Deep Scratches - Remedy?!

Hey Gang, The new owner of a 2009 TRD Sport in SBP - Love the truck, but the deep scratches are starting to drive me crazy. I have some deep scratches, detected by the fingernail when brushed across. I had the truck detailed and waxed with a color wax - this hid the scratches for a few weeks, but washed away pretty quickly.

I'm looking for any recommendations on the best way to fix these types of scratches. I'm willing to consider going as far as having it re-painted, but wasn't sure if any one has had any experience with this. Paint the entire truck, by panel or is it something maybe the Dealer can remedy.

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated! TW has been an awesome resource!

 

Sorry, but the only way to get rid of them is a sand and paint. Everything else will just be a short term coverup. You will learn to deal with them once you find out how much a PROPER paint job will cost you.

 

If you panel paint it, it will be super visible.

 

There are many steps you can take short of a "proper paint job." Think camoflauge. Your goal should be "better than it is now" rather than "back to factory perfect."

It depends on how deep the scratch is. All of these are general ideas, that require a light and careful touch and discrening eye to do well. It's EASY to make the problem WORSE rather than BETTER.

If it's shallow enough, You can use rubbing compound on a cotton wheel on a dremel to spot-buff the scratch along it's length. CAREFUL HERE. Once that's done, there will be swirl marks in the paint from the dremel. You need to go through a course of rubbing compound and polish by hand to get rid of them. Remember - all cutting compounds remove paint, and you don't want to remove too much.

If it's deeper, then touch up paint is the thing. Touch up paint comes in a tiny bottle with a "ball point pen" type applicator that's great for filling the scratch without putting down too much paint. If after the paint is dried and set it's a little "high" you can use tiny circles of 1000 grit sandpaper glued with rubber cement to the end of a regular #2 pencil to take down JUST the touch up paint to surface level, then finish off by rubbing out any stray sanding marks with polish.

There are lots of threads on TW on these techniques, and http://www.automotivetouchup.com/ has some great write ups and instructional videos posted up as well.

 

Buy a new tailgate?

 

Um, Billy Mayes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nOMUp9B3joo

 

that crap^

 

If you can feel it with your fingernail, it's too deep to sand out. Not to mention the fact that Toyota doesn't use much clear on their vehicles anymore...

You'll have to get it repainted. Tailgate, and boxside won't cost an arm and a leg, and you will NOT have to repaint the entire truck. Just those two panels. Do you know a painter that can hook you up with a deal? If not, go to your local bodyshop, and ask what they'd charge... Honestly, I'd charge ya about $800 for that job, but I'm in Canada, and we charge more than most U.S. shops do.

Good luck!

 

Dadic, that one X scratch looks like its right in the middle of a door. If that paint code has a bunch of variants, he had better find a painter who can match well, plus that brand new clear on the door only is gonna shine like the sun between two other panels not touched. Even with a perfect color match I would buff the entire side of the truck.

 

I use the dr colorchip. It works great but u can't expect 100%.