How to "fix" rough bumper scrapes?

[DietLipton]

Noticed a ~5 inch long scrape (about 1/4 inch wide) along the driver side edge of my back bumper a couple weeks ago. I have no idea how it got there nor when it happened exactly [probably hit a curb or something]. I brushed my hand across the scrape and it was rough [sorta like when you scrape your knee], with some "hanging chads" of paint at the edges. Anyway, I was wondering, what can I do to try and "fix" the scrape and try to make it look a little better?

I've bought some dealership touch up paint for my car, but I'm not really sure what I need to do before/after applying it to try and make it blend in more with the rest of the bumper a bit more.

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[sorry for the crappy picture; I only have the camera on my cellphone to work with]

[sontakke]

Re: How to "fix" rough bumper scrapes?

Purchase a touch-up stick from that dealer and apply it. It will make that scratch less noticeable. You can later buff off the newly applied paint (give at least a week to cure it). But if it is on plastic bumper, I would leave it alone as those are extremely finicky to get it right. I never had success in wet sanding plastic bumpers even though I was able to do a half decent job on the metal.

- Vikas

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: How to "fix" rough bumper scrapes?

To much surface area has been scraped. Touch-up paint is best on tiny paint chips, and might look really hacked if you use it to cover up these scrapes.

I really think you're looking at sanding and repainting. Try a specialist like bumper docs if you have them in your area.