch back up. This may take 2-4 applications. Allow plenty of time to dry, once dried use the sandpaper again and smooth the high spot back down.

 

3. Now apply some clear coat to the same area, I would go at least 2 passes in this step. Once again allow plenty of time for it to dry. Once dry take the sandpaper and as in the previous step level the area back down.

 

4. Using automotive paint polish you will want to polish the area out. I have one of those Maguire's power balls. I use it on my drill with the polishing compound on a wheel the other day in these same steps to fill in a slight scratch. You have to look for it but it is a lot better than just putting touch up paint in the scratch.

 

This should make it look a lot better and tolerable than just filing the scratch in.

[Ryans14ThungstunZ71]

Poor lighting the weather has been pretty harsh the past few days and just had her cleaned. I did put a layer of wax over the scratch until I can figure out what path to take. Tomorrow I will take some better pictures in the sun light.