Is there anyway that I can make this scratch look less visible?
3 Answers
Metal Buffing/polishing can help a great deal and maybe fix it.
If that doesn't resolve it to your satisfaction, you can use very fine grit sandpaper (800-3000); anything more aggressive will probably be noticeable and actually make things worse. Going to finer grits will make it more shiny as well, so you might need to stop at a coarser grit to match existing shine or go to a slightly finer grit if 3000 doesn't get it close.
- Wipe it down with a clean cloth and sand with 800 grit
- Wipe it down with a clean cloth and sand with 1500 grit
- Wipe it down with a clean cloth and sand with 3000 grit
- Polish with aluminum polish
- Buff with a clean cloth
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2The only thing I can say about your method is, I think the aluminum is brushed, not polished. If you go through and polish it, you'll have "bright" spots in the aluminum which won't match the rest of the aluminum.– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦Apr 6 at 17:28
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1Personally, I think any DIY attempt to re-brush brushed aluminium will just leave a patch the size of the attempted fix that you'll be able to see from 80 yards.– TetsujinApr 6 at 18:14
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Turtle Wax 53836 Hybrid Solutions Scratch Repair Kit
Using a squeegee, apply only the Clear-Coat Fill & Seal (from the Turtle Wax Kit) to the scratches. While it is still wet, remove any excess clear coat filler using a cloth dipped in acetone. Allow to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary, so that you cannot feel any scratches with your fingernail. If the end result is a bit too shinny, rub the scratches gently with a pencil eraser or #0000 steel wool.
Throughout the process, be precise enough to treat only the scratch. Avoid the idea that you will overlap the scratch with filler/rubbing and somehow "blend" into the surrounding area. In my experience, that method usually leads to an amateur result at best and a nasty mess at worst.
The only thing you can do is cover it up with a decal. It will be visible through paint. I hope you got insurance money because that looks to be a couple grand in damage.