How to remove scratches from black metal

Q: Does toothpaste remove scratches from metal?

This is the most famous trick, used to clean scratches on metal, as well as glass. Wet a clean cloth, on which you place a little toothpaste. Dab the scratches in the grain direction, and let it dry. Rinse with clean water before drying thoroughly with a soft, microfiber cloth.

One of my flashlights that has a black anodized aluminum housing has a couple of scratches on it, all of the way through the anodized coating.

Table of Contents Show

How do you remove scratches from black steel?
Can scratches be removed from metal?
How do you remove surface scratches from metal?
Does toothpaste remove scratches from metal?

How can I cover up the scratches so that its completely black again?

asked Aug 6, 2019 at 17:36

Charlie BrumbaughCharlie Brumbaugh

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How to touch up scratches on a black anodized aluminum flashlight?

Try using black nail polish on your flashlight 🔦. But make sure it is a good quality nail polish and not something from the Dollar Store. People have used nail polish to remove scratches on cars for many years now.

Some people may only know nail polish as something women put on their nails as a form of an accessory. However, nail polish has a lot of uses, and one of these uses includes being a great scratch remover. As you can tell with the other DIY fixes, you will need to buff and sand. However, with nail polish, you will just need to clean the area before applying it. Nail polish helps cover up the scratches instead of doing a lot of legwork to “remove” the scratch. Furthermore, nail polish comes in a variety of colors, so it’ll be easier to match a color with your paint. This makes it a really effective way to remove scratches on your car paint. So, you should look for the closest color to your car paint that you can find. Apply the polish as evenly as possible so the scratch will no longer be seen. If you still see the scratch afterward, you can just apply another coat of nail polish after it has dried. - Nail Polish

answered Aug 6, 2019 at 21:20

"How can I [make] it completely black?"

Cover it with something black.

Drawing on it with a black marker will work, but that might rub off after serious use. You could use black spray paint, but that requires etching into the rest of the anodized part. Black electrical tape would be great, and makes it a little more grippy when wet, but gets gross after a while.

answered Aug 6, 2019 at 18:25

jhchjhch

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I have a small can of Bar-B-Q-Black, a Rustoleum product that we have used on scratches or dings on black metal objects, such as a wood-burning stove or a iron garden bench. This particular can says it resists heat up to 1,000 degrees F, which performance limit you are unlikely to need.

If you Google Bar-B-Q-Black, Rustoleum you will find an array of products at an array of prices at many places. It may be more expensive than nail polish (see answer of Ken Graham) but not necessarily.

Ken Graham

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answered Aug 6, 2019 at 21:37

ab2ab2

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How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is favored for its sleek look and durability. It’s an excellent choice for cookware, kitchen appliances, sinks, fixtures, and other items around the house and workplace. Unfortunately, whether it’s a microwave, dishwasher or refrigerator, stainless steel can become scratched.

You don’t have to live with scuffed up steel forever, though! Follow these simple steps to remove scratches or scrapes on your stainless-steel appliances. One thing to keep in mind: Be sure to only apply these techniques on stainless steel that does not have a protective clear coat or synthetic surface applied.

Fine Scratches

To remove fine scratches, cleaners such as Comet, Revere Stainless Steel, and Copper Cleaner can be used to gently buff stainless steel. If you can’t find any of those, appliance manufacturers often make their own cleaners that are easy to find at home improvement stores. Minor scratches can also be concealed with the use of a stainless-steel polish. Unfortunately, you must reapply the polish on a frequent basis to keep your products looking great, but this may be the best method for appliances covered with protective film.

Deep Scratches

Deeper scratches, meet your match: Sandpaper. A piece of wet fine-grit sandpaper can be used to remove deeper scratches. Make sure to always keep it wet, and follow up with a rubbing compound.

Start with the scratch and then blend it in. Determine the direction of the grain and start sanding in one direction only, following the brushed pattern. Don’t sand back and forth and NEVER sand against the grain. If you need to use a courser-grit paper to remove deeper scratches, follow up with a finer grit, and then finally a rubbing compound.

The sanding technique only works on plain (uncoated) stainless steel panels: Don’t try it on simulated stainless steel or stainless panels with a fingerprint-resistant clear coat.

Clean and Polish

After removing scratches and unwanted marks, you can then clean and polish your stainless-steel appliance. With a clean microfiber cloth, wipe down the newly sanded surface. This will remove sanding and metal dust, as well as leftover polishing compound or water. Even when you're cleaning, it’s also important to rub and buff in the direction of the grain.

For best results, spray the surface of the metal with several sprays of vinegar, and then pull out another clean microfiber cloth to wipe the metal. The vinegar will clean the surface and remove all traces of other compounds and cleaners.

Once the stainless steel is clean and dry, start polishing. Apply a few drops of oil to a clean microfiber cloth. You can use mineral oil, vegetable oil, or even olive oil. Rub the cloth against the steel, in the direction of the grain, to polish the metal. Add more oil as necessary. Continue rubbing until the entire surface has been polished.

Stainless steel has a beautiful finish and following these steps will ensure your stainless-steel surface remains scratch free, while bringing out that brand-new shine that you fell in love with in the first place.

How do you remove scratches from black steel?

Fortunately, these are also easy to resolve. You can cover minor scratches with a gray or black sharpie marker. Buff softly with a microfiber cloth and the scratch will simply fade away. For deeper scratches, consult your manufacturer for touch-up paint that will cover them precisely.

Can scratches be removed from metal?

Baking soda is quite effective in removing light scratches on stainless steel. It has a powdery texture that serves as a gentle abrasive. Add water and baking soda to make a paste, put it to the surface of the metal and scrub lightly. Then wipe off the baking soda and wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

How do you remove surface scratches from metal?

Non-gel toothpaste can be used as-is, and baking soda can be mixed with water until a pasty consistency is reached. Make sure the surface is completely clean of dirt, dust, and food particles. Then dab a small amount of the compound onto a microfiber cloth and rub it continuously over the scratch.

Does toothpaste remove scratches from metal?

This is the most famous "trick", used to clean scratches on metal, as well as glass. Wet a clean cloth, on which you place a little toothpaste. Dab the scratches in the grain direction, and let it dry. Rinse with clean water before drying thoroughly with a soft, microfiber cloth.