how do you make a really bad key mark look better?

[nssj2]

so over this last month, my mounty was keyed twice. from headlight to taillight, both on the passenger side. if i find who did this, theyre mine. anyways, it looks really bad, and buffing it out is out of the question because i can put my finger nail in it. i dont want to paint it because this is my new trail rig, but it just looks so bad. so any ideas on how to dress it up a little? dupli-color scratch and fix? turtle wax paint restorer with color appropriate "chip stick"? rubbing compound? i dont want to show pics until i catch them. Its black, so the key marks stick out, and the paint is 100% checked as of now. thanks all!

 

[JMan689]

I'd say, wash, claybar, wash, polish, wash, wax. Use the highest quality stuff you can find and depending on how deep the key marks are that should do away with it, hide it, or do nothing if its down to metal/primer. If thats the case don't even worry about it just live with it.

 

[nssj2]

shes down to the primer. i didnt even do anything to anybody. some people just suck. it has to be filled with something black to even looks mildly better. local detail shop said $300 of buffing and airbrushing might help, but i dont have $300 to throw at it.

 

[Blee1099]

If your down to the primer than probably the only course of action would be to repaint it. Unfortunately if its a scratch that deep, I don't even think rubbing compound could repair it but I'm not 100% sure. Better to ask someone into the automotive body field.

 

[JMan689]

If its that deep and it's your trail rig, i'd say forget it.

If you really wanna get rid of it, get some touch up paint, fill it in, then wash, polish, wash, wax and you should have a hard time noticing it.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I'd hit up the Meguiars online forum, they have an incredible amount of knowledge, and can save just about everything- the Factory techs surf the forums as much as the regular members, I found incredible help over there...

CLICK ME

JMan is right though- you'll most likely need touchup paint to make it look good. One response from one of the factory techs: Touch it up with paint, let cure about 2 weeks, wetsand the touchup, scratchX the sanding, and it'll be hard to notice if done patiently.

Good luck!

I remember when someone keyed my car- I was driving home, arm out the window, and playing with a "line" on the door of my Escort with my fingernail, thinking nothing of it. (Who the hell keys an Escort?) Didn't know it was a scratch until I picked up my hand and saw red dust on my hand. It was like seeing my own blood...

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did anybody ever try color match? It's a cream in a bottle with a touch up crayon.

 

[nssj2]

ill check out that site! brooklyn, is that the stuff made by turtle wax?

 

[Flounder]

Depending on how long the mark is, this stuff is absolute gold:

http://www.langka.com/complete-paint-chip-repair-kit-p-30.html

Apply, remove excess, cut polish, finish polish, seal.

 

[Flounder]

Did anybody ever try color match? It's a cream in a bottle with a touch up crayon.

You'll be "fixing" the key mark every time you wash with this stuff. It's more of a cheap hide, not a permanent fix.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Sounds like this stuff is ALMOST what you need. http://www.5pdcoatings.com/index.htm
It says that if the scratch is real deep that this "alone" will not fix it. But they dont say what else you would need. I'd email them with your problem & see what they say.
My thought is that you partially fill the scratch with touch-up paint and then use their product.
Let us know if you try it.

 

[nssj2]

adam-that looks really good actually. might have to try it, like to hear some more options though just so i have some food for thought. plus, it sounds like i need touch up paint fpr that product. which is my problem because the paint around there is checked, so it wont match fully. plus, its from my headlight to tail light, nice wavy line :fire:

bill-looks like a cool product, i can imagine its great for clear coat scratches. this is deeper though.

 

[1996explorerxlt]

I havent tried it yet but you could try touch-up paint and then wetsand it with 2000 grit so its not raised above the original paint.

 

[nssj2]

havent been able to try anything due to 15-20 degree weather. suppossed to nicen up, so any other thoughts/suggestions? the meguiars people have yet to respond...

 

[toypaseo]

On my Paseo, I had a nice deep scratch.

First, I cleaned the scratch out thoroughly. Next, I ran scotch tape right up to the edge of the scratch, on both sides. Applied touch up paint in scratch with toothpick. Let dry. Removed tape. Used polishing compound to smooth out.

Yes, you can definately see the color difference. I don't think you can feel a difference though, but I have not checked it out for quite a while.

 

[Donner]

Just IMO

havent been able to try anything due to 15-20 degree weather. suppossed to nicen up, so any other thoughts/suggestions? the meguiars people have yet to respond...

Likely they will try and damage it again once you've fixed it... This sounds like the kind of thing a nut would do if you parked too close to their car too many times, or if you kinda bumped their car a little and they saw you but you didn't see them. Is your vehicle the only one to be damaged?

(down to to the primer? that sounds like a pretty strong person)..

 

[Donner]

Any luck?

shes down to the primer. i didnt even do anything to anybody. some people just suck. it has to be filled with something black to even looks mildly better. local detail shop said $300 of buffing and airbrushing might help, but i dont have $300 to throw at it.

...and you don't have to do anything to anyone that disturbed enough to damage your vehicle with such anger. They're just sick)

 

[nssj2]

i like the toothpick idea, might just go with a scratch and fix ballpoint tube and polish it in. rather have a black line then a white gash.

donner-thats what im afraid of, which is why i might try to find a storage unit for it. well, mines the only one that was keyed, my roomie's girl's passat was another victim. sombody jumped on the front bumper, causing it to fall off... i hate people so much. if they have something against me, grow balls and tell me to my face, dont be a puss and be juvenile about it.

 

[Donner]

If you have a chance...

Check this out, but don't make it obvious when you check...

Check to see the pattern of the scratches...

As for the bumper, I'm not familiar with that car, but that seems like someone who is just destructive... but they are pretty specific in who they target.

(I will need to remove some of this posting in about 20 minutes :shifty_ey

 

[nssj2]

both are on the same side, both are wavy, both started up front. one has two little lines for parts of it, then go back to one line. one side, two key marks. think the police could help in this situation?