Repairing scratches on the car with your own help
The right repair method can remove minor scratches completely. We’ll show you how to do it at home.
Scratches on the car are one of the most common cosmetic defects that every driver will encounter sooner or later. They can be caused by inattentive parking, brush washing or just careless cleaning. The good news is that most of these damages are repairable by yourself, without the need to visit a paint shop. All you have to do is properly assess the extent of the damage and choose the appropriate repair method. In this article, we will show the difference between polishing and paint repair and, above all, recommend specific products from the COLORIT range that deliver real results.
Polishing vs. paint repair: how to know what your car needs
The basic step is to find out how deep the scratch is. Use your fingernail to lightly go over the damaged area. If you can't feel the scratch, it's surface damage in the paint that can be removed by polishing. If the nail snags, it is a deeper gouge that is already interfering with the paint or even the primer. In this case, you need to repair the damaged area with layers of varnish.
Surface scratches can be removed with abrasive and polishing pastes, while deeper damage requires sanding, priming and a subsequent top coat of spray paint.
Removing minor scratches by polishing
For this type of repair, Menzerna products are ideal, which COLORIT supplies in various degrees of abrasiveness and gloss.
- Menzerna Heavy Cut 400: removes sanding marks and deeper scratches
- Menzerna Medium Cut 2500: universal paste for medium deep scratches
- Menzerna Super Finish 3500: the final step for a mirror shine
The repair procedure is simple:
- Clean the car surface thoroughly of dirt and grease.
- Apply the polishing paste on a soft applicator or polisher.
- Work in a circular motion, without much pressure, until the scratches disappear.
- Wipe off any remaining paste with a microfiber cloth.
- Repeat with a finer paste if necessary for a final shine.
Polishing can be done by hand or by machine. Machine polishing is faster and more efficient, but even with hand application very good results can be achieved.
Repairing deeper scratches with varnish
If the scratch penetrates into the paint or base coat, the area needs to be thoroughly repainted. COLORIT offers everything you need:
- Rustbreaker 1K-Filler - a base filler to unify the surface
- Cosmos Lac Spray - topcoat in a wide range of shades (e.g. RAL 9005 black, RAL 3020 red)
- Cosmos Lac Clear Varnish - final varnish to increase durability and gloss
Repair procedure:
- Clean and degrease the damaged area.
- Sand the scratch with fine sandpaper (e.g. P800 to P1000) until the surface is smooth.
- Apply one or two thin coats of 1K-Filler and allow to dry.
- After drying, lightly sand and wipe off dust.
- Apply 2-3 coats of top coat spray paint. Allow each coat to dry for 10-15 minutes.
- Finally, apply one or two coats of clear coat to protect and unify the gloss.
- Allow the entire area to dry ideally for 24 hours.
It is important to work in the shade, in a dry and ventilated place, ideally at a temperature of around 20°C.
Repair of metallic and pearlescent paints
When repairing metallic and pearlescent paints, it is important to choose the correct shade and type of paint. Cosmos Lac offers acrylic sprays with a metallic effect that are suitable for partial repairs. However, for very specific shades (e.g. manufacturer-specified metallics), it is recommended to use the manufacturer's original pencil or have the shade mixed.
Protection after repair
After each repair, we recommend protecting the surface with wax or ceramic sealant. This will ensure longer paint life, higher scratch resistance and better washability. COLORIT offers accessories and accessories for paint care, including microfiber cloths, applicators and cleaners.
Self-help scratch repair is not difficult if you know what you're doing. Polishing will remove fine defects, while a combination of filler, paint and varnish will repair deeper damage. You'll find everything you need in the COLORIT range, including Menzerna professional polishing pastes and Cosmos Lac quality acrylic sprays. With a little patience and the right procedure, you can repair scratches so that your car looks like new again.
