Scratches...

[Simpo Two]

On the subject of 'interior trim restoration', at some time in my car has suffered from somebody with gritty shoes getting in carelessly. The treadplates have a black finish (anodised?) and the grit has cut through to the metal beneath leaving ugly silver scratches.

I'm thinking of a black wax pen or some sort of black paint to rub into the scratches and then wipe off the anodised part - but is there an official way to deal with this (short of a new panel!)?

[Mr Squarekins]

Remove, sand, paint.

Or just buy some new ones.

Or buy a new car

[InitialDave]

If it's anodised, I'd use a black paint pen to fill the scratches and wipe off the excess, to make them less noticeable.

Or paint all of them the same.

[Simpo Two]

I think I like Dave's answer better...! Black paint pen - will any do or are there special expensive detailing ones?

(I have some 'Turtle Wax black chrome trim and bumper polish' but haven't tried it as I thought it might mess up the good bits)

[InitialDave]

I'd just use a generic one, it's only to fill the scratches so they don't stand out.

If you're going to use any kind of wax or coating, if you try that first, don't forget the paint probably won't stick into the scratches then, so would need a suitable cleaning to do so.

[Simpo Two]

The cheap easy option is to rub some black paint into the scratches and hope to wipe off the excess without leaving any marks.

Repainting the whole piece is I think best avoided as it will be vulnerable to future scuffs and scratches.

I looked at re-anodising but there's no-one in striking distance who can do it. However one suggested powder coating. How would that look compared to the original anodising? Would the sharp corners of the grooves look rounded over?

Here's a view of the whole piece: