Hello, everyone! Chris Fix here. Today, I will show you how to remove scratches from your car’s paint.
There are different types of scratches, and in this video, we will focus on repairing the most common one, the clear coat scratch.
There are many ways that can cause clear coat scratches, just like someone walking by and rubbing against your car, a zipper, or something grabbing the paint.
Maybe someone cleaned your car, or you cleaned it, and accidentally had some gravel or something here and rubbed a small scratch in the paint.
The other day, my friend told me their dog jumped on the side of their car because they were so excited to see them, and left two scratches on their door.
So, we all know there are plenty of ways to get scratches on your car. I will explain how to remove scratches, so you can go from this to this!
Using 5 simple steps you can do at home.
Step one is to wash the area with soap and water and a towel.
Step two is to highlight the area to know where the scratch is.
Step three is to sand the scratch with 3000 grit sandpaper, then 5000 grit sandpaper.
Step four is to use the polish.
And finally, the last step is to wax it.
And the best part is that all of this can be done at home, and will only cost you a few dollars.
As always, all the products I use will be linked in the description.
If you are having trouble finding 3000 and 5000 grit sandpaper, just check the description for the link.
Before we start, let me explain what to do when removing a scratch.
The paint on your car has three main layers.
The first layer is the primer that goes over the bare metal of the car.
The second layer is the base coat that gives your car its color.
And the third layer, the clear coat, is the thickest paint layer.
In one to two mills (millimeters), which is about one to two thousandths of an inch.
To give you an idea, this is about the thickness of a Zip-Lock bag or a garage bag.
And the final layer is not a paint layer, but I wanted to include it because it is important.
A protective layer called “wax layer” that helps fill in small imperfections.
It also helps protect against light scratches and water marks.
Now, the reason you see a scratch in the clear coat is that when light hits the zero, it stands out.
On scratch-free paint, when light hits the paint, it reflects back in a consistent pattern.
But when there is a scratch, the light reflects differently and catches your eye.
So, what we will do is to buff out these scratches so the light doesn’t catch them anymore.
So, you go from this to this, or from this to this.
Or from this to this.
Since this process works on clear coat scratches, how do you know if your scratch is a clear coat scratch?
Well, it’s actually very simple. One of the easiest ways is to get some water and soap and spray it.
If it disappears with water and soap, then it’s a clear coat scratch.
Once it dries, it will come back like that.
This happens because the scratch fills with water and the reflection matches the rest of the paint.
Now with what I’m showing you in this video, you can’t use it to fix deep scratches.
Like this. Here.
You can see, unlike clear coat scratches, when you get this wet, it doesn’t disappear.
So, we know this is definitely a deep scratch in the clear coat.
In addition, if you look closely.
You can actually see the gray primer underneath.
This scratch is the depth that you need to fill with paint and add your own clear coat on top, but that’s for another video.
So, this method won’t work on deep scratches like this.
But that’s okay because with this car, we have a lot of scratches all over the body that we can fix. Like this one.
We have this one here.
We have another one in the front here.
And now that you know all about scratches, I will explain the five simple steps on how to remove a scratch.
And show how successful this process is and how confident I am in this repair.
I will create my own scratch so if you have a weak stomach, I suggest you look away.
And this scratch is very deep. It’s like a worst-case scenario even though we can get this you can get scratches on your car.
So, let’s get started.
Okay, step one. We want to get our water and soap and clean towel.
If your microfiber towel still has a tag on it, make sure the tag has been removed.
Since this tag can scratch the paint, and we’re trying to remove scratches and not create scratches.
Now we want to clean the area we’re working on with water and soap to remove all dirt and debris.
So, we’re not rubbing this dirt into the paint and causing more scratches.
And this is also the perfect time to check if your scratch disappears to see if it’s a clear coat scratch.
In this case, we’re good.
Next, we want to mask off our scratch.
Place the tape about half an inch on each side because it will be hard to see the scratches once you start sanding.
And now I’m copying the ends of the tape so that the end of the scratch is at the end of the tape on this side and on this side.
Now we know exactly where the zero was.
So, we have a nice area to work on.
One thing to note is that we will be moving the tape up and down to create more space for each step.
So, we’ll be feathering in all of our work so the paint blends nicely and smoothly.
So, there won’t be a strong tape line here or anything.
It will blend nicely and you’ll see what I’m talking about in a second.
And the next step is to sand down the scratch.
If the scratch is deep and catches your fingernail, then you need to start with 3000 grit sandpaper.
But if the scratch is not deep and doesn’t really catch your fingernail, you can skip right to 5000 grit sandpaper.
But I know that our scratch is very deep. I can feel it with my fingernail so we’re starting with our 3000 grit.
And what we’re going to do is that we want to deal with the sand vertically.
So, the scratch goes this way. We want to go up and down.
So, against the zero grain.
Now, a helpful tip when sanding is to grab a kitchen sponge and fold it over your sandpaper.
This will prevent uneven pressure when pushing with the sandpaper.
If you just use your fingers, you’ll have a pressure point where all your fingers are in.
When using the sponge, the pressure is distributed across the sponge.
So, the pressure on the sandpaper will be much more even and your sanding job will be much better.
Okay, now you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don’t be afraid to get it. Also, spray your sandpaper.
And now we’re going to start sanding along this scratch completely vertically on this whole scratch.
So, with this 3000 grit, you want to press with medium pressure.
Each paint job uses different clears. Some clear coats are harder than others.
Generally, I’d like to sand the scratch for about 15 seconds or so.
Then check to see if the zero spot is still there by wiping the area with a towel.
Here, you can still see the scratches so when you continue sanding until they disappear.
This may take a few tries, but you need to be patient. You don’t want to burn through this clear coat.
Now, you just need to spray the area.
Don
