How to Fix Deep Scratches on Car Door – Steps & Others

fixing deep car scratches

Your car is the most special part of your life. For some people, it’s the second most important thing after their house, but for some, it is their passion. Cars are really sensitive, and they get scratches very easily.

The most common area to catch these scratches is your car door. It is the area from where you get in and out of the car. It is more likely to get scratches from fingernails or jewelry etc. If you park against a parking curb, then it is also likely to get car scratches not just on the car doors but also the whole front bumper.

car scratch deep enough
car scratch deep enough
If there is a car scratch deep enough on your car paint and is even under the metal, you will have to fix that as immediately. These scratches don’t come alone.

They spread to the whole area of the car, it will also be weak enough to get oxidized, and that will be even more costly to get repaired. Here is a step by step guide for you to either prevent these scratches from getting on your car or fix them:

How to Fix Deep Scratches on Car Door Permanently

1. Assess the victim area

Start off by observing the area that got these deep car scratches. The basic colors black, white and grey etc. can be easily repaired. Other types of monochrome or duo-chrome metallic shades tend to be difficult to be matched with substitute paint.

But it is not out of the possibilities to be repaired or fixed. Any car with any car paint can be fixed, and their car scratches can be removed if all instructions are followed thoroughly.

Small nicks and scratches are very easy to repair, and nowadays a lot of tools are available to fix them in seconds, but deep car scratches need a hefty amount of time and focus on being fixed completely. As this is a repairing process, it will be like surgery of your car door.

Car scratches easy to repair
Car scratches easy to repair

Deep car scratches are like wounds that need a lot of tools and care. Again, this is not a DIY process. Only people who have the know-how and have been fixing small problems in their cars can do this job; otherwise, it will be a long time learning things if you have no idea what you are doing.

2. Tools to remove deep scratches

Supplies that you will need to get to remove these deep scratches are:

  • Matched color paint
  • Prep sol
  • Wet sandpaper
  • Paintbrushes and masking tape
  • Spot prep pen
  • Primer if required
  • Rubber school eraser
  • Cut rubbing compound
  • Lint-free cloths
  • Most importantly dual-action car polisher

3. Paint preparation process

Before applying any paint on your car, it is necessary that you prepare it for the process. The repairing process can easily fail if you don’t prepare your car with a rep solvent first. You have to wash your car first with a detergent, high quality one. All dirt and silicone type stuff will come off.

Then you can leave your car to fry for a day. Then the next day, you need to observe the scratch that if it has any sharp loose edges or if it’s just a normal engraved scratch. It has sharp edges then you need to clean it first.

It is also not ready for any touch-ups. Using a small toothpick, you will clean out the edges neatly. Then also, before applying the paint, you will clean it out with a paint prep spray.

You will then again wipe out the whole scratch to avoid any messy paint. Then use the sand pen to prepare the scratch and slightly diminish the edges around it. You will not have to use any special technique to use the sand pen. You need to rotate it all over scratch.

Clean it with the prep sol again and wipe clean with a towel after the sand pen rotation process. Then before applying the paint, you also need to apply a primer. You will make the mixture of the primer or get a ready-made one and then apply it with a small precise toothpick.

Paint preparation process
Paint preparation process

Now is the time to apply a clear coat of paint. If the primer and scratch are nor hidden completely, then apply another coat. But do keep this in mind that you shouldn’t apply more than two coats as a thin paint coat is necessary to give a clean, sleek look.

4. Touch up

The original paint will look really strange and incomplete if not given a touch up properly. These things take time and if you want to feel like there was no scratch at all on your car, then give it some of your care and focus.

You will use a sanding block and dry sandpaper for touch up and levelling of the paint. Your sandpaper needs to be soaking wet before applying then you level the scratch up. Never apply the sandpaper in a rotatory motion, always go with a straight line till the end of the car.

Do not forget to keep the area lubricated during the process. After applying sandpaper dry it down with a lint towel and inspect if the paint moves or not. If not, then your job was successful. But it is not the end of the leveling touch-up process.

Now you should use a compound to clean the polishing cloth. Clean out the area again with it.

Read Also: How To Remove Car Bumper Scratches

Hacks to be prepared for repairing deep scratches on your car door:

1. Using high-quality kits

In today’s era, new technologies are coming in all the time. There are always new products being designed and made all the time. These products instantly help you out.

Simple hacks for scratches that are not as deep are available in the form of car scratch removers that don’t need such a long process to fix and are a temporary fix. They can be in the form of a solution or a pen as well.

Modern-day repair kits come with these kinds of scratch remover pens/fillers. So you need to get yourself these high-quality kits that last a lifetime.

2. Cover with duct tape

Duct tape comes in various colors, and if you have a basic white or black car, then this is your hack go to. You can easily get a duct tape according to your car’s shade and apply it on the scratch.

But you have to keep this in mind that this only works for small deep scratches, not the ones that are really long in length and noticeable.

Also, make sure to apply it evenly and cut out the edges if it shows. There should be no creases.

3. Cover up with paint spray or touch up paint

For this hack, you need to keep spray paint of your car’s shade at all times and apply it all over the scratch, so it’s not visible enough. You can’t make this a permanent solution obviously.

fix a deeper scratch
fix a deeper scratch

At the end of the day, you need to fix a deeper scratch. But you can use this for a moderate length scratch. But don’t consider this a very easy job as you need to apply the paint with a lot of concentration and care.

4. Convert it into an artwork

A deep scratch can be turned into an artwork if you’re artistic enough. The scratches can be trimmed down with motives or by applying stickers. Decorative stickers can mask the appearance of a scratch very easily.

It depends on your creativity obviously to not make it look obvious that you are hiding something. It should be really into place and match your personality as well. This is also a temporary solution, obviously.

Deep scratches, as mentioned earlier, should be repaired as soon as possible. But if you don’t have time you can use these hacks to prevent yourself from embarrassment in front of people or your own guests for the fact.

Wrapping Up

So, here is a step by step guide for you to repair your car door’s deeply engraved or slightly deep scratches. Every detail about the fixing process is mentioned, and also scratches have been explained of all types.

There is not just a very deep scratch that is mentioned but also the small ones, moderate ones and then the extreme over the line ones. As a car owner, it is your responsibility to keep your car maintained, so it doesn’t age fast, and it doesn’t get costly to be repaired all the time.

If you don’t fix your car scratches at home, you will have to spend a fortune getting it done from the mechanic or any car professional.

So, keep this in mind that buying a high-quality repair kit is a one-time expense for all daily touch-ups for your car rather than spending thousands of dollars on small repairs just because of laziness.

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