How to remove a scuff mark from your car dashboard.
Dogs like cars.That is a secret.The average dog doesn't have a "lick of sense" when it comes to car ride decorum.A brief cruise around town with your favorite companion will often leave your vehicle's interior coated in a fine layer of fur, or worse yet, adorned with a deep scratch across the dashboard.
Whether you have vinyl, wood, plastic, metal, leather, or a synthetic material like Ultrasuede stretched across your car dashboard, the risk of damage remains a very real threat.What can be done to hide a car dashboard scratch?It depends on things like the dashboard you have, the type of damage that has been done, and how committed you are to that car interior.
There are a number of reasons for removing scratches from your car's dashboard.
In order to combat these superficial, yet utterly embarrassing aesthetic issues, one must first understand that leaving these maladies in place will only hurt a vehicle in the long run.Leaving scratches on a car's dashboard is like allowing a high end cutting board to sit.It isn't going to ruin the integrity of the surface area, but it may get worse over time.If not addressed, gouts in a car's dashboard can turn a fixable issue into an expensive headaches.
There are costs.Do you know what happens to your car's resale value if there is a scratch on the dashboard?They all share one thing in common, which is that they all have scratches in plastic, wood, metal, vinyl, leather, or another material.Your vehicle's value is affected by car dashboard scratches.
Regardless of whether the scratch was formed by a poorly placed purse, some form of electronic entertainment device, or that beloved pooch, the fact remains that a scuff mark across one of the most visible portions of your vehicle is not good.Unlike a vehicle's exterior, where swirl marks and the random light scratch in the clear coat can be easily buffed-out by a beginner with a little elbow grease, removing scratches from a car dashboard requires a bit more preparation and research.
Is there a way to prevent scratches on the dashboard?Absolutely.Adding a protective layer to a car dashboard is never a bad idea.If you want to invest in a dash cover, be sure to confirm that it will fit your dashboard and read reviews before committing to a purchase.
Before starting a project, one must have the right tools on hand.dashboard repair and clear coat paint protection both have their own list of necessary materials.Don't use magic or baking soda.For a superficial scratch on a black plastic or vinyl car dashboard, you can get away with using a product like Meguiar's Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer and a microfiber cloth.For deep scratches on your car's interior, you will need to source the following items prior to surgery.
The first step to any aesthetic automotive project should always be a thorough cleaning, regardless of what material you are dealing with, or whether or not it has a protective layer on it.A wipe-down with some interior cleaner spray and a microfiber cloth will help ensure a smooth finish and will prevent discoloration from occurring in the following stages.The area surrounding the scratch can be smoothed out if the surface area is completely dry and devoid of dirt, dust, and debris.
As a scratch forms, the material it pulls out tends to follow the path of least resistance, so chances are that there are little ridges of plastic or vinyl on either side of it.If the ridge is large, carefully shave it off with a razor blade or an exacto knife.To avoid further damage to your car's interior, always slice parallel to the dashboard, and keep a steady hand at all times.Once the big stuff is cut away, break-out that fine-grit sandpaper, and get the edges of that gouge as flush as possible, all while keeping the sandpaper hyper-focused on the area.
With your heat gun set to half power, carefully apply heat to the damaged vinyl area until it begins to melt.Plastic and vinyl warp quickly, so be careful not to over heat what you want to fix.You are ready to move on to the next stage once the vinyl dashboard loses its leather-like texture.
While the surface is still warm, lightly press the textured finishing pad to the damaged area.With a little luck, this pressure will force the inside edges of the scratch together, while adding a textured outer surface to the plastic or vinyl that will match the rest.
It is important to let the area cool before moving on to the final stage.There should be a repaired area with a texture similar to that of its surroundings by this point, as the scratch will no longer be visible.Give the repaired area a close inspection in order to determine whether or not it requires further heat treatment and/or texturing.
Once the repaired car dashboard is cool, it is time for a final once-over with some super fine sandpaper to remove any remaining imperfections.The dashboard of your car will be the same shape if you repeat this step.You will occasionally find a fine layer of debris spread around a repaired vinyl or plastic scratch, and this final step will help remove these contaminants.It is time for a quick wipe-down with rubbing alcohol or automotive interior cleaner if necessary.The dash will be as good as new if an outer clear coat is added after that.
The removal of a car scratch from a leather dashboard presents its own set of challenges.If you are lucky, and the scratch is more of a superficial mark, a quick once-over with a microfiber towel and an automotive leather restoration wax or spray should suffice.Basic leather restoration tips are replaced by more extreme measures if the scrape is more than surface deep.
Car owners used to rely on patches and heating tools to hide the damage done to their leather dashboard, half of which worked poorly.The way in which we repair leather or leatherette has been changed by companies like Fortivo.Leather dashboard repair is easier than ever thanks to these modern day repair marvels.
Leather repair is just as tedious as any other form of upholstery work, and can take more time than the vinyl dashboard fix.Leather repair kits are affordable, instructions are cut-and-dry, and reviews are solid, so on the bright side.
If you want to repair the area, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol or an automotive approved leather cleaning product.In a motion that runs parallel to the dashboard, carefully cut-away any rough edges around the scratch with a razor blade or exacto knife.
Leather repair kits offer an equally diverse array of color matching options because the dashboard colors go beyond black and gray.If you follow the instructions in the color mixing guide, you can blend your selection with the supplied filler putty.Once a color that resembles your car's dashboard has been created, apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area inside the vehicle.If you want to make sure you get the right color match, be sure to shine a flashlight on the underside of the glovebox or lower portion of a door panel.
Using the supplied putty knife or application tube, gently apply compound filler onto the damaged surface area and fill in the scratch.Depending on the width and depth of the gouge, it may or may not be possible to insert a backing pad.If you can push a pad down into the scratch with the supplied tools, it will be much easier to build up a layer of compound.Once filled, you can use a paintbrush to make the surface look uniform and then clean it up with a paper towel.
It is important that you follow the recommended dry time and not rush on to the next step, as the dry times vary depending on temperature and amount of putty filler used.If you do not want to get the filling compound too hot, use a hair dryer or heat gun on a low setting.
Once dried, break-out a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol, and rub the repaired area in a circular motion in order to smooth out the edges.The Blending part of the process is crucial for getting a matched finish, so take your time, and always eyeball the repaired area before starting this step.Now is the time to repeat Steps 3 and 4 if it looks like another layer is needed.
We turn toward protection after the leather dashboard repair is complete.Throwing a lot of leather wax at your vehicle's interior is the most obvious choice, but it isn't always the best option.If you want to keep the dash looking new and protect it from future accidents, you should cover it with a ceramic coating.
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