Remove Small Ding/scratch From Silver Paintjob?

xioutlawix

Just recently purchased my first new car, the 05 scion tc. Previously I had an 87 acura legend, beat to all hell, scratches all over, paint falling off, the works. Didn't give a damn if a tree fell on it.
Now I have my new car, and if you've ever gotten your first brand new car, you know that magical feeling you get riding around with it.

And the contempt you have for that very first scratch on the driver's side door right above the handle which looms ominously in plain sight to remind you it's there.

So I ask of you fellow ladies and gentleman, for a scratch which doesn't seem to be very deep at all, in fact just a scrape of the paint, and a dent which is not very wide (i'd measure maybe a cm or less apart), any recommendations on getting it out? I've seen enough late-night tv shows to see those solutions you just put on the offending scratch and rub in, and like magic the scratch is gone, or that fix-a-dent thing with the two big suction cups that hold it in place and the center suction cup which pulls out the dents without mess or fuss (even though I think this dent is much too small to use such a suction cup on), but I'm naturally wary of as-seen-on-tv products.
Any recommendations?

Drfuzzy

Look for the color code on the inside of the door, and ride to autozone and buy matching paint. Spray in extremly light coats (might take quite a few) and you have a fixed paintjob. Easy as caek.

Chrono

dont buy spray on paint for a small scratch my suggestion would be to go back to the dealer and ask for the touch up paint they sell it in small bottles

Depot

As it's a brand new car, save this job for the pros. In my travels to new car dealers around the U.S. I often saw portable detailing units that hit all the dealers in the hood. These guys could fix what you describe in very short order, and NO one could tell it'd ever been touched. Just ask around or chase one down at your local dealership.

If that doesn't appeal to you look in your Yellow Pages for Fix-A-Dent or something to that effect. They come to you, and also do a good job.

The touch-up paint from the auto parts store will work, but since you need to fix the dent also, you may as well go for one of my options. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

big_jim

On topic anecdote: My dad runs a classic car restoration business, but as he's had nothing but trouble with employee's he operates as a one man show most of the year except during summer holidays when I work for him in return of my term time rent. Over the years he's become quite oddly famous amoung people looking for a classic car due to the quality he pumps out. His latest big customer is a managing director of a supermarket chain here, and the second car (of 4 so far!!) he bought from my dad was a 1973 Porsche Targa, which he wanted silver. So one day I was wiring up the headlights, while my dad was out picking up some parts, and I slipped with a screwdriver, putting a nice 2 inch long scrape just under of the right headlight, where it was most visible. I panicked and ran for the polishing compound - it wasn't deep so I hoped I could polish it out. I couldn't. Then just as I gave up, the new owner paid one of his unannouced flying visits to check on the progress.

I managed to distract his attention away from it using an oily rag and newly recovered leather seats untill he went.

You won't be able to polish it out and touch up paints won't look right (and definatly <b>do not</b> use an areosol), especially with silver, not only will it be hard to colour match it (even stuff from the factory is never a 100% match unless it came from the same batch) and unless there's no depth to the scratch, the height difference will still make it visible. Get a professional shop to do it or take it back to the dealer - its a new car so its worth it really.

Same for the dent, I've worked long enough in a body shop to know that while you sometimes get lucky and can pop it out, more often then not doing that just makes it worse.

Black_Viper

Why not start adding decals? Hide it!!! But really, isnt that what the new scions are for? The new revolution in imports full of cheap decals?

Edit:
Oh crap i didnt mean it like that. If i had the money for a new car, it too would be a box... lol j/k dude, best of intentions, im not trying to be mean...

Drfuzzy

<!--QuoteBegin-Chrono+May 29 2005, 05:00 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Chrono @ May 29 2005, 05:00 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> dont buy spray on paint for a small scratch my suggestion would be to go back to the dealer and ask for the touch up paint they sell it in small bottles <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
5 dollars? And you think this will be the only scratch? Heh, you must not have a car. I bought me a bottle of spraypaint for my maxima, and I go through it like mad because of my friends.

Mantrid

<!--QuoteBegin-Black Viper+May 29 2005, 05:08 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Black Viper @ May 29 2005, 05:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why not start adding decals? Hide it!!! But really, isnt that what the new scions are for? The new revolution in imports full of cheap decals?

Edit:
Oh crap i didnt mean it like that. If i had the money for a new car, it too would be a box... lol j/k dude, best of intentions, im not trying to be mean... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Scions are nice. My friend has one, and there is so much room. Its great.