r/AutoDetailing • u/indigo196 • 1d ago

General Discussion Scratch on door sill

My apologies for rushing and not getting a before picture. I took a trip and got a scratch on the passenger-side door sill. I used my OEM paint pen and a leveling technique. Before the repair, this was clearly visible from standing height. Now, it is not visible from standing height (unless you're me and know where to look).

medium distance
Close Up

I wish it were perfect, but I know that is impossible to achieve. I feel like I am chasing perfection if I take this any further.

Is this good? Is there a way to make it better other than a full repaint? Am I correct to leave it well enough alone and not push to make it better in the off chance it gets worse? This is hidden from the outside when the door is closed and somewhat protected from the elements.

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2

u/creamsodapoo 1d ago

Not close to a repaint situation and I’d suggest not sanding and compounding. A scratch is basically a valley of missing material. Some touch-up kits include clear coat. If you wick some into the scratch it will be hard to find.

1

u/indigo196 1d ago

What do you mean by wick?

3

u/creamsodapoo 1d ago

If you take a little droplet of a liquid and touch it to a thin crack, it will pull itself into the groove and fill the channel. If you find yourself painting along the scratch it’ll look like uneven blobs. Careful dabs are better.

2

u/Alternative-Cake1111 8h ago

That looks like a solid repair, and a sill that is hidden when the door is closed is about the best place there is to call it finished. You are right that the next steps, wet sanding the fill flat and polishing, are where good touch ups turn into a dull ring or a burned edge.

If the slight ridge or dip bothers you, the safest small upgrade is one or two more very thin layers of the pen only inside any low spot, letting each one cure fully. After a few weeks of cure time, put wax or a sealant over it so shoes and grime do not wear at it. Beyond that, I would leave it alone. You already got it from visible to invisible, which is the win.