Thursday, June 26, 2014

Repairing Scratches on Your Medium Duty Truck Yourself

Any Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso or Nissan UD truck owner knows how easy it is to get a scratch or dent on your vehicle. It’s almost inevitable to have them on a used truck when you purchase it.
The question then becomes should you pay the money to have it fixed at the local garage or should you tackle the problem yourself? You don’t have to be a mechanic to fix a scratch and luckily there are products on the market that can easily help you to get your vehicle looking as good as new in no time.

Related: Even the Big Trucks Need to Stay Clean

When should you attempt the repair yourself?
If the scratch is white, then chances are that it hasn't pierced through the clear coat of paint on top of your color. This is relatively easy to fix. Other problems can be more difficult and should be determined by your confidence. You also need to make sure that you have the right environment to make the repair. In a garage is best so you are away from the wind and sun, and avreasonably warm temperature, 70 to 85 degrees is ideal. Make sure the area you will work in won't produce condensation or any moisture on the car can as it can affect the paint finish.
What tools will you need?
Depending on the depth of the scratch, you will need all or some of the following products:
  • a good vehicle shampoo
  • polish
  • 1,500 grit sandpaper
  • primer
  • paint (color can be checked in the owners manual to ensure you use the correct paint code)
  • and wax  
How to fix the scratch:
Clean the surrounding surface first to remove any dirt, ensure this is thoroughly dry before you move on. Using the sandpaper, carefully begin to sand the damaged area, only press lightly to ensure you have good control. If the scratch is up to the primer, apply a fresh coat of primer to the area and allow to dry overnight.

Related: Easy Ways to Conserve Water When Washing Your Medium Duty Box Truck

When it comes to applying the paint, be sure to shake well first and follow the manufacturers instructions, which can vary slightly. When doing this, be careful to ensure that the new coat is level with the rest of the car. Again, allow this to dry, preferably overnight and apply the clear coat of paint to the top.

Once the paint has completely settled, wet sand the area to make sure that it blends with the rest of the truck and apply a polish. A wax finish will add extra protection to the new paintwork if required.
When attempting to fix a scratch yourself, the key is to be patient, the drying in between stages can feel unnecessary but will ultimately produce the best finish. Don’t be tempted to leave a scratch unattended, as this can lead to rust and a bigger problem for yourself in the future.
If you or a co-worker is in an accident and you need replacement parts for your medium or heavy duty commercial truck, call us at (803) 564-3228 or (877) 564-6307. If you have any difficulties getting through our phone system, please use our Contact Form or Parts Request Form, or email sales@busbeetruckparts.com.

We have hundreds of Salvaged Medium Duty Trucks and Commercial Box Trucks for Parts including: Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, UD, and GMC. With thousands of parts, including our most popular Isuzu NPR Truck Parts, we should have any part that you need in stock. Our sales professionals will be glad to assist you.  We are located at 4107 Festival Trail Rd, Wagener, SC 29164.


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