#Scratches Happen Kit vs OEM Touch up paint? Need advice please!

What’s up TW!

I bought my ‘21 Ltd in January of this year. First Tacoma and in fact first pickup truck. I LOVE it.
I’ve been here as a guest long enough to see the the well of TW wit, wisdom and resourcefulness so now it’s time for me to ask for your help!

I had the Cali Raised V2 Cat shields put on earlier this week. I’m fairly certain this scratch happened in the shop, as I washed and waxed (“” ..Zaino) it just last week, and this wasn’t there then or else I’d have noticed it. But. It’s here now; and because it’s down to the metal, it needs fixing.

My first thought was touch up paint from the dealer; but I wondered about a more comprehensive solution like #ScratchesHappen primer/paint/clear coat since it’s down to the metal. I like getting recs from people who have firsthand experience with a product. I searched a couple of terms and didn’t come up with anything, so I apologize if this duplicates another thread.

How would you go about fixing this scratch? Open to any and all suggestions (truly, lol).

Thanks for reading and for your help!

 

I’d just hit it carefully with touch-up paint since it’s on the edge of the door. Flip it over and use the clear-coat too. You might have to redo it once a year or so.

 

That's an excellent candidate for touch up paint in my opinion.

I use the Toyota touch up pens. Just like Southern said... color and clear coat. I used them on the front of my truck and on a wheel before and never reapplied. Proper prep/cleaning of the area and careful application and appropriate curing time should be enough.

 

Update, for anyone interested! Did a coat of primer, 2 coats of the paint, and 1 of clear coat (weather deferred the second). My plan is to put another CC once clean of pollen and other debris, then clay bar it down to smooth it out.

Good kit; easy to use and comes with everything you need. (Will post pics of the kit as well.)

 

Kit pics

 

Get the OEM touch up pen. One side is a very small brush one side is an actual pen.. I'd I
Use the brush side. But the color match is flawless. I've touched up wifes lunar rock, my old Lime, and now Solar Octane. Works fantastic

 

Will probably do that for hood scratches. The Scratches Happen kit was perfect for the nick on the driver door, but in more visible places, I agree simpler is better! ✅

 

Get a body shop to mix you some paint and they'll put it in a small container with a brush. When I had some body work done on my MGM, there were six different paint swatches for the same paint code. Picked the best match and went with whatever recipe that was. It isn't as simple as going off the paint code on the door jam sticker.

 

This is not needed for small scratches and touch ups...

 

Take it to a good body shop and have them back tape and blend it. Touch up paint never looks right. Do it right the first time. That is an easy fix and can be done is a few hours if that!

 

Do you have a link for the oem touch up pen you purchased?

 

https://www.ebay.com/b/Toyota-Paint-Pen-Touchup-Spray-Paint-for-Toyota/179440/bn_115985151

I bought mine at a dealer, roughly the same price

Shake the shit out of it. Then shake 2 more shits out of it. Before you use it