For those of you with experience with cars and paint...

[Serenity]

So, some [expletive deleted] kids thought it would be funny to run around keying cars and egging them the other night. So my nice brand new truck is now scratched all to hell. They're not very deep, but they're there. Does anyone have any experience with products for "filling in" scratches? I've seen them advertised on TV, but it sounds too good to be true. Does anyone here have any experience or recommendations?

[Skuzzy]

If the scratches did not expose the primer or get down to metal, then a good poly sealer (I like Wolfgang products for this) and buffing should hide the scratches.

[Randy1]

Your insurance will not cover that?  Just asking but I do not know.

If it is a new truck, at the dealership they may sell small bottles of touchup paint.  I know Ford does or used to anyway.

Sure worth while doing a google search.  You are probably one of thousands.

[Serenity]

Your insurance will not cover that?  Just asking but I do not know.

If it is a new truck, at the dealership they may sell small bottles of touchup paint.  I know Ford does or used to anyway.

Sure worth while doing a google search.  You are probably one of thousands.

I run a fairly high deductable on my insurance. This is minor enough I'd still be paying out of pocket.

[Beefcake]

I hear that finding the people that did this and using their blood to fill the scratches works wonders.

[morfiend]

remember it's a clear over colour paint job! if the colour is still there you could try a clear filler like those clear coat pens or a small brushed bottle then once dry plenty of polishing.

  If the colour is gone you will need the base colour and the clear.

  If you dont have experience doing this and the scratches are deep,have a pro do it! Otherwise it will look terrible and you will need a pro anyways. A pro can wet sand and polish and bring it back to new but without seeing what you are dealing with it's all speculation!

 If you have never done wet sanding,dont attempt it without lots of practice!


 YMMV!



   

[BaldEagl]

If they're not very deep you might be able to get rid of them by using polishing compound then wax over those areas.

[68ZooM]

If the vehicle was parked at your residence your homeowners policy it would also cover it, providing you're not renting

[Serenity]

If the vehicle was parked at your residence your homeowners policy it would also cover it, providing you're not renting

Unfortunately, I AM renting this property.

I'll try polishing and buffing, if that doesn't cover it, I'll take it to a pro.

[PR3D4TOR]

Run a fingernail over the scratch. If you can feel the scratch you need more than just polishing. Talk to Ripsnort, he's into car detailing.

[Serenity]

Run a fingernail over the scratch. If you can feel the scratch you need more than just polishing. Talk to Ripsnort, he's into car detailing.

I can definitely feel the scratch

[Skuzzy]

If you can feel it, then no amount of buffing is going to smooth it out, without risking damage to the rest of the paint.

[Shuffler]

I run a fairly high deductable on my insurance. This is minor enough I'd still be paying out of pocket.

If the scratches are very light you can just claybar the area. This will smooth out the clear coat. The scratches will disappear. When you are through with the claybar then wax.

Nevermind in your later post it sounds like it is too deep.

[Serenity]

If the scratches are very light you can just claybar the area. This will smooth out the clear coat. The scratches will disappear. When you are through with the claybar then wax.

Nevermind in your later post it sounds like it is too deep.

It's hard to say. Visually, they don't look that deep. I can feel them with my finger, but I can't imagine a scratch you COULDN'T feel.

[Skuzzy]

Surface scratches, from washing the paint (soft brush car washes), are normally not detectable by touch.  Those are easily buffed out and/or filled by a good poly sealer.