So I went to the auto paint shop with the GM code and PPG number Fifty-one bucks for a pint of Dark Blue Metallic. What is the best way to proceed...

The scratch is deep but I don't see primer. I have kgingerly taken it down with 2000 grit wet/dry.

Now what?

Ed

I'm guessing you are going to brush touch it, rather than spot painting? I use a paper match instead of a brush several light coats are better than a heavy coat. May take serveral coats to build it back up to the level of the stock paint. Once it is the same level as the stock paint(or little higher) carefully wetsand the scratch and polish the area. You may find after some time that the primer has failed under the scratch.

A deep scatch is best pre filled with what we call stop putty.
No matter what you do to patch/paint it will still stand out, the only real way is to redo the whole panel and blend.

I have done around 200,000 miles as a 'driver' in the Camaro, dont live in the 'best' part of town...thu its hard to draw a comparison with US suburds...a few gangs ans street kids floating around....never been keyed or anything
I put it down to being involved with school ptas , bots, coaching jnr sports
And when these loosers say nice car when parking always genuinily smile say thankyou, or some no hoper [ulls up beside at an interesect again reply pleasant and polite
So the leave with " hes alright, not stuck up like the rest of the rich ppl" word gets around and they leave u alone...
Except it did get stolen a couple yrs ago...by ameter 'gone in 60 mins" pullomh cars for a major gang...car found 20 mins later outside the gang HQ, perps still in it...the word was the gang didnt want anything to do with the car, has to high a profile...the perps 'disappeared; nver turned up for coury or since?????

When I told an old Hot Rod Club m8 of mine his comment was " about bloody time, 24 yrs as a daily and it had to happen some time" he was right....but hey that applies to ANY nice car.

Advice worth repeating:

"No matter what you do to patch/paint it will still stand out, the only real way is to redo the whole panel and blend."

HI what year of car and what make

I am surprised that no one mentioned this yet but...

I WOULD SNATCH THE LIFE RIGHT OUT OF THAT GUY IF I CAUGHT HIM!!! WHO WOULD DO THAT TO A CLASSIC CAR???? ESPECIALLY A CAMARO!!!! AARRGGHH!!!!!!









Unless it's a ford, then i wouldn't care so much....haha

that's a shame. does your insurance cover this or would it just not be worth reporting? I actually went out with a girl once who seemed to be somewhat.... well, nuts. I intentionally didn't show her my car just to prevent it from getting keyed. On our second date, she got jealous because I was being "too friendly" with a waitress. My instincts were right. when I decided not to have anything with her again, she called about every 30 minutes for a couple of days. There's no doubt she'd love to key my Camaro if she knew it existed.

I can show you spots on my 66 Mustang that you would never be able to tell that I fixed a nick or scratch unless you had a magnifier glass. So I disagree. (I have done it many times on many cars. I have failed on some also.) I will agree that you can not fix it if you can not match the paint. Matching the paint is the key. Some colors may be impossible). Also remember that the ability to match paint is getting better and better yearly. That ability is pretty good today. If your paint matches, it is just a matter of time and skill. You can spend 3 hours fixing a small nick. But, you can usually fix it with time, skill and color. It becomes impractical if you have lots of scratches or nicks.

The process is similar to doing drywall, but you are working with a much thinner “drywall compound.” You will use very fine sandpaper and there is an art to applying the primer or filler(s) and an art to the sanding and all of it. If you get the primer/filler to run UP onto the “old good” edge of the old paint they will show as tiny scratches, after you are done sanding.

If you are NOT a patient person, don’t even think about attempting it. There are even kits out there (for doing this job) that have small and progressive sandpaper and sanding pads, blocks, brushes, etc. It is an art. It is like removing a dent in metal. If you have never removed one it is an impossible task. Once you have done a few, it is amazingly easy.

If you are working with a clear coat, match the color on a piece of metal first. It is a real pain to get your spot fixed perfect and the only reason it shows is because of the paint color difference!! Don't forget with the clear coats it is even easier today because you can buy the 2K clears. Makes the job expensive and you are under the gun.

I will add this, since you said you were "KEYED." I would never attempt what I would call being "Keyed." Those are usually VERY VERY long scratches and would require a body shop for best results.

Have patience and good luck!

that's a shame. does your insurance cover this or would it just not be worth reporting? I actually went out with a girl once who seemed to be somewhat.... well, nuts. I intentionally didn't show her my car just to prevent it from getting keyed. On our second date, she got jealous because I was being "too friendly" with a waitress. My instincts were right. when I decided not to have anything with her again, she called about every 30 minutes for a couple of days. There's no doubt she'd love to key my Camaro if she knew it existed.


There is a song that goes..."does that make me crazy?" YES THAT DOES MAKE HER CRAZY. I am glad you pulled chocks and got out!

Well, lots of good advice- as I expected. I tackled the short key job on the driver's door first (I know, can you believe it was keyed on both sides?) My son parked it at his high school and it was done during first period- I'd guess by someone that parks routinely even farther out than he routinely does.

Anyway, I washed the area, used paint prep and smoothed the rough edge of the cut (about 5" long). The paint I got seems to match beautifully! I Dabbed it into the wound and let it set up. Blocked sanded it w/2000 grit, then followed with Meguiar's No. 9. Looks good with just a hint of a depression. I re-clean and add another coat and see how I make out. I just want this to look like it was never done before school resumes after spring break. I think I'll park my suburban next to it on Monday with a video camera, so I can catch the little bastard(s). Have them pay for the paint and polish. MY guess is that they'll be back to admire their previous handiwork and get out their key (looks more like a knife tip) to redo the job. The car is still registered under my name, to bad they are minors (probably) or I would kick the holy living **** out of them on the spot. Didn't they see Pulp Fiction?

Lance: Still got your Malibu?
Vincent: Aw, man. You know what some ****er did the other day?
Lance: What?
Vincent: ****ing keyed it.
Lance: Oh, man, that's ****** up.
Vincent: Tell me about it. I had it in storage for three years, it was out for five days and some ****less piece of **** ****ed with it.
Lance: They should be ****ing killed. No trial, no jury, straight to execution.
Vincent: Boy, I wish I could've caught him doing it. I'd have given anything to catch that ****hole doing it. It'd been worth him doing it just so I could've caught him doing it.
Lance: What a ****er!
Vincent: What's more chicken**** than ****ing with a man's automobile? I mean, don't **** with another man's vehicle.
Lance: You don't do it.
Vincent: It's just against the rules.

-Pulp Fiction

edpdx,
I'd capture them on the video, and then go have a talk with the parents...and someone would be getting out their checkbook.

Jim

Haha I love that part of the movie.... That is exactly what I thought of when I read your first post...