For one thing, we found that they absolutely will not work on anything but minor surface scratches. And, all things considered, they may make the damage look worse.
Marketed as a lightning fast way to avoid expensive auto body shop expenses, manufacturers say that anyone can get results from the pens that look entirely professionally done, which cost ten dollars or even less. We sampled three to see if the claims were in fact true.
What we tested
The Simoniz Fix it Pro ($10), DuPont Pro Fusion Color ($8), and Turtle Wax Scratch Repair Pen ($10) are commonly available on the internet or in just about any auto parts stores. Claimed to work with any color of paint that your vehicle may be, they contain a totally permanent clear coat sort of like the protective outer layer used on vehicles that are rolling out of the factory. However, what their packaging doesn’t make entirely clear is that these pens are only for surface scratches within the clear coat. If the damage goes into the paint beneath, you’re simply out of luck.We also found that the pens may be pretty difficult to use, and that it’s not easy to get the thin, even line that you will want to neatly fill up the scratches without overfilling it. With applicator tips that're about as wide or wider than a typical scratch, our sampled products make it hard to stop yourself from applying too much filler, and leaving a visible residue that’s a lot more overt than the problems you’re trying to repair. And getting rid of that gunk might require sanding and buffing it out, and maybe even some touch-up paint.
As a general rule, these products won’t help with any scratches that are deep enough to feel with a fingernail, or if you can see primer or bare metal. For damage of that nature, you’ll need more than clear filler and an incredibly steady hand. The way to repair damaged paint can only be with more paint.
How we tested
For our testing, we used exactly the same lab-grade black test panels that you buy for car wax testing. These panels are painted and clear coated with automotive finishes to perfectly simulate the exterior of a car. We also tried them on two different types of vehicles that had pre-existing light scratches: a silver Toyota Sienna minivan and a dark blue Honda CR-V.We put scratches in the test panels with both keys and bolts, and then used the products as outlined by the instructions of the manufacturer on the panels and vehicles. To do this, we washed and dried the damaged area, shook the pen to mix the contents, dabbed the end on a piece of paper towel so that the product would start flowing, and carefully drew the pen along the exterior area of the scratch. After applying the products, we moved the samples onto the roof of our building where they weathered for four weeks.
The results
All three of the products did in fact fill up the scratches, and we saw no distinguishing feature worth mentioning between them in ease of use or effectiveness.From some angles, the repairs looked exactly as advertised in the TV ads. However, other angles were significantly less flattering; they revealed a ridge of noticeably excessive clear coat. The results looked like a very unprofessional job at the very best, and often the repair was even more noticeable than the original scratch was. The Simoniz and DuPont products suggest that you wipe off any excess of the substance that you may see with a paper towel, but we found this made things look even worse by smearing the paint over the undamaged surface.
We advise that you save your money and skip these 'easy' fixes for small scratching or try a cleaning polish instead.
For deeper scratches, a visit to Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville may be your best bet.
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