How can one fix cracks and scratches on a car’s bodywork?

By Roger Houghston

One must be very careful when trying to repair damage to a car’s bodywork, as a poor repair will be very noticeable and will affect the resale and trade-in value, as the damage must be made good.

When one is faced with deposits on the paintwork, scratches and cracks, the first no-no is to use anything that is abrasive, such as a kitchen scourer pad, to remove insect marks, tar, sap from plants or trees or bird droppings from the paintwork. That pad can do serious damage to the paintwork, by scratching the top coat or clear coat. If you are fortunate you can get a valet or paint touch-up specialist to polish out the damage, but if you are unlucky it will require a paint touch-up which can be expensive.

You must use a commercial bodywork cleaning solvent or dishwashing liquid to remove deposits on the paintwork. Use only a sponge or soft cloth and do not rub too hard. Rather be patient and let the solvent do the work.

However, slight scratches can be removed by using silver or brass polish or burnishing paste – NOT rubbing compound!

In the past, cars were often supplied with a little can of touch-up paint, but be aware of using it as it is a type of enamel and will not look the same as the paint on the body, while the colour could also be slightly out, particularly if the tin is old. Trying to make a repair using an aerosol spray can usually ends in tears too.

Repairing cracks in paint is impossible and one can only make thigs look worse if you try rubbing the area with burnishing paste or similar.

Today we are fortunate to have several chains of car valet specialists that can also handle small area repairs in terms of the removal of small dents and touching up the paint. The major players (among these small area repairers) use sophisticated equipment that can identify the exact colour mix required for the touch-up, and generally the result is excellent, and not too expensive. This repair work is usually done relatively quickly.

So, if in doubt about erasing scratches or cracks in your car’s paintwork rather go to a specialist and get the job done professionally rather than try and do it yourself, and end up with an eyesore (and probably a more expensive and extensive repair required).