How to fix this scratch?

[mprice1234]

It might be worth getting a couple of estimates from body shops and or detailing shops that do paint correction to get an idea of which way to go. Paint pen for a novice would most likely turn out way to noticeable.

 

[Yoshi]

no fixing that. repaint the tailgate.

 

[khandis]

no fixing that. repaint the tailgate.

This was my fear. My gen 1 had to have the tail gate repainted from being keyed … can’t have nice things out here lmao

 

[HighHP]

I wouldn’t use the actual pen. If your wanting to tackle it yourself.
I would brush on 2 coats, wet sand it down with 1500grit just to make it level with the rest of the un-effected paint, then brush on 1 coat of clear.

Or tape off ALL AROUND the whole area except the effected spot and spray on several lite coats with a rattle can, wet sand lightly agin with 1500 grit then a coat of clear.

I see three options:
1. Buy touch up paint from Ford. Rough up the area to be painted with scratch tip on paint bottle. Clean with alcohol. Carefully brush paint on only the scratch area. I would apply four coats. Let dry one day between coats. let dry a week or more after last coat. Take clear package tape and place on good paint to protect it. Take 1500 grit sand paper and water and slowly sand down the paint you applied until flush with the good paint or simply just smoothed out. Take buffing compound on a soft cloth and buff shinny by hand.
Use only the paint, do not use the clear coat, it will screw up the process. You may have to rebuff the paint every few years if it losses its shine.
2. Take it to someone that can do #1.
3. If you don't like above results repaint the whole tailgate.

 

[khandis]

I see three options:
1. Buy touch up paint from Ford. Rough up the area to be painted with scratch tip on paint bottle. Clean with alcohol. Carefully brush paint on only the scratch area. I would apply four coats. Let dry one day between coats. let dry a week or more after last coat. Take clear package tape and place on good paint to protect it. Take 1500 grit sand paper and water and slowly sand down the paint you applied until flush with the good paint or simply just smoothed out. Take buffing compound on a soft cloth and buff shinny by hand.
Use only the paint, do not use the clear coat, it will screw up the process. You may have to rebuff the paint every few years if it losses its shine.
2. Take it to someone that can do #1.
3. If you don't like above results repaint the whole tailgate.

Thanks for the in-depth reply. Much appreciated

 

[Antho]

I see three options:
1. Buy touch up paint from Ford. Rough up the area to be painted with scratch tip on paint bottle. Clean with alcohol. Carefully brush paint on only the scratch area. I would apply four coats. Let dry one day between coats. let dry a week or more after last coat. Take clear package tape and place on good paint to protect it. Take 1500 grit sand paper and water and slowly sand down the paint you applied until flush with the good paint or simply just smoothed out. Take buffing compound on a soft cloth and buff shinny by hand.
Use only the paint, do not use the clear coat, it will screw up the process. You may have to rebuff the paint every few years if it losses its shine.
2. Take it to someone that can do #1.
3. If you don't like above results repaint the whole tailgate.

Good process but with that much metallic in the paint, sanding it will make it look just as bad. I think it would be a waste of time and money trying to DIY it. Maybe try to find that part and have it painted. No reason to spray the whole tailgate. Then just swap in freshly painted part.

 

[khandis]

Good process but with that much metallic in the paint, sanding it will make it look just as bad. I think it would be a waste of time and money trying to DIY it. Maybe try to find that part and have it painted. No reason to spray the whole tailgate. Then just swap in freshly painted part.

Is that a separate piece of the tailgate itself? Doesn’t look like it to me

 

[Antho]

Is that a separate piece of the tailgate itself? Doesn’t look like it to me

Looks like it just the tailgate handle that got scratched? You could take the handle off and have a body shop paint it if you had the down time.

 

[khandis]

Looks like it just the tailgate handle that got scratched? You could take the handle off and have a body shop paint it if you had the down time.

Nah it’s above the handle just to the right of the back camera

 

[Antho]

@khandis
Pretty sure thats all one part.