How to fix a deliberate deep key scratch

[Veloc]

How to fix a deliberate deep key scratch


Last sunday after shopping, I returned to my car to find this...

From the driver's door all the way to the back.

Hated me so much, the person made sure it went really deep. Past my clear coat and colour all the way into the primer.

Besides pain and anger, I was actually analyzing whether this is deliberate or an accident. A few signs tell that it is an accident. A few more show signs or deliberate vandalism. Couldn't come to a conclusion. But fixing this thing is the main priority now.

So what can be done? Polishing wouldn't do any good since the paint isn't there anymore. I will just have to paint it myself then... Got some Kansai automotive 2k pearl white paint. Slowly, using a toothpick to touchup the scratched area.

From far... It covered the primer but still visible.

A total of 4 coats were applied with a drying time of 12 hours each over a period of 3 days.

The area was then wet sanded down by hand. 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and finally 2000 grit with ONR QD as lube.

Sanding removes the excess paint over the edges and the new paint is leveled with the original paint.

Compounded with Optimum Hyper Compound on wool pad via rotary. Early sign of gloss...

Proceeded with Hyper Compound on polishing pad; and then polished and finished with Hyper Polish on polishing pad all via rotary. The transition between the new paint and the original paint is now hardly noticeable and it is safe to say that the paint is completely leveled.

Some after pictures... Scratch almost non existent.

The back is even more satisfying.

Under sunlight

Side look.

Of course if one stares hard enough, one will still be able to find traces of it. Found it? Nevertheless this is a significant improvement over the early state. Quite satisfied with it.

See it?

A quick recap of before-after pictures...

Finally, I can sleep. Obviously, the golden rule of "Do unto others what you would like them to do unto you" is not in the minds of these people.

Accident of the day: Sprayed a bit of compound into my eyes

Thank you for viewing another detail of mine...

 

[Bobby B.]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Great job fixing the scratch.

 

[BobbyG]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Yup boy's and girls, that's how it's done!! Superb fix!! rops:

 

[Meticulous-Detail]

Great job. My work car was keyed from front to back, the entire passenger side. I was pissed but is not mine.

I don't have the time or the patience t o do what you did to the entire passenger side. So I just hit it with compound and polish. Def. looks better but you can still see it. The repair estimate was over 1000.

Did you use touch up paint or spray paint into a plastic cup and then dip and apply?

 

[brlukosk]

Man, some people... Great turnaround though!

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BillE]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Great save!

Ya have to wonder-Why anyone would do that?

I'd still like to find the #%#@^ that keyed my wifes hood and right front quarter (that was almost 20 years ago).

Bill

 

[Veloc]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Thanks for kind words guys... Really does take patience and it is bit hard for an impatient guy like me. Once I get to something, I will want it fixed almost immediately. Quite a pain to keep applying those coat of paint, waiting for them to dry, and then reapplying the next coat.

 

[Veloc]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Great job. My work car was keyed from front to back, the entire passenger side. I was pissed but is not mine.

I don't have the time or the patience t o do what you did to the entire passenger side. So I just hit it with compound and polish. Def. looks better but you can still see it. The repair estimate was over 1000.

Did you use touch up paint or spray paint into a plastic cup and then dip and apply?

It's not a touch up paint. I got a small can of it from the body shop when I sent my boot to be resprayed the last time. Hoping that it comes in handy in times like these. I poured a small amount into a small cap and touch it up using a toothpick. This is actually painfully slow.

Great save!

Ya have to wonder-Why anyone would do that?

I'd still like to find the #%#@^ that keyed my wifes hood and right front quarter (that was almost 20 years ago).

Bill

Well, we will never understand low minds. Sadly, this place of borneo is prone to random vandalism by illegal immigrants. I don't think I have pissed someone off this bad that they resorted to scratching my car.

 

[garyg7133]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Great fix ! You are 100% right about the impatience too. Way to hang in there.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Fixing a deliberate deep scratch

Awesome repair, photography and documentation.

I'm going to edit your first post and give this a title with a blue clickable link to make it easier for everyone to share on our forum every time someone asks how to fix a deep key scratch.


:dblthumb2:

 

[HotRodJoe]

Good job...too bad it was a Pearl / metallic, otherwise it'd be much easier to hide.

 

[shoeless89]

Wow amazing job!

 

[clm65]

Like Joe said, the pearl paints are much harder to touch up, but you did a great job.

Just wondering, do you have any recently scorned ex-girlfriends? They can be viscious (or so I hear).

 

[djcripsen]

You have inspired me to take care of my paint scratches, not made by ignorant a-holes. Great job!

 

[InkedXombie]

I still think these should be legal in the USA, rig them to go off with your car alarm, or when a metal object (like a key, or screwdriver) makes contact.

 

[Veloc]

Awesome repair, photography and documentation.

I'm going to edit your first post and give this a title with a blue clickable link to make it easier for everyone to share on our forum every time someone asks how to fix a deep key scratch.

:dblthumb2:

Wow thank you for encouragement Mike! This is such an honor!

Good job...too bad it was a Pearl / metallic, otherwise it'd be much easier to hide.

Yeah especially when my clear coat is a chameleon clear coat that changes color under the sun. If it is solid white, it can be really close to original condition.

 

[vet]

Good work!

 

[Paintxpert]

This technique can work on the car you bring to the supermarket. But I would call the insurance company about that one. It is time for paint. That could break an owners heart. Clearly the Devil at his best. The repair was quite impressive to say the least. Largely, detailing and polishing are comprised of intense patience....that is why it is a virtue. Paintxpert Shine Since 1969

 

[Twister]

Nice fix. It's hardly noticeable now

 

[Tinwhiskers]

No, no, no, no. You went about this all wrong. The first thing I would do is get a baseball and track the MF down who did it. Then after a healthy beating I would proceed as you did.

Nice job by the way.