Perhaps you just got a new car. If so then congratulations to you, but now the hard part is to come. Having a new car means that you should experience comfort and flexibility in everyday appointments.
A new car sometimes comes with its tons of expenses, especially gas, oil, and maintenance. Having a car is a sign of sophistication. It often is considered to be a status symbol.
However, sometimes you have to get rid of car scratches. Otherwise, your beautiful Porsche, Jaguar, or economy car could lose its appeal. Worse yet, it can be rough if your vehicle has dents in it.
The most common kind of car scratches or damages includes the following:
- Vehicle accident scratches-Sometimes a vehicle accident can be just a small side swipe that causes nicks or cuts in your car’s paint job. However, sometimes these scratches are way smaller than even this.
The reason being is that sometimes these marks result just from someone backing into you. The good news is that most of these nicks, scratches, chips, and tiny dents are covered by most care insurance policies.
- Damage by vandalism-Sometimes unscrupulous acts of vandalism is committed, and these cause damage to car paint. Mild to severe scratches could occur on the car paint but also on the metal of the car itself.
A car could be damaged in this way by using any sharp object such as a piece of glass or sharp metal object. It could be just random scratches or an obscene message or even a threat. In any case, it is not the same as a car mark that occurs when one bumper collides with another and leaves paint marks.
- Car marks-This is actually different than a scratch. A car mark is simply the rubbing off of paint from one car to another. You can tell more specifically by using a fingernail at a 90-degree angle to the defect.
If your fingernail digs in you know there is an actual scratch, but if not it is just a mark. You could also run your fingertip across the bumper to feel if there are any bumps or ridges or if the surface is smooth.
As far as getting rid of scratches here are some ideas and tips:
Distinguishing between scratches or marks can really make a difference. It will help you decide what course of action to take when it is time to correct the situation.- If you are just correcting a mark, you can use an aerosol tar or an adhesive remover to take it off. You could also use acetone or a lacquer thinner. Usually just a little bit of solution can get it off.
- One way to deal with a small scratch is to paint over it. The first step would be to wash the area with mild laundry detergent to remove any wax or other residue.
- Once you have removed wax and coatings you can then sand the scratch using as fine of sandpaper as possible. The goal is to sand down the scratched area as smoothly as you can without sanding to the next layer.
- After you sand down a scratched area you can use soft brush to scrub away all the sanding dust. Then, you can use masking tape or paper to isolate the scratch, leaving an inch or two of working room.
- When attempting to touch up a paint job, make sure you match the new paint color with your current one. If you don’t an ugly color spot will stand out from the rest of the car.
- If you are looking for paint to touch up a scratch, copy down your vehicle identification number (VIN) usually on a small metal plate on the driver’s side. Then, go to an auto parts store or online vendor for paint to look for the paint color you want.
- If you want to correct a deep scratch you should apply a body compound to the area before you paint. This compound could be found at an auto specialty shop or other store where detailing supplies are sold.
- When putting on a body compound the knife you use should be made of plastic. This body compound then hardens after which you can lay it flat. After this you should sand it flat.
- Once you have added the body compound and sanded the area, you should then blow away the dust. Then, add a small amount of primer paint and let it dry overnight.
- Minor versus deep scratches usually can be fixed with a rubbing compound and polish. This should be enough to clear away marks and scratches.
- If the scratch is very serious you should allow a professional to take care of it. This will help you be sure your car will be what it once was.
Distinguishing between scratches or marks can really make a difference. It will help you decide what course of action to take when it is time to correct the situation.