An Inside Look at How Paintless Scratch Repair Works
As careful as you might be with your car, accidents happen, and you may find yourself needing to repair a scratch nonetheless. Fortunately, there are rather simple ways to fix these scratches. Here is an inside look at how paintless scratch repair works.
Preparation
The first step in repairing a scratch is making sure it is indeed a scratch; sometimes discoloration occurs because paint or other coating materials are left on your car after a collision, which is mistaken for a scratch. If the mark on your car does turn out to be a scratch, the next step is to determine how deep the scratch is. The most severe scratch is one that penetrates through the clear coat, the color, and the primer, making the steel visible. Before treating the scratch, be sure to wash your car so that you avoid adding more scratches during the reparation process.
Sanding and Polishing
Once you have washed your car and let it dry, spray the scratch down with water and sand along the scratched area. Sand the length of the scratch, and avoid going against the grain. As you sand, repeatedly spray the scratched area down with water. Depending on how deep the scratch is, you may need to use two types of sandpaper, one coarser than the other. After you are finished sanding, spread rubbing compound around the scratched and sanded area. Next, use your buffer on low for about 10 seconds, and then at 2000 RPM for one minute. You may have to repeat this step for up to five minutes.
Washing and Waxing
The final steps are the most simple. Wash and towel dry the area, removing any residue that was left behind. Finally, wax the newly treated area. The car wax will help to seal the area, effectively repairing the scratch.
For an even closer look at how paintless scratch repair works, call Michael J’s Body Shop at 408-279-2070. We provide the Bay Area with auto body collision repairs out of our two San Jose locations. If you would like to know more about us, feel free to call us or visit our website. If you live in the area, stop by and see us.
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