Best way to fix this scratch?

So this is definitely beyond buffing out. I leaned a sheet of ZIP against my truck and literally scratched it just like that. It's right on the rib of the bed accent right above the rear wheel. About 2.5" long and 3/16" wide (see picture).

Suggestions? Touch up paint perhaps?

 

Any other pictures it's hard to see how bad

 

I don't know.... it might be time for a new truck

 

Yeah, you can use touch up paint if you want, but it'll always be visible unless you have a body shop sand down a large area and repaint it.

 

Here's a little better idea of location and scale.

 

lick it, or get it wet somehow, take a picture, and post it please?

 

Compound it out doesn't look bad.

 

It all but disappears when wet.

 

sounds like it's just a clear coat issue.... less is more in this instance. I'd start with a fine polishing compound... NOT rubbing compound... and just use elbow grease to get it out. I suspect with some elbow grease, you might escape this one.

 

Agreed. Definitely start light and see how good you could get it. I'm sure you could get it to where you can only see it up close. But from far away would almost disappear.

 

and if people are watching this from the "white is the fastest color" thread.... we should post this pic as further proof that white is def. the fastest color... in this case, fastest to fix.

 

Thanks. Any recommendations for a compound?

 

where are you? If by chance in NC, I have a range of 3M compounds, we can start with the finest one and work up until we find one that works.

If you're using elbow grease rather than a power tool, any "scratch removal" compound should work from your local store. Because you're on the body line, you want to avoid using a power tool, regardless of how tempting it is. An orbital may be OK but a rotary will burn through what's left of the clear in no time at all.

Since you have a dark truck, go easy, use it only on the damaged area as much as you can - avoid the clean clear coat and as a test, take some of the compound and rub it between your fingers, you shouldn't be able to feel any grainy texture in it not matter how insignificant.... if you can feel anything, it's going to leave swirl marks.

This is the stuff I use as a last step polish when i do any body repair... but i use it with a rotary machine. It's gonna take a lot of elbow grease but at least you won't burn through!

$49 3M 39061 Perfect-It Machine Polish - 16 oz.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-39061-Per...930017&sr=8-12&keywords=3m+polishing+compound

 

Thanks. Unfortunately I'm in PA. I may try that out, though.

 

yeah... I'm foreign... take me a while to understand state abbreviations...

As for the compound, others will chime in that have more experience than I do as to what to use that are better than machine polish. There's some awesome detailing guys on here with great advice, they know a lot more than I do about this. I think the damage you have is more detailing rather than painting. I'm guessing you just need to repair rather than repaint.

 

I don't have a machine. Would all be done by hand. I may just leave it go if it's going to be an issue. I'm sure not going to pay to have it fixed. I'll learn to live with it. If the paint scratches that easy, there will be plenty more. Toyota should be embarrassed.

 

Williamsport area.

 

Trade it in on a PRO... Sarc...I like my cousin WarEagles' recommendations.

 

Haven't missed one yet. I keep a low profile.....

 

Get a dual action polisher from harbor freight for about 70 bucks with online coupon. Order a hex logic orange compounding pad and a black polishing pad. Use with the before mentioned meguiars compound or similar followed by sealant. Reuse da polisher on entire truck a couple years from now to remove accumulated scratches and swirl marks. If that doesn't get it out body shop time but you will still have use for the polisher down the road. .02 cents. Good luck.

 

I fixed my first door ding\chip that my truck received from some a hole. With factory touch up paint. I filled it with a few coats letting it dry until I had the spot slightly thicker than the rest of the paint. Then I taped off what I didn't want to touch with blue painters tape. Then lightly wet sanded the area until I was satisfied.

I can barely tell where the chip was other than a small line around it but at least it's level with the rest of the paint and the correct color. After wet sanding obviously polish and wax.
I'm no professional by any means but I've messed with my vehicles enough to keep them within my standards. Definitely not show vehicles but they should still look hot!

 

That's the beauty of white...

You could probably use freakin white latex paint from lowes and it would look reasonable.... Go try that with metallic grey

My project car is metallic grey.... after that - i bought my truck... a white truck if that tells you anything.

 

I did this fix on a metallic silver because it was down to bare metal. I filled it with paint then with clearcoat in a rattle can. I sprayed the clearcoat into the cap and used a brush to get it into the chip. Then wet sanded. You could tell it was there but it looked better than bare metal. In some light it all but disappeared. Still white is better lol.

 

My wife hates white for some reason. I love MGM, but yeah, the scratches are going to be the death of me. Small ones don't bother me, but this bigger one is really noticeable.

 

you should give yourself a celebratory pat on the back with some beers... touchups in metallic are brutal. well done!

 

Finally got around to doing this. Used a Orange Hex pad and Meguiars compound followed by the Black Hex pad and the Meguiars polish. Other than a little nick, I'm very happy with how it cleaned up. Huge thanks to everyone on here for the help.

 

Been detailing for 20 years now on the side. I would take it to the body shop. There are many tricks for fixes especially with seasoned professionals but the body shop would be the best place to start. If they can buff it out great! But they have all the tools to do it right. If they don't get it right than they will paint it or re clear it. Our paints are arcrylic which has base coat and clear coat in one application.

Good luck!

 

By hand.