Scratches in your paint are an annoyance that can cost a lot of money to repair. By applying some elbow grease and spending some time working on a scratch yourself, you can remove a deep scratch. Use the right products and watch your hard work pay off.
Prepare the Surface - Clean the surface with an all purpose automotive cleaner to remove all dirt, wax, grease and oil. Allow to dry. Sand/grind the area with 3M 80-180 grit sandpaper or sanding disk to remove all paint, primer and rust. Sand 1-2 inches beyond the damaged area. Wipe dust from bare metal surface with clean cloth.
Mix & Apply - Knead tube of Bondo Red Cream Hardener thoroughly. Using a back and forth motion, mix some Bondo body filler, about 3-inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick, with a 3-inch strip of cream hardener. Mix thoroughly to a uniform color on a clean, non-porous surface, such as the Bondo Mixing Board. Spread thin layer onto prepared surface. Work quickly; the mixed filler will begin to harden in 3-4 minutes.
Sanding, Shaping & Cleaning - Allow the filler to cure 20-30 minutes. Sand with 80-grit sandpaper to remove filler lines and high spots. Then featheredge with 180-grit or finer sandpaper. For final sanding, use 320-grit sandpaper or finer. The filler should have no visible sanding lines.
Priming, Painting & Clearcoat - Prepare surface by cleaning with an all purpose automotive cleaner and tack cloth. Mask the area to be primed and painted with automotive masking tape at least 12 inches beyond the repair to allow for color blending.
PRIME: Apply two even coats of primer or enough to obtain even coverage or to fill any sanding scratches. Allow primer to dry for 30 minutes.
PAINT: Paint should be selected by using the color code found on the inside of the driver's side door of the vehicle. Apply 2-3 color coats or enough to obtain even coverage. Let the color coat dry 30 minutes before applying clearcoat. If color coat needs to be wet sanded wait at least 24 hours.
CLEARCOAT: Apply one light coat, followed by 2-3 heavy coats of the clearcoat. Make sure not to ruin the coating. This will ensure that the clearcoat does not have an "orange peel" look. If desired, the clearcoat can be wet sanded and buffed but paint MUST be dry for at least 24 hours.
