First scratches on new Taco :-(

Let us know how that works.

 

Stop by the dealer or a used car lot and ask them to recommend a "lot gypsy" to do the job. They all have 2 or 3 on speed dial to fix paint chips, windshields, cigarette burns, etc. Those guys are usually the best at doing stuff like that for little $$.

Until you get it repaired, hit it with a blue crayon to protect the metal and keep you from looking at it.

 

The touch-up kits are great, *BUT*.. dabbing the color into the chip is only the first step. The way to make it pretty is:

dab (do not brush) the paint into the chip. the paint should be raised higher than the factory paint around it.
let dry.
if the dried paint is still below the level of the factory paint, dab again and let dry.

Once the applied paint is dry and higher than the factory paint around it, wet sand *very lightly* with 3000, 6000, 10000 grit until the paint is flush and smooth with the factory paint.
apply wax onto the surrounding area, dry, and buff off.

 

ouch.

i'd do the whole panel on that or just touchup pen it until you get more patina on her.

blending a spot job is tough on the newer paints.

 

One way to look at is ya got the 1st ding/scratch on your truck out of the way. Now it's time to play in the mud and have some fun. No more baby driving like it's a grocery getter. Put your pit bull in the back seat, throw some firewood in that bed. Add mud. Drive it through high weeds that are left hanging off the grill. Park it in front of your favorite pub for a beer and a steak sammich. They still have a new look with weeds and mud on'em. In my opinion they look just as good like that as they do freshly waxed.
1st dent or scratch is when the fun starts.
....but fixing it is good too.

 

The paint on 2nd gens are pretty shit as well. Don't feel bad. The factory now uses water based paint instead of oil based like they used to back in the good old days.

Here's to you first scratch and many more to come. Find a guy who does airbrush style as previously mentioned. It'll clean up nice. I just live with mine, but that's partially because I don't give a shit about mine. Check around. You have options.

I used to do a once a year paintless dent removal service on my new school GTO. The junker would get phantom dents from the unibody being constructed with shit thin metal. Needless to say I turned out to being on a first name basis with the paintless dent man. He was awesome at what he did.

 

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I ended up deciding to have this one fixed professionally. The Toyota body shop is going to do it and I am finally going to use my insurance and have them cover it (minus a small deductible). Scheduled to go into the shop in 2 weeks to have it done. Feeling better about the whole thing now. ;-)

 

I love it when the truck is completely covered in mud and crap and you park in town next to all the clean cars, I feel so accomplished.

 

Factor touchup paint in a tube, some patients, a bottle of Langka, a old T shirt and a credit card. Follow the instructions and you will be amazed how good it can look! My passenger side mirror got a chip the 2nd day I had my truck. I got the touchup paint, shook it up and took a couple days to dab it on, cut it down and repeat until I was happy with the results. The only person that knows it was chipped is me.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xi3xmeO6C4

 

Would a hood protector help with the small gravel/rocks too or are they too heavy? They are doing construction on the main highway on my way to work and its always kicking up stupid gravel all over. Trying to figure if buying a hood protector/deflector would do anything once I get my truck in.