My 95 Ranger has some fairly good scratches in the paint. The body is solid with no rust. It's a dark green color and I'm wondering if there is a way to get these scratches less noticeable. I'm not experience with this but I'll give it a go if I have a method to try.

 

You could try a rubbing compound and something like Scratch X on it. Depends on how deep the scratches are really. You could also look at the color code on the door and order touch up paint pens online that are an exact match.

I recommend you do the rubbing/etching compound first to help get rid of any oxidation on your current paint and bring back some of the factory shine/color. And clay bar is something you should look at too.. none of this stuff is hard to do.. just follow the directions on the packages.

 

+1 ^^^

It really all depends on how deep the scratches are?

Since you have dark green color if the scratch is showing light green then it isn't very deep and rubbing compound will work well.

If scratch is showing gray or white then it is down to primer level, rubbing compound may color it enough so it is less noticeable but it really needs some match color paint.

If you see metal color then scratch is very deep and it may even be dented, it will rust.
So that needs to be cleaned up and primed, then painted with matching color.

Primer paint is used because it will stick to metal, colored paint doesn't, so if you have bare metal remove the rust and primer it first, colored paint will stick to primer.

 

If the scratches are very light, I would use paint polish first before going to a more aggressive rubbing compound.

 

Get some touch up paint even from the dealer it reasonable. Apply it to the scratches and let it cure for several days a week is better. Go to the parts store and get some 2000 grit sandpaper (I prefer the sponge type). Wet Sand them down to flatten out the touch up. the surrounding area with be dull looking. Then get a DA polisher with an orange pad (see if a friends got one) and use a paint swirl remover. It works beautifully you can barely see the repair. I have done this on my Jaguar and all my vehicles. This is the only method that works really well.

 

Could you explain to me what a DA Polisher is? as well as a paint swirl remover?

Any tips you have that you've gathered from doing this? Any big no-no's during the process?

Thanks! I've got some frustrating scratches on my black ranger and I would love to get them taken care of

 

I am not sure what a "DA" is but the Polisher is just what it is a Polisher not a grinder, usually it has an Orbital head which rotates in two directions at once. Some have a switch and can do Orbital or standard rotation.

The Orbital Polisher doesn't run at a high speed ad a grinder does but can still burn your paint if you apply too much pressure or stay too long in one position on the paint.

To me using the Polisher with a decent compound can move some of the paint coloring and IF the scratches aren't too big they might get filled in enough that you may not see them so easily.
The polisher can also be used in the future to polish your truck, a plus !

I have read... somewhere, there is a polish out there that is designed to fill in scratches and nicks, it needs to be redone after a while but it might be enough to keep you happy. Touch up paint is a good option, but apply in thin coats, don't just try and fill the holes or scratches in your case. After applying the Touch up paint, let it dry for a week and then do the polishing and as stated clean the area and strip all polish from the area too before starting; it would be lousy to finish up and have it wash off the next car wash.


That's my $0.05, good luck, take your time do it right the first time !

 

I like the exact match type paints that can be applied, leveled and polished. seems like the only real way to go.